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Current ConditionsWe finally received some much-needed rain, and after a few days of water too high to fish safely, we are back at it and back in the swing of things. |
Stream Report
Seasonal Hatches
Stream GuideFishing Report for February 12th, 2025
With Spring on the horizon, every day brings a different weather pattern. Some days feel like the warm Spring we are all longing for, reaching the mid-70s, and other days still feeling like the drag of Winter, with night-time lows plummeting into the low 20s. Bug activity is dependent upon the day and the weather of that given day. With Caddis and Winter Stoneflies still prevalent in most of the streams, a warm sunny day might show some bug activity, bringing the fish into a feeding frenzy for a few hours. Fish will be around some type of structure this time of year, with dark-colored rocks producing the most heat, this is a great place to look for fish during the Winter to Spring transition.
Davidson
Winter Stones, Caddis, and BWO Mayflies being the primary food sources this time of year, you can still find success in the rivers by matching the hatch. Light line and slow wading will be a large key to success this time of year. With the water being crystal clear from rainfall and snow run-off, making long casts and not spooking fish from wading will help you tremendously in your journey.
Flies: Howell's Shuck-it jig 16-18, Kevin's Stone 14-18, BWO 18-24, Girdle Bug 12-14, Flexi Midge 18-22, Copper John 18-20, Soft Hackle Hare's Ear 14-16
Delayed Harvest
With the DH streams not being stocked this time of year, the fishing can be tough, but there are still plenty of fish in the rivers. These fish have probably seen almost every fly as well as almost every conventional lure possible. Getting away from the crowd is your best chance of success this time of year. Just remember that if an area is tough for you to get to, it is also tough for everyone else to get to, and that is where you will find the least pressured fish. Using light tippet and making long casts will add to your success rate this time of year as well.
Flies: Sassi Solution 18-20, Jig Perdigon 16-20, Howell's Shuck-it Jig 16-20, Girdle Bug 16-20, Copper John 18-20, Elk Hair Caddis 16-20
Wild Trout
Virtually all Wild Trout streams are now back open and accessible. Areas like Looking Glass Creek and Pink Beds area should be productive, but fish will not be as active as summertime months. You might have to make multiple casts in an area before you get fish to bite, or you might have to use lighter line than other times of the year. Using a dry fly as an indicator is always a smart idea to scare fewer fish than an indicator would.
Flies: BWO 18-22, Stimulator 16-18, Sassi Solution, Soft Hackle Hare's Ear 14-18, Flexi Midge 18-22, Pheasant Tail 20-22
Smallmouth/Warmwater
The French Broad is fishable now, but you might still find lots of debris, especially below the Ashville Airport. If you are looking to catch a smallmouth, they will be in the deepest holes in the river or around structure that will produce a little bit of heat. Try fishing slow, as most of the fish will not be looking to chase their food down this time of year. DuPont lakes are open and fishable, with most of the fish being off the bank, closer to the middle of the lakes. Now is the time to take a kayak or a small boat to the lake and try fishing in the middle of the lake or around any structure that you can find.
Flies: Slump Buster 1/0-#2, Meat Whistle 6, Wolly Bugger 6-10, Sparkle Minnow 8, Near Nuff Crayfish 4-6
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
DAVIDSON RIVER & AREA RIVERS
- Rod: G Loomis NRX+ 9ft 5wt
- Reel: Sage Spectrum Reel
- Line: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Trout 5wt
DELAYED HARVEST
- Rod: St Croix Imperial 8'6" 5wt
- Reel: Redington Run Reel
- Line: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity Smooth
SMALL STREAMS
- Rod: G-Loomis IMX-Pro Creek 2-4wt
- Reel: Lamson Guru Reel
- Line: Amplitude Trout Smooth 3-4wt
SMALLMOUTH
- Rod: Sage Payload 8ft 9in 7wt
- Reel: Redington Run Reel
- Line: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity Smooth
Keep up with the latest from DRO:
Stream Report
Just after the first snow of the year, the fish are slow and the temps are cold. If you plan to fish this time of year, sleep in and make a cup of coffee before heading to the river. Around 10:00 the water and the air will warm up and the fish will start feeding for the day. The fish will feed until 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon until the sun goes behind the trees and the air temps start to drop again. Make sure you wear layers so you can add and subtract clothes throughout the day. As always when fishing during the winter, make sure that you have a plan of where you are going and tell others where you expect to be and what time you expect to be off the water, in case something happens while you are fishing. Read More
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