Davidson River Fishing Report

Davidson & Area Rivers

The last couple of weeks have brought some much-needed cooler temps, which have been making the fish happy and have made the fish better than the dead heat of summer. With water temps down into the low 60's in the mornings, the river is plenty cool enough to fish, and should stay this way through the remainder of the year. With little bug life in the river right now, terrestrials are still the best thing going. Late-season ants, beetles, and inchworms are still doing the trick, especially on a windy day. Light line is always a must on the Davidson. 5x-6.5x tippet is going to be the bread and butter. Fishing above the Looking Glass Falls confluence has been best, but that doesn't mean that you should totally ignore the lower section. 

Flies:  San Juan Worm 16, Quick Sight Beetle 14-16, Worm Farm 14, Texas Piss Ant 14-16, Chubby Chernobyl 14-16, Fat Head Beetle 14-16, Soft Hackle Hare's Ear 14-16 

Rod: G-Loomis IMX-Pro V2 

Reel: Lamson Guru

Line: Rio Gold Line

Delayed Harvest

Towards the end of the summer, there aren't too many fish left in most of the Delayed Harvest rivers, such as Little River and East Fork of the French Broad, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't go. These rivers hold fish year-round, but as the summer comes to an end, they can be tougher to catch than you might remember if you haven't been fishing since the Spring. Right now, light line, long casts, and stealthy wading are going to be what make your day. Try to avoid sending waves upstream as you wade; that way, the fish don't feel you coming. 6x tippet and getting away from where everyone else fishes are the best ways to go about fishing a pressured river like these, and can make the difference in a great day and a slow day of fishing. 

Flies: Girdle Bug 12-14, Morrish Dirty Bird 16-18, Howell's Shuck-It Jig 14-16, Jig Perdigon 16-18, Hot Head Squirrel Leech 10, Squirmy Worm 16, Chubby Chernobyl 14-16

Rod: St. Croix Connect

Reel: Redington Ace 

Line: Scientific Angler Amplitude Infinity Smooth 

Small Streams

With cooler temps across WNC, the high elevation streams are already into a fall-time pattern. Fishing dry droppers is always a great option to keep from getting too many tangles in the trees close to the river. October Caddis should start to show up any time as the weather continues to cool. Woolly worms and caterpillars are still prevalent in these areas, as well as a few remaining terrestrials. Fishing can be an all-day adventure now, with cooler water, which is a nice change from only morning fishing. 

Flies: Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, Stimulator 16-18, Sassi Solution 18-20, Soft Hackle Hare's Ear 14-18, RS2 Midge 18-22, Pheasant Tail 20-22, Chubby Chernobyl 14-16

Rod: Tenkara Rhodo

Smallmouth/Warmwater

Although this has been a messed-up year for river access, the smallmouth fishing has been phenomenal when you can get into some clear water. While the cooling weather will push these fish a little deeper, they will be feeding heavily throughout the fall in preparation for the cold winter. Baitfish patterns in slower water and eddies will be the key to success for this time of year. Bring an intermediate line with you, and if you aren't catching anything, then continue to slow down and fish deeper water around dark colored rocks that will retain some heat. Popping bugs can also have great days this time of year, especially if you fish them very slow, lots of times we will throw a bug under an overhang tree and then just let it drift all the way down through the tree without ever moving it before the fish actually take it. 

Flies: Gallop's Mini Dungeon 2-4, Meat Whistle 6, Wolly Bugger 6-10, Sparkle Minnow 8, Near Nuff Crayfish 4-6, Boogle Bug 4-6

Rod: Sage R8 Core 

Reel: Ross Evolution 

Line: Rio Smallmouth Bass