Western NC Archives - Page 52 of 74

Trout are a little slower to feed in cold, winter water, but they’ll often warm up enough to hit nymphs, streamers or dries.

Don’t ignore January fish

In terms of weather, January and February are the roughest months of the year, a time when we get the coldest weather, along with snow and ice. […]

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s 2012 survey of Lake Norman showed the crappie fishery in its best shape in years.

Commission gives thumbs up to Norman crappie fishery

Tony Garitta

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission sampled the Lake Norman crappie fishery in 2012. The results translate into good news for fishermen. […]

TTI-Blakemore’s Reality Shad Buffet Rig is an Alabama rig downsized specifically for crappie fishermen.

Crappie fishermen have Alabama rig they can call their own

Tony Garitta

Crappie fishermen no longer have to construct a downsized version of the Alabama rig. […]

Grouse will often fly uphill when pointed by dogs or flushed wild.

Grouse hunting particulars

Walt Bowen

Follow these tips to improve your chances of having a productive grouse hunt: […]

A 16- or 20-gauge double-barrel shotgun choked improved cylinder and modified is a perfect gun to carry all day in mountainous grouse country.

Grouse hunting things to know

Walt Bowen

• Guns and shells – You will be walking long distances and hunting in tight quarters; depending on your personal preference, any good birding gun will do, but bigger is not necessarily better. […]

Prescribed burns and other normal forestry measures are seldom undertaken on national forests, to the detriment of many wildlife species.

Forestry considerations

Walt Bowen

Due in part to pressure from environmental concerns, the U.S. Forest Service heavily curtailed timber harvest in national forests in the late 1980s. […]

Anglers who use double-nymph patterns at the Davidson River can experience outstanding winter trout fishing.

Davidson River trout fishing great with double-nymph rigs

Craig Holt

Although many people think of winter as a downtime for fishing, North Carolina trout fishermen know the cold months offer excellent opportunities in mountain rivers and streams. […]

Guide Gus Gustafson said improvements in electronics have allowed him to better exploit Lake Norman’s crappie, including slabs like this one.

The ‘eyes’ have it! Lake Norman crappie fishery is at a high point, and winter fishing is excellent

Tony Garitta

Today’s electronic technology has made searching for crappie easier than ever before. […]

About 40 percent of the 19,000 trout stocked annually in the delayed-harvest section of the North Toe River are rainbows.

Toe the line – The delayed-harvest section of North Carolina’s North Toe River is a prime stretch of trout water in the winter

Tim Mead

Nestled in the mountains is one of the jewels of North Carolina trout fishing, the North Toe River, and one of the shiniest baubles as the section that flows through the town of Spruce Pine. […]

Guide Joshua Swaim shows the kind of gamebird for which North Carolina’s mountains are famous.

Ruff-ing it – The Pisgah National Forest is a grouse hot spot for North Carolina hunters who know where to look and what to look for

Walt Bowen

If you’ve been considering joining a gym, buying some exercise equipment or taking up a weight-loss program to try and drop those 10 pounds — or maybe it’s 15 — you may have added over the holidays, here’s an alternative. […]