PBS Feature on the Pigeon River

PBS VIDEO FEATURE

Pigeon River Water Quality

In summer 2023, PBS contacted founder and owner of Asheville Fly Fishing Company, Galen Kipar, to discuss the aftermath of the paper mill in Canton and its impacts on the Pigeon River. Galen along with several others met up with PBS to share their knowledge and passion for the Pigeon River. The video was produced by PBS and released in Spring of 2024. Since the paper mill shut down, biologists are already reporting positive signs of water quality and aquatic life. Check out the full video below.

The Pigeon River or “dirty bird” begins its descent in NC, and flows northwest into TN, where it terminates into the French Broad River. (The section of river downstream of Canton, NC, has a tannic water quality, hence the nickname.) Several miles upstream in Pisgah National Forest, its headwaters are pristine with large boulder gardens and dramatic elevation change, making for scenic waterfalls and plunge pools. Throughout its headwaters downstream to Canton, anglers will find both wild and stocked trout. Below Waterville Dam, the Pigeon is a tailwater and considered a trophy smallmouth bass river with fish averaging 1-4 lbs. This section of river has it all and historically holds the most diverse fish species of all the Tennessee rivers. During summer months, Duke Power regulates a recreational flow schedule. These regular high flows increase oxygen content and decrease water temperature, which provide ideal conditions for abundant aquatic life. The Pigeon River is a year-round fishery.  ~ Galen Kipar

Targeting Trophy Trout near Asheville, NC

Targeting Trophy Trout

It’s late winter in Western North Carolina. Although the days are getting longer, the spring sun has not fully rounded out the edges of winter nor brought with it its day-long warmth igniting early spring hatches. Those awaited emergences will reach fruition a few weeks in the future, but for now conditions leave the current’s quarry clinging in their nymphal states to the submerged rocks and riverbed, patiently awaiting the gentle chide of warming water. For most trout enthusiasts, there is nothing quite as satisfying as watching a well-placed dry fly being eagerly swallowed by the cresting beak of an engaged trout. This spectacle coupled with the authoritative bend in the rod, the twisted intermingling of line and chattering reel, prompts anglers to get up pre-dawn on the weekends after enduring a five-day laborious stretch of work-week sunrises. To satiate my desire for aggressive springtime slurps out of season, and pass the time before their likelihood, I regularly find myself engaging in the cold weather, high-risk, frequently unrewarded gamble of targeting trophy trout.

The Whens

I firmly subscribe to the old angling adage that, “The best time to fish is when you have time to fish.” That being said, when the odds are slanted against you, you may want to stack as much in your favor as possible. A lot of big fish are caught during the cold weather seasons, since they are more easily goaded into aggressively engulfing a streamer when they’re hoping to fill their bellies with a calorie-rich winter meal. During pre-spawn periods when larger trout become aggressive, their temperament may also encourage them to strike a large fly that resembles a smaller trout or any other egg-eating baitfish inhabiting the river. During those times of the year, it’s important to be mindful of reds and to leave any actively spawning fish alone. When I’m chasing a big bite from trout, you can assume I’m bundled up and expecting to deal with less than favorable weather. I also tend to get more streamer-happy during or following a rainstorm when the rivers are high and a bit off color. All that sediment and silt discoloring the water may help to hide heavy leaders and cover up any casting or presentation errors that are made, in turn fooling otherwise weary trout . Also, the increased flows may force a fish to decide without hesitation whether or not to attack a bait before the water carries it out of reach. Large trout also tend to be a bit more snappy during low light periods, so I prefer to target them in the mornings and evenings.

The Wheres

Another angling adage, regularly recited by my father during the fishing follies and disappointments of my youth was, “He didn't get that big by being stupid.” This comment usually followed some angling chagrin, which I, even at an adult age, take very poorly. I was most commonly exposed to this quip following the loss of a large fish, after witnessing the ejection of my hook from its mouth, or after watching a fish reject my offering subsequent to a scrutinous inspection. I definitely didn’t and don’t appreciate any comment after a major fish-fail, but nevertheless, the air of the statement rings true: Big trout are smart. You’re most likely to find them stealthily stowed in the tightest crisscrosses of a gnarly log-jam, dwelling in the deepest recesses of pools, tucked underneath root riddled undercut banks, or in inconspicuous crevices and cracks beneath and between large rocks. In these environments big trout stay safe from predators, including you, and use the cover to ambush prey. At any given moment a fish can be anywhere in the river and I often deploy casts to cover lesser holding water but I focus the bulk of my time targeting the aforementioned habitats and plying those areas with extra regard.

The Arsenal

If I’m investing my time in big trout, I’m likely going to wager on a big bait to fool it, and I'm going to need stout gear to land it. Leave the delicate rods at home. I usually throw 6 through 8 weight rods, coupled with reliable reels, and sinking line or sink tips connected to 4- 9 foot lengths of 10 to 20 lb fluorocarbon. These vary depending on river conditions and sizes, as well as the size of the trout I expect to find in a particular river system. Leaders should be substantial enough to bully that trout away from cover and withstand an aggressive strip-set. The majority of streamer-eaters aren’t leader shy. I most often want my fly swimming deep near the river bottom. For situations in which I worry about the trout seeing the sinking line or sink tip, I generally employ a long leader with a heavy fly and maybe a couple nodes of well-placed spit shot to keep my offering at its desired depth. As far as flies go, there are no shortages of colorfully named streamers gracing fly shop displays or on sale online. I generally recommend finding some that match the forage fish in the river you are targeting and then grabbing a few that stand out and look a little less natural. Some streamers look nothing like baitfish but move and flash in a way that peaks the curiosity of apex trout. I also favor a slow, erratically cadenced retrieve incorporating pauses, but I regularly experiment with it and speed it up to see what presentation elicits the most aggressive response. It’s never a bad idea to head to a local fly shop for advice or to hire a guide and pick his brain for the morning.

The Outcome

Another adage that my father lovingly tortured me with after failed fishing endeavors during my childhood was, “Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.” Getting skunked is something that then and even now, in my forties, I’ve seldom taken gracefully. I’ve heard that the tolerance for it comes with age, but I’d be a liar if I claimed that I expected that to change in my 50’s or 60’s. In that aspect, I shamefully admit that I’ll be forever 12. Sadly, if you’re playing the big trout game, you're going to have to accept a stern skunking, even if you don’t like it, and afterwards somehow summon the fortitude to attempt it again and again. I think one way to endure this is to trick yourself into enjoying the process, and even if it includes a mouthful of sour failure, never give up. Rivers have been the settings for the bulk of my fondest memories. I’ve rarely fished a day in my life where I didn’t learn something new and that knowledge has usually been bestowed on me with or without fish and often unsolicited. It could be a subtle nuance in your favorite river, where a trout might hold, but somehow you’ve never noticed it. Or the way the abdomen of a specific river nymph in one river is slightly lighter in hue than in the river you fished in last week. Two lessons that I've learned in the past few decades on the water are that well-iced beer is still cold no matter how many fish you do or don't catch and that failure is made more tolerable with company. So, if you decide to bundle-up and go galumphing into a river to hunt for your trophy, it probably isn’t a poor idea to take along a friend and having a six-pack waiting at home. Besides, you’re going to need someone to snap a grip and grin when you net that 25 incher, right? Good luck out there.

BY: Anthony Lohr

Asheville Fly Fishing Company

Full Time Fly Fishing Guide

Asheville, NC

BOOK A GUIDED TRIP with Tony by clicking the button and requesting him on the reservation form or CONTACT US button.

Featured on Field and Stream

Thanks to Fin & Field for adding us to Papa-Would-Be-Proud Adventure Series featured on Field and Stream. 

Click this link to read:  http://www.fieldandstream.com/promoted?prx_t=UbECAgyIOAtsIMA

Featured in Dun Magazine "Page 5 Guide"

A big fishy thanks to the fine folks at Dun Magazine.  We love them and Dun magazine.  The magazine is available online and in print for your enjoyment. 

It was fun answering their questions and that is what its all about!  Thanks for keeping it fun!  Check out the feature and this great fishing magazine by clicking the following link. 

DUN MAGAZINE

Asheville Fly Fishing Company featured in Southern Culture on the Fly Magazine

While your recovering from a food coma in your favorite chair this holiday,  take a minute to check out the most recent issue of Southern Culture on the Fly.  We had the pleasure of rowing the SCOF crew down the Natahala Gorge on a day off from guiding.  We were in aluminum Drift Boats hunting for wild brown trout.   

A big thank you to the guys at Southern Culture on the Fly for a great experience.  It is always a pleasure with SCOF and we love their magazine.

Thank you to Asheville Fly Fishing Company's guides Zach Bassett and Anthony Esposito for their great work behind the oars and great attitudes.   

To read the full article go to www.southerncultureonthefly.com 

Here's a few shots from the article...  

Fall Fishing Season is here: Smallmouth Bass & Trout

70 degrees and Fall is in the air! The fish are happy and hungry and flying out of the water.  The leaves are already changing here in Asheville. The #Trout and #Smallmouthbass fishing is REALLY good right now and we are loving it.  Here's a handful of highlights from the last week of guided trips...  #wataugariver #southholstonriver #flyfishingasheville

Make your reservation now for fall season.     BOOK A TRIP: (828) 779-9008  

 

 
 

JULY Fishing Report: South Holston River & Watauga River

July was a good month.  It was a hot, busy month on the water.  While below average water levels and above average temperatures have made the Smallmouth Bass fishing challenging, the tailwaters in East Tennessee have been fishing great!  Since the South Holston River and Watauga River are tailwaters (Rivers fed by a dam where the water comes from the bottom of the lake), they stay cold enough and flow enough for the fish to remain happy.  We've been experiencing some extra happy fish this summer with the abundance of Japanese Beetles falling out of the trees.  Both brown and rainbow trout are looking for them actively and the Big Brown Trout are on the prowl.   The Beetles have been on for two or three weeks and we anticipate they will continue through August.  If you want in on the action, give us a call!  We still have a little availability in August, so book sooner than later!

Here's a few of July's highlights...  

2015 Summer Fishing Video with Asheville Fly Fishing Company

Happy 4th of July!   We are looking forward to watermelon, fireworks, homemade peach ice cream and good days on the water.  Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!  

Video & 2015 Fishing Report for Western North Carolina and East Tennessee

Asheville Fly Fishing Company’s guides love fishing, but sharing the experience is far more rewarding.  Come fish with us! 

FISHING REPORT for Western North Carolina and East Tennessee:

*So far, the Smallmouth Bass fishing this spring has been the best we’ve seen it in 2 years.  The water temperatures have been above average, and there was no significant flooding that interfered with the spawn.  The magic water temperature for the top water bite is around 70 degrees.  Two rivers in this area reached that mark this week and sure enough, the top water bite was hot.  We anticipate the top water action will be great until temperatures flatten out into the upper 80’s and 90’s.  Then, mornings and evening will be best.  If you are out there on your own, don’t forget to check the water temperatures, it will tell you a lot about what the fish are going to do. 

*The tailwaters of East Tennessee are renowned as some of the best in the southeast.  This reputation holds true, and especially this spring.  Both the Watauga and South Holston River have been fishing great as significant hatches bring fish to the surface.  The Dry fly fishing has been excellent this spring, but it doesn’t stop there.  The Sulfurs on the South Holston River are just getting started, and the big fish come to the table.  The “Soho” is undergoing more maintenance at the dam so we can expect irregular flows.  If you go wading, don’t forget to check the generation schedules and flow arrival times, better safe than sorry.  On the Watauga River, the Caddis hatches have been thick, with some of the best black Caddis hatches we’ve seen in years.  Spinners and tan Caddis are currently working well on Watauga.  Both these rivers fish great year round, but as summer sets in and water levels are low elsewhere, they offer some of the best fishing opportunities. 

*The Tuckaseegee River (NC) is managed as a Delayed Harvest regulated river.  Harvest opens June 6th.  If you are interested in having a great numbers day and catching upwards of 40 fish,  we recommend hitting it before June 15th.   We don’t recommend the “Tuck” between June 15th and October 3rd, as the majority of the 20K pounds of fish will end up in someone’s freezer.  We practice Catch and Release and encourage anglers everywhere to fish with a conscience.  

*Wade trips on Delayed Harvest streams are winding to a close.  While some streams get hit harder than others, many will be fished out by June 15.  At that point, the Davidson River is a sure bet for Catch and Release anglers.  For the angler who prefers the canopy of rhododendron and the intimate hunt, there are hundreds of miles of Backcountry streams that are home to beautiful, eager wild trout.