Winter Fishing on the Tuck

23-24" Rainbow on the Tuckasegee Delayed Harvest

I decided to brave the cold this morning and head out to the Tuckasegee Delayed Harvest.  I hit the water early, sometime around 7:45-8am, and the air temps were down to around 12-13 degrees.  Most people would take one look at the thermometer and say there is no way I’m fishing today, but not me.  In fact, I am very fond of winter fishing.  Guiding tends to slow down in the winter, so we guides are able to log plenty of days on the water honing our skills.  While the wild trout streams tend to slow down drastically in the winter, the tailwater streams always seem to produce nice fish and high catch rates all winter long.  Today was no exception.

After arriving at the river, I rigged up a three fly rig that included a #18 Superflash Pheasant Tail, a #8 Tungsten Light Olive Bottom Roller tied with UV dub and UV Chewee Skin, and a #8 Dark Olive/Light Olive Hot Head Marvin.  The Marvin and the Bottom Roller were the big producers.  I landed several bows in the 10-12 inch range, and then I hooked into the monster bow pictured to the left.  After a 6-7 min fight I was able to get him into the net.  I ended the day with close to 20 fish in about 2.5 hours on the water.

Many anglers have the misconception that fishing in the winter is either unproductive or that the season is closed.  We would like to hear what you all think.  Please feel free to comment on this post if you have any feedback or stories you would like to share on Winter Fishing.

We still have trip availability for most days so email or call if you are interested in either a wade or float trip on the Tuckasegee or surrounding rivers and streams.  Also, check out our specials page for trip booking specials.  Make your next fly fishing trip a memorable one with some of the best guides in the area.

Cold day on the Tuckasegee Delayed Harvest

The Tuck has been fishing really well this Winter aside from the few days that have been blown out due to heavy rain.  Anglers have had the opportunity for both float and/or wade trips with the East Fork arriving at the delayed harvest just before noon on most days.  The trout are hitting a variety of flies including:  Hot Head Marvins and other stonefly patterns, midges, most junk food patterns such as eggs and san juan worms, Griffiths Gnats, Tiny Blue Wing Olives, and various other nymphs.

Brook Trout on the Catamount Midge

Today, I had the pleasure of guiding David P. from Louisiana.  We had a decent half day on the water with 10-12 fish hooked and 6 or 7 put in the net.   I particularly enjoyed  David’s stories about fly-fishing in remote parts of Alaska.  I look forward to fishing with David again in the Spring.  David also has a rental house that is just 4-5 miles away from the delayed harvest.  If anyone is interested just give us a call and we will give you the details.

We are still running are “Winter Specials” if anyone is interested in some great winter fishing opportunities send us an email or call.  We have both wade and float trips still available.

Trent with a nice Rainbow

Most of the crowds we saw during Oct. and early Nov. have pretty much disappeared from the Tuck DH.  Now you will only find the occasional guide with clients as well as a few of the anglers that don’t mind fishing in the colder temps.  Today was no exception with less than a dozen anglers on the upper section along South River Rd.

Aaron with a Rainbow on the Tuckasegee

The fishing started out pretty hot for Trent and  Aaron.  Trent began the day with a 17-18″ rainbow in the net followed by a small brook and a monster bow that was pushing 22-23″.  The big bow put up a pretty good fight that ended with a snapped leader and a broken heart.  Aaron had several nice takes and landed several fish in the 12-13″ range and ended up with a grand slam with the last fish of the day.  Fish were taken on #8 Hot Head Brown Marvins, #14 Lightning Bugs, #18 Midge and a #14 Catamount (Purple and Gold Lightning Bug Pattern)  Overall great day on the water with some excellent company.

Don’t be turned off from fishing in colder temps because the winter can provide some of the best angling opportunities of the year especially on stocked rivers and streams.   Just remember to layer up and always carry an extra change of clothing for those occasional slips and falls that every angler encounters as some point or another.

Catch and Release

Monster Rainbow caught and released on the Tuck DH

The Tuckasegee has been fishing extremely well this Fall.  The crowds have died down, which has given these fish a break from the pounding they received in October and early November.  Myself and  Hookers Fly Shop guide Clint Holcomb have been on the river almost everyday for the past few weeks guiding or just fishing.  We have seen plenty of impressive fish including a monster brown pushing 30″ that Clint hooked into several days ago.  Unfortunately, after the 10 minute fight the fish spit the fly and won the battle.  We have also landed several rainbows and browns in the 18-23″ range and a few big brookies in the 16-18″ range.

The fish are eating a variety of flies including:  most junk food patterns (i.e. San Juans, Eggs, Y2K, etc.), Large Stoneflies (Double Bead Stone, Lowe’s V-Rib Stone, Brown Marvins), Midges (Black, Red, Olive and Purple Zebra Midges, Griffiths Gnats, WD Flash Wing in Red, Black or Olive, Brassie in Red, Copper or Green, Dries (BWO, Para BWO, Adams, Para Adams, Tan Caddis).

November and December Float and Wade Trip Booking Special

Book with us between now and Dec. 31st and receive a $30.00 discount on any of our trips and a free Hookers Logo T-Shirt or Hat.

Large Tuckasegee Rainbow

The Tucksasgee Delayed Harvest has been on fire.  We have been seeing less crowds than we did in October, where we were seeing record numbers of anglers and guides on the river.  For me, November is one of my favorite months to fish and guide the Tuck Delayed Harvest.  With the last stocking at the first of the month the river has now been stocked with close to 20,000 fish in the 5.5 miles of D.H. water.  Our trips have been bringing in anywhere from 30-60 fish per trip and our guides have even been able to get out there on their own as well.

Biff with a very nice Rainbow

Underwater shot of a large bow

Charlotte with a decent Rainbow

Yesterday, Clint and I guided a great group of women from Tallahassee, Fl.  The ladies had a fantastic day on the water with somewhere between 40 and 50 fish hooked and brought to the net.  Charlotte had the big fish of  the day and the even bigger fish of the day that eventually got off.  Looked to be a rainbow pushing 20″.  Most of the fish were taken on, yes you guessed it, Hot Head Marvins #8 as well as #16 HH Prince Nymph, #10 Y2K, #16 B.H. Hares Ear and #18 Laniers Lucent Lightning Red.

Today, I will be headed out to the Smokies to guide two guys on a 3/4 day trip.

"Fish Kisses"