By David Hulsey
Early spring in the Southern Appalachians is transition time. The shifting movement of the weather patterns and the amount of sunlight warming the landscape can produce some nice and not so nice days on the river. March can be seventy and sunny or twenty and blowing snow. The move from winter to warmer days triggers the first big bug hatches of the year. By big bug I mean size, not numbers. The Large Black Caddis hatches have all but disappeared and the large Quill Gordon and March Brown mayflies start their flights on our streams here in North Georgia and North Carolina. It’s no longer imperative to dredge the bottom of the deepest pools in order to score a few frisky trout. After a couple of consistent days of size 12 and 14 big fat mayflies bouncing around, the trout will know what’s up, so to speak. A Parachute Adams size 12 will do the deed for the Gordons and a classic Catskill March Brown size 14 will work for the latter. Warm rainy sprinkles can also bring out Blue Winged Olives in droves. They are usually tiny but a size 18 Parachute BWO is usually small enough to get a picky Brown Trout to eat.
Our Delayed Harvest streams in both states will be rocking right now with fresh uneducated fish being stocked in large numbers. This is probably the absolute best time to get a beginning trout angler on the stream and expect some action. A Y2K Bug on the end of a 7.5 foot 4x leader is about all you need to get a few hook-ups. Drop a size 14 Pheasant Tail or Prince nymph off of that on some 5x tippet and you will probably get tired of catching fish (if there is such a thing). Easy Dry/Dropper fishing will also be getting good with a high floating Black or Royal Stimulator and a Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear swung under that. Fishing pressure won’t really start to play too much of a role in making the fishing tough until April.
Private water such as Noontootla Creek Farms will be producing some giants at this time of year so be sure to book a day on the water on the most amazing piece of trout water in the Southeast. Spring is also a great time to take the first step into learning how to fly fish. Check out the Hulsey Fly Fishing School at NCF (770-639-4001) as we can make you confident enough in your abilities to tackle any trout water out there. There isn’t a more beautiful place to be in the early spring than here in the mountains; so get out and enjoy, after all it only comes around one time a year!
Give David a call to book a class or trophy trout guide trip at Noontootla Creek Farms. We can make learning to fly fish easy and fun! You can make the switch.