By Karl Ekberg
Spring weather has taken hold around the rivers here at Chattooga River Fly Shop. The leaves of all the hardwood trees are emerging, wild dogwood trees have bloomed, and the mountain laurel and rhododendron flowers make the scenery around the rivers a special place. Let’s not forget that the fishing is great as well, whether you like nymphing, dry flies, or streamers.
Fishing on the Delayed Harvest sections has been outstanding with large fish being caught with dry flies. The early spring hatches have been great. We have been fishing the riffles to the heads of the pools with the most success. Dry fly fishing the slower water areas, when the hatch is happening, has also produced great numbers of fish as well. Early morning and late afternoons, long swinging dead-drifts of flashback nymphs and emergers, have been the keys to success.
As the hatches progress with the warmer weather, we look forward to seeing many more May Flies and Caddis-stop by the Fly Shop and check out the “Hot List” for hatch updates. Another large emergence is of the Oak Worms. These fine little creatures are a tasty treat that even the largest of trout cannot pass up as they fall from the trees into the rivers. Casting imitations of these into over-hanging bushes, and dead drifting them with a twitching technique, will be very beneficial, to a large day on the river. Anywhere that you find these worms dangling from their silk lines from the trees, do not hesitate to stop and watch the worm finally hit the water, and see what happens! The next process is to work your way into a good vantage point to make your cast to the fish that just ate the natural. Don’t worry about a delicate cast, even “splatting” the worm on the water, will be just as effective, as they also fall out of the trees from far above. As the late spring temperatures rise, fishing the shady areas of the rivers will be essential, as the fish will move out of the high sun and warmer temperature waters.
Let’s all remember to “leave no trace”. Packing out with what you brought in with you is essential, and bringing something back out with you that someone else has left behind does not hurt either and keeps our beautiful streams and rivers how they should be. Keeping them clean now, means future generations will still be able to enjoy what we are enjoying now! Check out our daily posts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, giving you the daily water conditions on the Chattooga River, and please share your big fish pictures with us!! We hope to see everyone out on the rivers!
Karl and Karen Ekberg are Co-Owners of Chattooga River Fly Shop, located at 6832A Highlands Hwy, in Mountain Rest, SC 29664. Give them a call at (864) 638-2806 or look them up on the web at chattoogariverflyshop.com.