I need advice from my American friends...

My wife has ordered me to go fishing (isn't she awesome?). I teach grade eight and my class has me completely stressed out. What I need is a healthy dose of time on the water. The problem is, all of my home waters are frozen.

I'm looking for an eastern US state with an open trout season (I'd even settle for bass). I'm thinking of North or South Carolina, Tennesse, Arkansas, or even Georgia. I'd prefer to target trout in rivers and streams, but I have absolutely no idea which states have open trout seasons or good trout water.

I'd be able to travel from March 11 to March 19 (during my March break). I'd like to stay at inexpensive motels close to the water I'd be fishing. And, if anyone would like to spend a day on the water with a friend from Canada, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for your help.
Andrew

Andrew,
While you didn't mention Ohio...that's where I am...Canton, Oh (Pro Football Hall of Fame city), & if you get this way, let me know a little in advance....there's ALWAYS room for FAOL family at the Flanagans. In addition, starting next week, I'll be off every Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. My wife, Colleen, has taught for 30+ years in elementary school and, even though I tease about her, is also extremely supportive of my love of flyfishing.
Again, if you, or ANY of my FAOL family get this way, I have a place for you to stay & some decent fishing holes.
Mike

Andrew..Depending on the weather in March there is only one place in the east to fish what you are looking for...."Pennsylvania"..Our Limestone streams and Spring creek streams never freeze..With the amount of rainfall we got last year our creeks are in excellent condition,and if we do not recieve any substantial rain fall,we should be in good shape..During the month of February we had excellent fishing on our Spring and Limestoners...I am retired and fly fish as the opportunity arises...If the weather is right, and you are avialable, I would only be to glad to escort you on some of the finest streams that Pennsylvania has to offer...You can surf the net to find out what accomadations are available in N.Central Pennsylvania...At that time of the year it should be very reasonable...

Hackletip

Andrew,

If you can make it down to New Mexico, you'll have one of the best year-round trout fisheries in the world at your disposal. I guided up there the last three days and landed 12-15 fish over 15" with two 21" hogs thrown in for fun. I know it's farther than you wanted, but it would be almost a guaranteed good trip.



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Jude
Small flies work best. Elephants eat peanuts.
www.customflys.com

Thanks to for your responses guys. It's nice to know that other anglers are so willing to help make a stranger's trip so memorable.

Riverdancer - I'd love to go to New Mexico, but with a baby on the way, and the purchase of a new house, I don't think the bank account will let me. And, if possible, I'd like to keep the destination within driving distance of southern Ontario.

Thanks for the advice, though. I'm sure I'll make it there someday.

Andrew

Riverdancer,

Where in NM are you speaking about. I may be making a trip out that way in the near future. I'm always looking for an excuse to bring my fly rod along.

Western Massachusetts.

Open water, open season. What else does one need. We have four great trout rivers within an hours drive. The Deerfield, the Millers, The Westfield and Swift. Travel another hour and add the Housitonic and Farmington.

If your interested let me know and I'll give you ideas about where to stay etc.

jed

[This message has been edited by Jed (edited 23 February 2005).]

tuber, i'm on my way. i'll only stay a year or two--promise!!!

Tuber, Hackletip, Jed - Thanks for the advice and the invites, I really aprreciate the kind offers...please understand that at this time of year, I'd like to fish in warmer climes!

Is the season open in Tensessee? If so, any information would be helpful.

Andrew

PG,

I'm talking mostly about the San Juan River which is located near Farmington, New Mexico in the Four Corners Region. It is in Northwestern NM near the AZ, CO, and UT borders. It's definately a trip to make in your lifetime. Year-round fishing for big trout. If you'll e-mail me, I can give you more information.

-Jude

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Jude
Small flies work best. Elephants eat peanuts.
www.customflys.com

Dave M,
Come on over! There's always room in the "Dogloo"!!!
Seriously Dave.......ANYTIME! I think we could stay outta trouble...with my wife following us around!!
Mike

hi

Please seriously consider sneaking down around brother Jim Hatch's way to tie into some of those wonderful monster bluegills and bass. Nothing quite so satisfying as a day in the boat fighting those big 1 and 2 pound bluegills and the odd largemouth tossed in on the side.

Oh, thats down on the Santee-Cooper Reservoir in S. Carolina. Looks like [url=http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/etc/rulesregs/pdf/freshfishing.pdf:502bb]there are no closed seasons in S. Carolina[/url:502bb] with a very few exceptions.

I have never been there myself but after reading all of the reports I am raring to go!

Brother Jim, would that be a good time for Andrew to come on down to Carolina for some fishing?

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RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:502bb]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:502bb]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com

Andrew,

I live 79 miles south of Nashville, Tennessee and there are 2 local rivers here that have stocked trout and hold over trout. I would love to spend a day or more with you showing you what we have here if you are interested. Just let me know what I can do. I could pick you up at the Nashville airport if you should choose to fly in. I will not promise you anything except the best time I can offer you exploring my home water. My profile has my e-mail address if you need it.

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Warren

Hey Andrew,

I'm too far to the east to offer you
any trout fishing, but mid march may offer
some bluegill, redear and bass fishing. It's all up to the weather man. We have
seen as high as 80 degrees in March, as
well as below freezing.*G* If you get down
this far, give me a holler and we'll hook
up. Warm regards, Jim

Andrew- I retired last year 33 years mostly 7th and 8th Science. They get to you don't they! The Great Smokies are a possibility. The water is still cool and fishing can be very inconsistant, but the last report I got was that some Quill Gordons were just starting to show very sporadically. On WEEKDAY nights the motels in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are very cheap-$ go up on Friday night. I don't fish tailwater but the Clinch has been having some midge action. If you are interested, Email me,
Rsale@Netburner.net.

Iowa's trout season is year round. Wisconsin's will open with C&R on March 5th. Minnesota's C&R season opened on 1/1.

But you wanted it warm. Well, 34 IS warm in the winter in the upper midwest. If it gets to 40 there will be guys walkin' around in shorts.

Enjoy your vacation where ever you go!

Thanks again to all who have responded thus far. I'll try to contact each of you by email to make any necessary arrangements.

Thanks.

Consider Virginia. There's tons wild mountain brook trout streams in the Shenandoah and George Washington National Forests. Many of the lower sections of these streams are stocked and you can "warm up" there before tackling the wild fish upstream.

Hi devil,

A friend and I are also trout starved in Canada. We have been thinking of a trip to Virginia. Is it too early the third week of march to camp? Any suggestions of places to stay in the areas you mentioned? Thanks,
Lauder

Hey Lauder,

Where are you from?

I know Devil can give you more accurate local information, but it sounds like temperatures can be pretty hit and miss down south this time of year. However, if you've ever camped in Algonquin in November, I'm sure that camping in these states would be a cake walk.

Let me know what your plans are. Maybe we can meet on the water.

Andrew

Hey Lauder, Andrew is right the weather is touch and go in March but in the parks this is the month that the brookies "turn on" although I have been catching fish there throughout February.

I'm apprehensive about giving out camping advice since I haven't camped out there myself. However I have fished the Hughes River quite a bit this winter which is at the base of Old Rag Mountain and I have seen tons of hikers/campers heading up there.

I suggest you call some fly shops and they might be able to point you in the right direction. Check out [url=http://www.murraysflyshop.com:3c223]http://www.murraysflyshop.com[/url:3c223] or [url=http://www.blueridgeangler.com/welcome.htm:3c223]http://www.blueridgeangler.com/welcome.htm[/url:3c223]

I have gotten some decent tips from those sources. I also suggest a couple of books which I consult regulary when trying a new stream and have been invaluable to me:

Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park by Harry Murray and Flyfisher's Guide to Virginia by David Hart. In that second book there is a decent section on West Virginia waters as well. A Delorme Virginia Atlas and Gazetteer will help you find all these streams.

This article will also give you a good flavor of what fishing down here is like.
[url=http://www.flyfisherman.com/south/hmshenandoah/index.html:3c223]http://www.flyfisherman.com/south/hmshenandoah/index.html[/url:3c223]

Hi Andrew,

We live near Kingston in Eastern Ontario. We are looking at the week after March break at the moment, that would be the week of the 21st. If we can't meet on the water this time I am sure we can another. Do you attend the Fly Fishing Forum in April?

Hi Devil,

Thanks for the information, We will follow up on it. can we buy you a coffee when we are there?

Lauder

Sure, let me know when you all come down and maybe we can meet up. I'll be hitting the water pretty regularly on the weekends.

Hey Devil,

What can you tell me about local weather around March 15...

Do you think the Quill Gordon hatch will be on? Will brookies take dries at this time of year? Will the water temp be the low or mid forties? So many questions...sorry.

Would you be available to give advice or even spend a little time on the water? I have a six day window to drive to Virginia, fish, and return to Canada...My time on the water will be precious, and I'd rather not "waste" it trying to find a productive place to fish. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Drop me a line here, or contact me through my email.

Thanks,
Andrew

Weather around that time is pretty unpredictable. It could be anywhere between the 40s, 50s, 60s or even 70s. One day it might be 50 and the next something else.

The Quill Gordon happens in the latter part of March. This month I have seen tons of little stoneflies.

They should take dries. Last time I went out which was two weeks ago I fished various dries with a beadhead prince nymph as a dropper. I never actually hooked a brookie on the dries but they attacked it often enough. One thing about these brookies is that if they are feeding they will hit whatever floats by. If you are not hooking them then most likely you need to switch to smaller size. Starting out with a size 16 is always a good bet.

I dropped you a line on email as well.



[This message has been edited by Devil's Ditch (edited 24 February 2005).]