Head for the Mountains

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	One county’s trout magic May 20 at 9:00 am Jackson County is a rising star in the world of trout fishing. It has the longest and most popular delayed-harvest waters in the state. It has the first and only official Fly Fishing Trail, featuring 15 of the area’s finest trout streams, and it will soon have the distinction of joining the state’s Mountain Heritage Trout Waters program.

	Spring is rebirth of trout April 18 at 9:00 am Spring is a magical time in the mountains, a time when dogwoods bud and the reddish-pink flowers of redbuds and white and pale pink flowers of serviceberry trees reach full bloom. Wildflowers break through the tangle of dead weeds, stems, decaying leaves and other debris as extended sunlight warms the earth. The delicate blues, stark whites, pinks and yellows of hepatica, windflower, trout lily, wood anemone, spring beauty, bloodroot and a variety of violets and trillium brighten trails, stream banks and forest edges.

	Deep Creek is a jewel March 18 at 9:00 am Deep Creek near Bryson City is one of the more-accessible streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and one of the park’s most-popular ones. The stream is ideal for fly fishing: wide and shallow enough to wade in most places, with a satisfying mix of large, open pools, numerous shoals and plenty of pocket water. It is also noted for its large brown and rainbow trout.

	The other Nantahala February 18 at 9:00 am The Nantahala River in Macon and Swain counties is primarily known for its challenging white-water rapids that attract paddlers — amateur as well as Olympic-class — by the thousands during the summer and fall, It is also widely recognized as one of the mountain area’s premier trout streams, so good that Trout Unlimited included it on its list of the top 100 trout streams in the United States — along with the Davidson River.

	A life-long fishing affair January 21 at 9:00 am I’ve had numerous romances, affairs, dalliances, one-time stands and flirtations over years — too many to care about counting. Only one do I return to time after time, the one that I never tire of, the one that always makes my heart and soul sing, my one true love: Santeetlah Creek in Graham County.

	Not ‘Tuck-ed’ away December 24, 2012 at 9:00 am A multifaceted stream, the Tuckasegee River begins at the junction of Panthertown and Greenland creeks in southeastern Jackson County and flows northwest through Jackson into Swain County, where it eventually flows into Fontana Reservoir.

	Time travel: weir wonder November 19, 2012 at 9:00 pm I fantasize about time travel, being able to go back in the time before Europeans came to this country, when it was populated by indigenous people, when forests were full, game was abundant and streams were clean and full of fish. Scientists hint now of that possibility, but it sounds more like science fiction than reality. If it happens in my lifetime, I’ll be ready to go with fly-rod in hand.

	Don’t ‘spare’ the rod October 22, 2012 at 9:00 am Jim Mills has been plying his trade for more than 40 years, meticulously handcrafting one-of-a-kind fly rods from graphite and bamboo, using only the best materials available to create what many of his customers describe as works of art.

	Take time to study a stream September 17, 2012 at 10:00 am Before stepping into a stream and making my first cast, I pause for a minute or two and study the stream, looking for breaks in the stream flow, pockets of slow water next to rushing water, plunge pools, and other places where trout are likely to be. It’s called reading the water, something every good trout fisher does.

	Hiwassee provides change of pace August 20, 2012 at 10:00 am My fishing preference is fly fishing for trout in the numerous and diverse creeks and rivers that flow through the western North Carolina mountains. Occasionally, I visit a lake for a change-of-pace fishing. I must admit it’s a rush to hook a feisty smallmouth bass; even hooking a big bream can give me charge.

	’Spray’ for summer bugs July 16, 2012 at 10:00 am Summer is the season for bugs: grasshoppers, ants, crickets, inchworms and beetles. Just about any insect that crawls, flies or hops is prime fare for trout. On mountain streams, hatches are minimal during the hot months, so trout depend heavily on insects that fall into the water rather than insects that hatch in the water.

	Driftin’ away has merits June 29, 2012 at 9:44 am On weekends, and some weekdays, it’s not uncommon to see four or five drift boats on the delayed-harvest section of the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County. Fishing guides and clients alike prefer the boats because they can cover a lot more water by boat than by wading. Plus, fishing from a boat is a lot easier than trying to walk over slippery rocks and wade through strong currents.