fAll fishiNG
In Transylvania County, the nearly 500 miles of creeks, streams and rivers that course through the steep mountains and rich forests are renowned as some of the top destinations in the state for fly-fishing. For local fishing guides who spend a great deal of their time guiding clients on the rivers, the diversity of the county’s waterways and the bountiful fish populations keep them and their clients satisfied day in and day out. East Fork French Broad For guide Walker Parrott, the East Fork of the French Broad River is one of his favorite destinations because of its easy access and large population of trout. The drop and pool-style river is home to countless brown, rainbow and brook trout, which Parrott enjoys because each fish, much like the type of environment where they live, is unique in its own distinct way. The diversity of the river’s environs forces anglers to either adapt to what the fish are feeding on or get shutout, Parrott said. Parrott said the fishing in the East Fork is
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good from October to June. Walker said the size of fish that can be caught in the river run the gamut. “The average is probably 10 to 12 inches,” he said. “But there are some big ones in there, some 20-inch fish.” The state stocks around 17,000 trout along the nearly five-mile section of the East Fork that runs alongside East Fork Road between Glady Fork Road and the main stem of the French Broad. Catch-and-release regulations apply from October to May, and only single-hook artificial lures are allowed. Davidson River Landon Lipke, a guide at Davidson River Outfitters, said the hatchery located near the headwaters of the river creates ideal conditions for trout. “The hatchery puts nutrients into the river that feed the whole river,” he said. “In turn, it makes the river hold some big fish.” While most of the Davidson River is only a “stone’s throw” from the road, Lipke said for the most part it doesn’t feel that way.