Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Wilson Creek NC Trout Waters Information portal

Plan your Wilson Creek Trout Fishing Trip courtesy of Brown Mountain Lodge Cabin Rentals and Wilson Creek Outfitters


Best Lodging close to the River -web site"click here"


                                                           Brown Mountain Lodge - BML
Creekside Cozy Cabin - CCC

                       Wilson Creek Info

                    Upper Wilson Creek Winter Fishing Excursion Video

                                   

Wilson Creek is a freestone stream that comes to life in Avery County along the slopes of Grandfather Mountain in the Pisgah National Forest.  From it’s headwaters to the confluence with John’s River in Caldwell County, Wilson Creek drops several hundred feet and flows some 25 miles.  Wilson Creek was named a Wild and Scenic River in August of 2000.  
Great Wilson Creek Shot
Nice size water for the fly flinger to enjoy!
Basically you can divide Wilson Creek into 4 sections.  The upper section is regulated as Catch and Release Artificial Lures Only.  This upper section is defined by large boulders and plunge pools.  This section requires anglers to hike/walk into the remote sections of the stream.  Lost Cove Creek, one of the major tributaries, is regulated as Catch and Release Artificial Fly Only water.  Lost Cove marks the lower boundary of this section.
From just below Lost Cove down to Phillip’s Branch, which is just downstream of Harper Creek is regulated as Delayed Harvest water.  This section is very heavily stocked with over 10,000 fish stocked each year.  This section is much flatter than the upper section and has some large slow deep pools.  Harper Creek is a major tributary in this section, it’s regulated as a Wild stream and offers the visiting angler the opportunity to hit some Wild water after they “tune up” on the fish in the DH waters.
Nice Wilson Creek Rainbow
Another nice Wilson Creek Rainbow
The next section is about 7 miles long and is regulated as Hatchery Supported trout water.  This section includes the Wilson Creek Gorge which is one of the premier whitewater kayaking runs in the southern US.  This section is the most visited part of the stream, with lots of swimmers, tubers, sun bathers etc.  This section is BIG water with lots of deep pools and some Class III and IV rapids.

Great shot of Wilson Creek Gorge
The lower stretch of Wilson Creek below Brown Mountain Beach to John’s River is very marginal trout water and is a smallmouth bass fishery.  Some great smallmouth bass action can be found here and with so much water close by it’s often over looked by the visiting angler.
General Overview of Wilson Creek Fishing Conditions by season
Spring:
Blue Winged Olives and Black Stone flies are the primary hatches throughout the spring.  Starting in April you’ll find big hatches of Hendricksons and Caddis flies.  Spring is a great time of year to fish Wilson Creek since you’ll pretty much have the place to yourself.
Summer:
Summer months can be challenging to the fisherman on Wilson Creek.  The water warms, the crowds grow and the fish activity slows.  Once the Caddis flies begin to tail off you’ll still find a good concentration of Stoneflies and Light Cahills and like all streams in NC terrestrial flies like the ants, beetles, and hoppers can be very effective.
Fall and Winter:
The fall and winter fishing on Wilson Creek can be be INCREDIBLE!   From streamer fishing the gorge for big browns, to stalking wild fish up high to testing your skills on the Delayed Harvest section, Fall/Winter fishing offers great opportunities for the visiting angler.  Typical hatches include Blue Wing Olives (BWO’s) and black stone flies and your typical midge nymphs throughout the season.

Wilson Creek Outfitters web site for the latest in fishing the Wilson Creek Gorge

Wilson Creek Outfitters Website portal for the latest info on Wilson Creek fishing "click link here"

                               What are Delayed Harvest Trout Waters


Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters

  • Begins Oct 1 til the 1st Sat in June
  • Single hook artificial lures only
  • No Trout possessed
  • All other times Htchery Supported regulations apply
The following trout waters, Wilson Creek above Phillips Branch (near the Welcome Center)
excluding tributaries except as noted, may be fished only with
artificial lures with one single hook. No natural bait may be
possessed, and no trout may be harvested or possessed while
fishing these waters between Oct. 1, 2012 and 30 minutes
after sunset on May 31, 2013. These waters are closed to fishing
between 30 minutes after sunset on May 31 and 6 a.m. on June 1.
At 6 a.m. on June 1, 2013, these waters open to fishing for youths
under 16 years old under Hatchery-Supported regulations—
no bait restriction, no minimum length limit and seven-troutper-
day creel limit. At 12 p.m. on June 1, 2013, these waters
open for all anglers under Hatchery-Supported regu la tions.
These waters are marked with black-and-white signs.

                               What are Hatchery Supported Trout Water


Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

Stocked Streams and Rivers
Wilson Creek below Phillips Branch all the way down to the Brown Mountain Resort Dam
  • Begins the 1st Saturday in April to the last day of Febuary
  • No bait or lure restriction
  • No size restriction
  • 7 fish creel limit

                                       What are Wild Trout Waters

 

Wild Native Trout to the area:


Up creeks and tributaries, Harper's Creek, Gragg's Prong, Phillips Branch and others

  • Single Hook artificial lures only
  • Minimum size 7 inches
  • Daily limit 4
  • No closed season

                              Stocking Chart for Wilson Creek for 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


2014 Delayed Harvest Trout Stocking for Western NC



Map of the Wilson Creek River sections showing Delayed Harvest and Hatchery    supported waters

To book the best accomodations in the gorge check out our website for Brown Mountain Lodge Cabin Rentals  "Click link here"

Outdoor covered lounges with fire pits, chairs, dart boards, and grills for chillaxing after a day on the river!
                                                    BML outdoor lounge fire pit and gas grill
                                                               BML charcoal grill
                                               CCC Outdoor lounge and covered area
                                                 CCC picnic table gas grill darts and fire pit