Looks Like A Decent Weekend Coming Up

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Sep 142012
 

The weather forecast doesn’t look too bad for Upstate SC this weekend. A chance of thunderstorms does creep into the picture, but not a significant threat. The biggest chance is on Sunday. Highs around Pickens, SC look to be in the mid 80s with lows in the low 60s, and should be a little cooler if you head up towards Bad Creek and the Whitewater River.

Water levels for the time being have dropped back below normal a little for now. Of course that could change if some storms do develop. Below average most likely means clear water and the trout will be a little on the spooky side. Wild fish more so than the stocked trout, but nevertheless, they will be somewhat spooky as well. Keep your tippet light and movements minimal and calculated. Speaking of stocked trout, the SCDNR placed just over 3,000 fish into a combination of the Chattooga River, Chauga River, and Brasstown Creek.

Its still relatively warm, so terrestrials may draw some action as well as dry flies. Stimulators, Olives, and Adams all stand a pretty good chance of working. Nymphs are always a good choice. Prince, Pheasant Tail, Copper Johns, etc.

Let’s Talk SC Trout Stocking

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Sep 072012
 

Well, as luck would have it, there’s really no trout stocking to talk about in the SC trout waters this week. Figures, now that I’ve found some some time to try to get back into the swing of things. That does leave a few things fishing related we can talk about though, like water levels, weather, and flies.

Water levels in the Upstate are exceptional right now, with most streams running right around average. Levels do seem to be on the decline for now, so that should mean relatively clear water and excellent fishing. The weather may make a few more adjustments to those conditions on Saturday, however. There’s a 60% chance of thunderstorms throughout SC, so local conditions could very a bit. Heavy rains could turn some water muddy depending on how things really play out. Highs will be around 80 degrees with lows in the 50s, so other than the rain chance, it should be really nice out there.

I guess that leaves fly selection. Most of your typical dry flies should still be doing well right now. Para Adams, Light Cahill, Caddis, etc. I would expect terrestrials to continue to do ok for the next two or three weeks as well, especially on stocked fish. The wild trout water should still fish fairly similarly, but like I always say, I like to scale my fly sizes down a bit on wild water. #16 and #18 flies should be fine on both wild and stocked water really. You can always turn to the venerable woolly bugger also.

Check the weather radar and forecast before you head out, and keep an eye and an ear out too once you’re there.

SC Trout Stocking Report and Summer Pattern Continues

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Jul 282012
 

The weather for the Upstate SC area looks about like your typical summer pattern. Highs in the 90s with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Doesn’t get much more typical than that. Water levels in the region are basically a little low, but not to the extreme. I would expect clear water unless a storm cell stirs things up a bit. Recheck the forecast before you head out. You know how the weather is.

The DNR stocked over 8,000 trout into our waters this week. Some of these included the Lake Hartwell Tailwater, Little Eastatoee, Little Canebrake, Rocky Bottom and South Saluda River. We’re still in the fairly easy fly choice season. Nearly anything “buggy” stands a pretty good chance of working, especially on stocked trout. Parachute Adams, stimulators, woolly buggers, light cahills, and terrestrials etc. Wild trout should take about the same flies, although I prefer to size it down a little. A stocked trout might rise to #12 or #14 dry fly, but a wild one might think twice. If you hit some wild water, try #16s and #18s, or maybe #8 or #10 buggers, or nymphs in the #14 to #20 range.

SC Trout Stocking and A Slight Break From The Heat

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Jul 142012
 

The weather continues to prove itself quite interesting. We have recently emerged from a rather hot spell, with many locations reporting highs in the triple digits for several days. Luckily temperatures have dropped back closer to normal, which is still fairly hot. Not sure you can tell much difference between 95 degrees and 101 degrees. Probably more psychological than anything.

Anyhow, with a break in the heat, came a lot of rain this week. Upwards of 6 inches here at HQ, and streams in the Upstate SC area are running well above average. If you’re going fishing this evening or Sunday, I would expect high and rather off-color water if not out right muddy. That could lead to poor fishing, but some big browns may get and move around some over on the Chattooga. I’d be thinking heavy flies this weekend. Beadhead or conehead buggers and other large streamers. Smaller water may be a little easier and beadhead nymphs with some split shot or another weighted dropper nymph might work out. There is still a chance for thunderstorms the rest of the weekend, so keep and eye out for those.

The SCDNR did stock over 5,000 trout this week into the likes of the Little Eastatoee, Little Canebrake, Rocky Bottom, Chauga River, and Chattooga River. There are fish out there to be caught, and of course there’s always the wild trout water.

SC Trout Stocking Report and Intense Heat

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Jun 302012
 

The SCDNR did stock quite a few trout this weekend in the Upstate, but the heat is going to be killer this weekend. If you normally catch and release, especially the wild trout, this would be a better weekend to either go ahead and keep them or don’t fish at all. They probably won’t make it with highs over 100 degrees and very low water levels.

If you do go out, drink plenty of the appropriate fluids, and monitor yourself and anyone else with you. 6x and 7x tippets will likely be the best, and I’d consider fishing subsurface flies in deeper cooler water for stocked and wild trout if you so choose.

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