Upper Watauga River North Carolina
Copyright 2010 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Upper Watauga River
North Carolina
Tennessee's Watauga River tailwater is a well known
trout stream. This is the same Watauga River but it's
the headwaters that lies above Boone Lake in North
Carolina rather than the Watauga tailwater below Wilbur
Dam that's so popular and well known. The problem
with the uppermost parts of the Watauga River in this
area is access, or I should say the lack of it. Most of the
stream runs through private property; however, the
parts that's on public land are worth fishing. The stream
holds brook, brown and rainbow trout.
The Watauga River starts out at the bottom of Grand
Father Mountain in North Carolina at Banner Elk North
Carolina near Boone. From its beginning downstream
to North Carolina #1580, the stream is under the state's
wild trout regulations. It's very small and there's little
water to fish because above the bridge at Highway
#1580, it flows mostly through private property. From
the North Carolina #1580 bridge downstream to the
mouth of Boone Fork Creel, a tributary stream, it flows
entirely on private property.
From the North Carolina Highway #1557 bridge to the
Highway #105 bridge, and from North Carolina #1114
bridge to the North Carolina #194 bridge at Valle
Crucis, the stream falls under the state's "Delayed
Harvest" regulations. There's about two miles of fishing
in the "Delayed Harvest" section. North Carolina
Highway #105 runs along the stream for over a half mile
just above the bridge in this section. Upstream from that
point, Shulls Mill Road follows along the river for almost
a mile in the "Delayed Harvest" section. Access is easy
from the Shulls Mills Road with plenty of parking areas
and spaces.
The Watauga isn't exactly a small stream in the
"Delayed Harvest" area. It's rather large, averaging
about forty feet wide and even wider in places. The
river flows along a golf course in one area. It flows on a
low decline in this area and is open enough that casting
isn't a problem. It has plenty of large boulders and
rocks distributed throughout its waters creating many
holding places for the trout.
There are plenty of both wild and large holdover trout in
the upper Watauga River in the "Delayed Harvest" area
and above there in the headwaters. It's a good place to
catch a large brown trout. It's by no means a great
destination stream, but one well worth fishing if you are
in the area.
Season:
The season runs year-round
Winter:
Trout can be caught many days during the Winter
Spring:
Spring is the best time for fly fishing the Upper Watauga
River because of its hatches.
Summer:
Summertime is marginal, the water can become too
warm.
Fall:
Fall is a beautiful time to fish this stream and a good
time to catch one of its large brown trout.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies
North Carolina
Tennessee's Watauga River tailwater is a well known
trout stream. This is the same Watauga River but it's
the headwaters that lies above Boone Lake in North
Carolina rather than the Watauga tailwater below Wilbur
Dam that's so popular and well known. The problem
with the uppermost parts of the Watauga River in this
area is access, or I should say the lack of it. Most of the
stream runs through private property; however, the
parts that's on public land are worth fishing. The stream
holds brook, brown and rainbow trout.
The Watauga River starts out at the bottom of Grand
Father Mountain in North Carolina at Banner Elk North
Carolina near Boone. From its beginning downstream
to North Carolina #1580, the stream is under the state's
wild trout regulations. It's very small and there's little
water to fish because above the bridge at Highway
#1580, it flows mostly through private property. From
the North Carolina #1580 bridge downstream to the
mouth of Boone Fork Creel, a tributary stream, it flows
entirely on private property.
From the North Carolina Highway #1557 bridge to the
Highway #105 bridge, and from North Carolina #1114
bridge to the North Carolina #194 bridge at Valle
Crucis, the stream falls under the state's "Delayed
Harvest" regulations. There's about two miles of fishing
in the "Delayed Harvest" section. North Carolina
Highway #105 runs along the stream for over a half mile
just above the bridge in this section. Upstream from that
point, Shulls Mill Road follows along the river for almost
a mile in the "Delayed Harvest" section. Access is easy
from the Shulls Mills Road with plenty of parking areas
and spaces.
The Watauga isn't exactly a small stream in the
"Delayed Harvest" area. It's rather large, averaging
about forty feet wide and even wider in places. The
river flows along a golf course in one area. It flows on a
low decline in this area and is open enough that casting
isn't a problem. It has plenty of large boulders and
rocks distributed throughout its waters creating many
holding places for the trout.
There are plenty of both wild and large holdover trout in
the upper Watauga River in the "Delayed Harvest" area
and above there in the headwaters. It's a good place to
catch a large brown trout. It's by no means a great
destination stream, but one well worth fishing if you are
in the area.
Season:
The season runs year-round
Winter:
Trout can be caught many days during the Winter
Spring:
Spring is the best time for fly fishing the Upper Watauga
River because of its hatches.
Summer:
Summertime is marginal, the water can become too
warm.
Fall:
Fall is a beautiful time to fish this stream and a good
time to catch one of its large brown trout.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies
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| Type of Stream Freestone Species Rainbow Trout (wild and stocked with holdovers) Brown Trout (wild and stocked with holdovers) Brook Trout (stocked with holdovers) Size Medium Location Northwestern North Carolina Nearest Towns Boone Season Year-round Access: Good Non-Resident License State of North Carolina Weather National Weather Service Link Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies |
Photo Courtesy Steven Lamb
| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |