Badin Lake is the clearest lake in the Yadkin Chain and runs within the Uwharrie National Forest which offers some unique scenery for a Piedmont Lake. Years ahead of his peers: McDowell's Marlee Merritt to earn associate degree at age 16, McDowell County Schools no longer looking at Dream Builders diversity and inclusion training, McDowell authorities charge two for drug possession, Morganton woman takes a spin on 'Wheel of Fortune', McDowell Commissioners recognize EMS employees, McDowell Sheriffs Office needs help finding these suspects, Walk-off hit by Spivey pushes McDowell to victory over Enka, Four women killed in head-on collision in Winston-Salem, A Winston-Salem church buys nearly $3.3 million of outstanding medical debts, easing the burden on people in three counties, McDowell deputies charge Spruce Pine man charged with drug trafficking, Marion man charged with methamphetamine possession and trespassing. Remember to change smoke detector batteries. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. Fly Fishing in North Carolina is one of the best experiences to do when visiting the mountains. Weve seen plenty of 50 degree days in January and now we are starting to see those 60 degree days. The Yadkin River boasts a small population of smallmouth bass and a variety of other species. They participate in meetings prior to tournaments. By Invitation based on past BFCS Performance, Open Registration in person at Collin's Inc, and lastly by Open Registration Online until 65 boat field is entered. The reality of it is that most of the time thats not the case here in the mountains of NC. The Titans had the top three teams and four of the top five on their home lake. We welcome experienced and novice anglers. Below are two big fish we caught last year in early Spring. We are a volunteer led youth organization that hosts High School and Junior Series (Middle School) bass tournaments at various lakes and rivers across the State. This is where we will hike into a backcountry creek and dry fly fish all day for rising trout. The Tarheel State has three major geological regions which include the Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont, and Atlantic Coastal Plains. Earlier in the day the nymph and streamer bite was consistent till the sun was directly above us. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Photos by Josh Davis, blueridgesportsphotography.com. Blastoff Position is Determined By Order Of Payment. Crime fits a regional pattern. NC: 57: Nick Herrman - Kyle Herrman: 3: 7-11: Capital City High School - KS: 58: Jameson Pursley . Ben Milliken will stick around a while longer, thank you very much. The weather is perfect this time of year with the later start times so give us a call to book your fishing adventure in the mountains of NC. No restrictionon boat brand, year model, or horse power designation. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. Dont leave the house without some sort of crankbait, swimbait, or suspending bait. We are thirty days away from the end of summer (September 22). 164 talking about this. There are a lot of June bugs out so weve been having some good luck using smaller bugs on the Toe River. Bennett made a beautiful cast in the deep, slack water and the fish took off with the jig. Weve been having to run very light tippet and downsize our flies this year due to low flows and spooky fish. The Catawba River runs through both regions and is home to 7 lakes that offers good bass fishing. The lake also has largemouth bass. Rainbow Trout are prominent in North Carolina. Riot Baits Baton Worm Money / 4 3/5" $5.99. Top Guns will be conducted with minimum 65 boat field, still have $20,000 first place, and a $2,000 big fish award. At least one team member must pay IN PERSON at the ramp prior to blast off for that team to be awarded points for that week. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. We fish monthly tournaments in surrounding North Carolina lakes and rivers. In most sports, playing at home can give a team an advantage over its opponent. Yes. If you werent within a foot of the bank you were catching fish. These fish are prevalent in the 34 creeks and rivers that get stocked across the mountain region of NC. Its been a wonderful summer full of some really good fishing. Curtis Creek has been fishing consistent but its best to go early morning or late evening when the light isnt directly above the water. These trips are fun because we can post up on fish and use different tactics to catch them. The 10th place finisher each week, will win a paid entry fee for the next Tuesday tournament. Milliken, a 33-year-old New Caney, Texas, resident with a penchant for catching big bass, didn't let up on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend. Lake James is home to some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the state. The best fishing on the wild trout streams is March through December. Carolinas Bass Challenge 2023 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE $50,000 1st Place at the 2023 CBC Classic $8,000 1st Place at Every Event Guranteed $10,000 Total Bonus for Top 4 Finishing Skeeters at Every Event Tournaments and Schedule View the upcoming Tournament Schedule. As a company we have decided not to raise prices this year for our half day and full day floats. This is the time fly anglers can get by with throwing 4-6 inch streamers on sinking lines. The team weighed in 16.46 pounds, to edge teammates Cole Weaver and Dawson Bartlett for first place. The guys that take us up on this guided trip are always happy at the end of the day when they have caught the biggest river smallmouth of their life. TOURNAMENT SPONSORS REGISTRATION The team of Hannah and Logan Roberts placed third with 11 pounds. Below is a nice brown we caught during a rainstorm on Curtis Creek. All Day. The smallmouth fishing around western North Carolina has been excellent since the beginning of May and will continue to be good all summer. If you are interested in hearing more about our bass fishing trips then please give us a call. From backcountry experiences to roadside pull offs there are plenty of trout fishing opportunities for the curious angler in North Carolina. This time of year we throw big jerkbaits and crankbaits for big river smallmouth looking to fatten up before the spawn. This 90 degrees angles helps get the flies straight down underneath the indicator. Below are some pictures of some recent catches. In the Championship Fish Off, the highest placed finisher in a Foothills Marine purchased boat will be awarded $1000. The French Broad and Nolichucky rivers produce trophy smallmouth year after year. There are no upcoming tournaments for this Series. Thats the key when fishing crawfish patterns. It is your responsibility to measure your fish before bringing them to the scales. These lakes are named the Catawba River Chain of Lakes. NOTE: "Sending Money" with another team will not qualify as "participating" in that week's tournament. This will test an anglers/guide patience but its vital to ones success. 5th In the James River Points $100. Any Team that participates in ALL of the Tuesday Night Tournaments will receive an automatic bid to fish the Championship. The days we have been on the French Broad have been tough, but not impossible. The "conventional" bass tournaments, where anglers blast around in boats that can cost upwards of $85,000, can be hyper-competitive, with anglers rarely sharing information about hot areas or productive lures. There will be a Big Fish category for Largemouth, and another for Smallmouth (all bass that are not clearly pure smallmouth, will be weighed as largemouth for Big Fish calculations). You may fish as a 2-man team or you may fish as a solo competitor in Eastern NC Bass Challenge bass tournaments. A trophy smallmouth out of the river is anything over 18. In addition, we reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone, for any reason. North Carolina offers some of the best fly fishing in the country. Ive got a few dates left in October so dont hesitate to book or they will be gone. Jackson Dowdle, left, and Mason Brewer weighed in 6.59 pounds. Give us a call today to schedule your fishing adventure this summer. We are starting to book up in September and October so do not hesitate to call to get your preferred date. We would love to talk to you about the best times of the year to fish or answer any question you may have about fishing. We have some wading and floating opportunities that we havent been able to access due to the waters being closed so after the first Saturday in April lets go chase some fish on some waters that have been closed a month long. We can handle last minute bookings, but if you want a preferred date contact us early. Below are some of the biggest fish weve caught out of the Tailrace. This is a secluded stretch of water that isnt the easiest to get to, but that is what makes it special. The Wilderness Act of 1964 has protected the gorge from any human development. If you are a bass fishing Angler then the Nolichucky should be on your bucket list. Some of the best fly fishing is within a short drive of Asheville, North Carolina. Normally if the crowds are bad you can bounce up to Newberry Creek or the wild water of Curtis Creek and do well throwing dries. The water temperature here during the winter is 50-55 degrees which is alot warmer than the freestone streams in the mountains. Our head guide Kelsey Minish caught this 5.5 pound smallmouth on a recent trip at Lake James. This is why fly fishermen and women nymph fish. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Weve been picking fish up in the deeper runs on nymphs and streamers in the riffles. . The two arms of the reservoir are joined by a canal that flows underneath N.C. 126. After an intense fight we netted the fish and it was nothing but smiles the rest of the day. BASS-tastic: Titans dominate Lake James tournament. Macey Allison heads to the scales with her bag. Our guides have been chasing trout and smallmouth every day. Winter trout fishing here in North Carolina has been excellent. Lake Rhodhiss Events 21 miles Wildcat Lake Events 27 miles Lake Lure Events 28 miles Lake Hickory Events 35 miles W. Kerr Scott Reservoir Events 43 miles Bass Lake Events 52 miles Lake Norman Events 57 miles Lake Wylie Events 66 miles JULY 2023 July 4, 2023 Independence Day (U.S.) July 16 - 22, 2023 (10:00 AM) Tennessee River 600 As that temp drops the fishing will continue to get better and better. Successful anglers recognize how fish behavior changes during different weather conditions and adapt their fly selection and presentation. Spring trout fishing means higher water flows which can offer some excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the bigger tailwaters in North Carolina. The lake is home to some big largemouth bass and is also known as a put and take striper lake where the state stocks 25,000 fingerling every year. Carolinas Bass Challenge. I have decided to do this for the people who doesnt have alot of disposable income. As March comes to an end we are heading full steam into April. We catch some of the bigger, smarter fish that survive the influx of people during the wintertime. Anytime you can bring a 19inch fish to the boat its a good day. (opens in new window), Follow Foothills Marine Center on Instagram! We can customize a fishing trip in western North Carolina that fits your needs. All big fish must be alive throughout the weigh-in to be eligible for the big fish award. Life is good for anglers and guides here in western North Carolina. Fish will be measured on a Golden Rule. $100 will cover your entry fee and big fish prize. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only, and are not intended to be an endorsement. The water has been lower so its pushing the bass in isolated areas looking for that higher oxygen content. The leaves are have began changing colors in the higher elevations, but expect peak color to be around the end of October. Below is a fish we caught dead drifting a popper right off the bank by a fallen down tree. The river has the quantity and the quality every bass fisherman is looking for. The best time to throw topwater poppers is during the summertime and early fall during June-September. April has been nothing less than spectacular! The bass will let you know if you can pop aggressively or every ten or so seconds. The season points standings have not yet been updated, but McDowell came into Saturdays tourney with five teams in the top 28. An event on the Big Bass Tour . The rainbow trout above was caught out of a delayed harvest stretch north of Asheville. 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Possum Kingdom Lake powered by TourneyX June 3 - 4, 2023 View . The colder days are more challenging than the warmer ones but downsizing your flies on the colder days have been vital to our success. If youve been wanting to book a guided trip, but have been on the edge of deciding I would like to encourage you to book. This is must have fly in every smallmouth anglers fly box. This section is a tailwater that provides cold water year round that creates the perfect habitat for aquatic life. (opens in new window), Check out the Foothills Marine Center YouTube channel! Lake JamesChoose a top technique based upon . The smallmouth bite will begin in March for the spinning angler that wants to get in on the prespawn bite. This was Bennetts personal best river smallmouth and the biggest smallmouth to hit my net this year. Fished a kayak tournament out of black bear cove 5/7. Go big or go home. April 9. This is a game changer. The spawn normally begins towards the later half of April and extends well into May. The delayed harvest waters will be excellent till the end of May. Just two days after suffering a tough road loss at Enka High School, the McDowell Titans showed a lot of grit on the diamond and, with the hel, The latest chapter of the crosstown rivalry took place on Monday as East and West McDowell middle schools battled on the baseball and softball. We understand that everyone likes to catch fish which we can definitely do that, but if you want to focus on some advanced fly fishing tactics to accelerate your growth as an angler then give us a call to set up a trip with one of our professional guides. VA Bass Chapter Federation 2023 Schedule - Lake Holston. Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S. We cater our trips to all anglers so no matter your experience level weve got fisheries just for you. Thanks for taking the time to read our post. If I could predict when the smallmouth turn on to topwater Id be a rich man. Completed in 1923, Lake James captured water from two rivers, the Catawba and Linville Rivers. The topwater bite has been best from 6am-11am, but we are seeing fish hammer topwater baits all hours of the day. For any tournament where there are 30+ paid boat entries, Skeeter Real Money ($5000) is available to qualifying winners. Read More. After a few years of scouting and many trips down the river we have started guiding the Pigeon River for smallmouth bass. Teams holding the top 35 points positions will qualify to fish the 2022 Points Championship. Twitch Em: In deep slow slack water I like to twitch the poppers because sometimes just a little movement on the legs can draw a strike. Enjoy our recent catches from some of the best rivers in North Carolina. Remember to still use light tippet this time of year. North Carolina Bass Tournaments - Eastern NC Bass Challenge UPCOMING TOURNAMENT BASS CHALLENGE SET TO VISIT KERR LAKE ON APRIL 16 For the 1st time in our history, the Eastern NC Bass Challenge will visit Kerr Lake! There are no side pots. Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC. The Catawba Tailrace is usually our go to float during the winter, but the rainbows that were stocked in the fall of 2021 did not make it through the summer of 2022 so fishing has not been great down there. (West to East) All three regions boasts some excellent bass fishing in the lakes and rivers. Below are just a few pictures from some of the fish we caught in July! The Spring offers some tremendous fly fishing opportunities across the mountain region for trout. . Remember to observe all applicable boating laws. Ryan and Mike have been fishing with me the last couple of years and I enjoy fishing with them because they like to get after it. The rainbow trout gets confused with the brook trout, but rainbows have a long lateral line on their sides that are pink or red. Young had to leave the tourney at 2 p.m. for another event. 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