My favorite time of year has finally arrived

The leaves have turned and fell, the bookings have slowed some for the guide service, the first boar season has come and gone, and weekday traffic on our streams has greatly decreased. It is now time for me to get some fishing in. Spring, summer and fall I seldom get the chance to have a rod in my hands unless I am giving instruction or showing a client an advanced cast or mend. Now it is my time to enjoy the sport.

Along with the crisp air and water temps, something that is seldom known to a lot of fly fishing anglers occurs in the mountains of Western North Carolina-big Brown trout enter small mountain streams on their annual spawning run where a lot of these "bruisers" spend the majority of the winter. A chance to battle with one of these "brutes" on a 4wt rod makes the air and water temps worth the price of cold feet and chapped lips!

Fly fishing for trout is often seen as a spring and summer sport. The dry fly is often the preferred lure, but seldom do they offer the chance to tackle a true trophy fish. Trout are cold water fish. Their activity slows some in winter and aquatic insect activity almost comes to a stop leaving the fish happy to see almost any Nymph or Streamer that is presented to them. The big Browns that spend their summer in a lake are use to an environment that abounds with bait fish, offering them a large menu.

When nature sends them up small mountain streams, they become a lot less choosy. A large weighted Nymph or Wooly Bugger is seldom turned down if presented in the right way. Locating these fish is as simple as fishing all deep holes and undercut banks on any sizable tributary to our mountain lakes.

To add to this, very few people know of the "jewels" of Graham County's lake-run Rainbow (Steelhead)- a relic of an early stocking experiment by North Carolina Resource Commision. These fish also enter our streams late fall and generally remain in the streams into January, offering us another reason to brave the cold air and water temps of the Great Smoky Mountains.

So don't think that when winter has arrived that fly fishing opportunities decrease in our mountain streams.... for me it has just begun!!!!

Some winter fly fishing tips for The Great Smoky Mountains region:

• lots of fleece and neoprene!
• beadhead black Stonefly Nymphs (size 10-6)
• beadhead black Wooly Buggers (rubber legs seem to be irresistable and flash doesn't seem to hurt)
• fish 'em deep (these fish seldom leave the bottom, so your fly needs to be presented there)
• 7 1/2 to 9 ft, 4x or 5x leaders, topped with a yarn strike indicator

Remember: fish deep but wade shallow. A simple slip in these water temps almost guarantees hypothermia! Always fish with a partner or at least have a contact person that knows where you are and what time you are scheduled to return.

The best cure for cabin fever this winter is a BIG BROWN TROUT!!!!!!!!!!
Daniel Boone