Nolichucky Gorge

Smallmouth Bass Fishing - Asheville, NC

GUIDED SMALLMOUTH BASS FISHING TRIPS

NOW BOOKING 2018 SPRING SEASON

Smallmouth Bass fishing in the Southern Appalachian Mountains is renowned as some of the best on the continent.  We target these fish on our float trips on the fly and with tackle.  If you enjoy a tenacious pull from the surface and seeing acrobatic fish dance, then this is for you.  We target several rivers located in Western North Carolina and East TennesseeClick here for more information.

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GUIDED SMALLMOUTH BASS - WHITEWATER FLOAT FISHING TRIPS

For the adventurous angler looking for a remote experience, Asheville Fly Fishing Company is the only guide service in the Asheville area offering a smallmouth bass fishing trip on Class III-IV whitewater.  While it is becoming rare to find a true remote wilderness experience in the east, we are fortunate to have access to the French Broad River section 9 and the Nolichucky Gorge.  These trips offer excellent Smallmouth Bass fishing and flow through two of the most remote, beautiful sections of river found in the eastern US.  All guides are ACA Level IV Swift Water Rescue and CPR/First Aid certified and fully insured.  Click here for more info.

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GUIDED OVERNIGHT SMALLMOUTH BASS FISHING TRIPS

So much water, so little time.  If you need more than one day of fishing, we understand all too well.  We offer multi-day trips with Safari style camping.  Click here for more info and watch the video below.

REVIEWS

At Asheville Fly Fishing Company, we value long-lasting relationships with our guests and enjoy sharing memorable days on the water.  Click here to read what people are saying about their experience with us. 

ABOUT US

Guiding is our passion.  Sure we love catching fish on our days off, but sharing the experience is far more rewarding.  We are problem solvers who enjoy the connections and process just as much as the pull.  We push each other to be innovative, aware of the fine details and to always anticipate the next move gracefully and with respect.  Our goal is to give you the best service you have ever experienced, and to always enjoy as much river experience as possible while putting fish in the net.  Our first time out with you, we are taking notes on the details that make a difference to you.  From the moment we meet you onward, we go the extra miles so you are right where you want to be, fishing better and laughing louder.   Click here to read more about the guides.

 

FISHING REPORT:  SPRING FORECAST

With several good snows under our belt the ground water table is up as we move into the rainy season.  We anticipate good water levels for spring fishing on our freestone rivers.  This week we are getting our first taste of warmer temperatures and perhaps the beginning of the warming trends that will take us into spring.  As this trend progresses, we recommend your fishing efforts be spent during the end of each warm spell.  Don't go the first day it warms up.  If you've got five days of warmer temps in the forecast, hit the water on day 3, 4 or 5.  This will give the water temperature a chance to increase resulting in more active fish and more fish in the net. 

 

Southern Culture on The Fly magazine and Asheville Fly Fishing Company take on the Nolichucky Gorge

S.C.O.F (Southern Culture On the Fly) is an online fishing magazine filled with informative articles, fishy humor and vivid photography.  So when they told us they wanted to do a an overnight trip for Smallmouth Bass on the Nolichucky Gorge and feature the story in S.C.O.F's Fall 2015 issue, the perma-grin set in.  

Three rescheduled dates and seven months later, we were packing the boats and checking water levels.  For good fishing and easier rowing, we typically run the gorge between 700cfs and 1600cfs. The water level was a boat-dragging 350cfs the morning of the trip.  This is an extremely low level, making it hard to navigate anything bigger than a kayak.   At this level, the rapids grow teeth, the slots become cracks, broken oars are common and dragging the raft is sure to occur at least once.  We were running rafts with fishing frames and oar rigs.  Each boat carried one angler, one oarsman/guide, fishing/camping/camera gear and a cooler.  Three rafts, eighteen rods and reels, enough food and flies for six adventurists and every smallmouth bass in the gorge, we headed north from Asheville to bring it all down 9 miles of class III-IV water 2,500ft down in the Nolichucky Gorge.   The "Noli" gorge is sacred to many, loved by more.  If you go, please treat it with respect, play safe, and practice catch and release so that others may enjoy its splendor.   

In the end, memories were made, fun was had, many fish were caught, oar blades got broken and lessons were learned.  We safely made it out of the gorge wishing we could immediately do it again.  Thanks to S.C.O.F for bringing us on board for this one.  Thanks to everyone involved for making it an epic trip.  That was fun!   ~  Galen Kipar

The Team:  

  • S.C.O.F Writer - David Grossman
  • S.C.O.F Photographer - Rand Harcz
  • A.F.F.C Guides - Zach Bassett, Knox Campbell, Galen Kipar
  • Crooked Creek Holler 

Read the article here...    S.C.O.F  2015 FALL Issue #17 

 

Since the article came out, we have received several inquiries about fly patterns and the smallmouth in the Western North Carolina and East Tennessee mountains.  If you have questions or are looking for info, contact us anytime!

Asheville Fly Fishing Company  /  828-779-9008  /  flyfishingasheville@gmail.com