Fly Chick Chat with Kristen O'Daly

How One Becomes a "Fly Chick"
Several years ago (6 to be precise), my future husband suggested we try fly-fishing in
Western North Carolina - in December! Wanting to impress, I agreed with somewhat
feigned enthusiasm. Despite catching not a single trout and wading through cold water
with a leaking wader, I was literally "hooked" from my first experience.

If you know me (and you'll get to with these monthly installments), my mind races
constantly and calm is not a word associated with me. This is unfortunately the case with
many, many women. As women in these times struggle with constant stresses, deadlines,
family and work, it has become more and more difficult to maintain our balance.

This changes when your waders hit the water. When folks ask me why I love so much
this great sport, I tell them it's primarily about nature and mindfulness. When you cast a
fly and watch it drift down the stream, it requires all of your attention. You are in a
beautiful setting, away from all of the hassles of every day life and this act of fly-fishing
becomes your refuge.

This is not to say that landing a big fish is not exciting or that men don't have similar
stressful lives, but this column is for us girls. In the next months, I hope to give you tips
about fly-fishing from a beginner's perspective, ways to get the most out of your
experience and have fun while doing it. I look forward to our chats! Kristen

Your First Guided Trip!
As we all know, Summer and Fall are favorite vacation times for many people. This year,
depending on your destination, you may want to consider a guided fly fishing trip. This
can be a unique and fun event to do with a significant other or group of friends. With
the economy as it currently is, folks are not traveling as far, so take advantage of the
beautiful waters of Western North Carolina and Tennessee!

Here are a few things to consider when setting up your first guided trip. Do you have
any physical limitations that would prevent you from climbing in and out of somewhat
steep areas of the water? Do you want a guide who will focus on instruction or will
make certain you catch fish (yes, you can have both of these things but some guides have
a particular strength). Do you want to fish in a more private setting (picture small
streams with trees surrounding you) or would you like to fish more wide open water?
There are options for half-day trips of full-day trips and you can also choose between
wading or taking a float trip.

These are just some of the questions that you can ask when booking a fly-fishing trip.
Take the time to do some research and really consider what you think you may enjoy to
get the most out of your trip. For all of the options offered by the very skilled team of
guides at Curtis Wright Outfitters, go to CurtisWrightOutfitters.com/GuideServices.

Have a great Summer! Kristen

To Wade or To Float?
When I first started fly-fishing and using CWO as a guide service, we had the option of
taking a wade trip or a float trip. Being a newbie, I had absolutely no idea what that
meant, but was game for anything. The first few times, we opted for wade trips - I loved
the feeling of stalking through the small streams, being so close to nature (even though it
included getting my line caught in the trees and particularly the hemlocks on multiple
occasions).

After several wade trips, we decided to try a float trip for variety. This is a great way to
fish some of the wider waters, such as the French Broad, Watauga, Tuckaseegee and
South Holston. Float trips allow you to cover a longer stretch of water and also to enjoy
the scenic beauty of the mountians. CWO offers these float trips in both North Carolina
and Tennessee.

When you take a float trip, that is literally what it means. You are in a small water craft,
floating down the river and casting from the boat. These trips may appeal to people who
don't want to do much hiking or climbing in and out of the water. It's all just a matter
of personal taste, but I recommend trying both before you decide if you have a
preference. While the experiences are quite different, they are both very enjoyable - as is
all fly-fishing!

Hooked...Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Even though this month's theme is wild-water trout, I had to write a brief article after
last month's newsletters focusing on smallmouth bass fishing. Just about two weeks ago, I
unexpectedly had the chance to go smallmouth fishing in Pennsylvania - what a blast and
how different this was from my typical fly-fishing experience. The water I waded was
much wider than the streams in western North Carolina so I had to do some different
casting (called a double haul). This required using a lot more line and then stripping of
the line, which was tough for me.

I fished with a green transparent minnow-like fly and also some rubber worms (wasn't
up for using the real thing). I only landed two fish, but how fun. Both fish were about
14-16 inches, but the fight in them was amazing - much more tough than trout. I
personally enjoy this part of fishing the most. When you remove the fly, you hold the
bass from the mouth, which is much different than trout. I was surprised at the
difference, but would definitely try it again. You may want to try this when you book a
trip with Curtis Wright Outfitters if the "fight" of the fish appeals to you!

Delayed Harvest Fishing in the Fall
Hey all - it's Delayed Harvest time - and we're not talking pumpkins! For fly-fishers,
delayed harvest fishing starts in October and ends at the beginning of June. For avid
fisherman, you can sense the excitement in the air! What delayed harvest essentially
means is that when you catch a fish during delayed harvest time, it's solely catch them
and then release them back into the water (don't forget to make sure your hands are wet
before you touch them).

The delayed harvest program started in the early 1990's with four streams and has grown
substantially since that time. Delayed harvest streams are stocked from hatcheries in the
Fall and Spring, which is why October is such a popular time to fish! Delayed harvest
waters are marked with black and white signs and may be fished with artificial lures
(often nymphs and wooly buggers in the Fall) on a single hook.

This is the perfect time to learn to fish during this beautiful season so give Curtis Wright
Outfitters a call at 877-450-3474 to set up a trip!

Fall in Western North Carolina
One of the prettiest places in the world come October and into November is Western
North Carolina. With its sprawling mountain ranges, the views are amazing and so is the
fishing. Last month we discussed delayed harvest and our streams. At the very beginning
of October and November, the delayed harvest streams are stocked with countless
volunteers with hatchery trout. This is also the time when the brook and brown trout
start spawning. When the water gets very cold at night, the fish often "hunker down"
and it's difficult to get their interest in your flies. However, as the day warms up, so do
the trout - they start feeding more aggressively during the warmer parts of the day which
means you can start your fishing a little later in the day (sleep in a little longer or have a
more relaxing breakfast).

Brook and brown trout start spawning in September and October and this can often last
a few months. The female trout make nests in the gravel and the males develop more
vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges (coinciding with the change in leaves). The eggs
develop over the winter and then hatch in the spring. Trout have some built in
safeguards from predators. The tops of the trout are darker so that when prey (or fly
fishers) look down into the water, the fish blends in with the stream bed. In contrast
their undersides are much lighter and more brilliant in color, which helps them mimic
the colors of the sky and surrounding foliage. What a great time of year to be fly fishing
in Western North Carolina.

Oh...What to Wear?
Isn't that a question that women are often asking themselves. Well, when it comes to
spending a day on the water, it's no different. The weather in western North Carolina
can change rapidly even during the course of a few hours, so it's good to be prepared.
You can start out fishing in the morning in the 30s or 40s and be in the 60s or 70s by
early afternoon.

So what does this mean to you? LAYERS! After fishing for 6 years, the most important
thing I have learned for an enjoyable day on the water is multiple layers in the Fall as
well as a hat of some nature. Optimally, it's nice to layer a long sleeve T-shirt with a
sweater or sweatshirt and then a quick-drying shirt on top. Don't worry about taking off
the layers - there are always places along the creeks and in the woods to do that in
privacy. Also take some bug spray if you happen to be one of the lucky ones to attract
gnats. Mosquitoes aren't generally a problem this time of the year.

One great idea as well is to throw in rain gear of some sort. With the weather often
changing rapidly, it's better to be prepared than not. Often showers don't last long and
this way, you'll still be able to enjoy the fishing come sun or rain!

Just What Are Flies Anyway?
When I first started fishing, guides and friends would talk about different flies, patterns,
etc. and I felt like I was listening to a foreign language. Hopefully this article will simplify
this to some degree. There are basically 3 types of flies and within those categories, there
are countless flies with often eclectic and sometimes downright funny names. Most flies
are designed to most closely resemble and imitate something a trout would eat; whether
it is an aquatic insect, a bait fish, or a terrestrial insect. These are the three main types of
flies.

1) Nymphs - Nymphs are designed to most closely resemble immature forms of aquatic
insects and small crustaceans. Nymphs are fished subsurface and can be really small so it
often helps to have an indicator on the line so you can see the "tug" of the fish. An
indicator is usually orange, white or a combination of both that floats on the top of the
water. The Purple Prince nymph is one of my personal favorites.

2) Dry Flies - A Dry fly is designed to be buoyant, or to float on the surface of the water.
Dry flies typically represent the adult form of an aquatic or terrestrial insect compared
with the nymphs who resemble immature forms. One of the greatest things about fishing
with a dry fly is that you get to see the fish rise to take the fly. One of the dry flies often
used in Western North Carolina is the Royal Wulff.

3) Streamers- A Streamer is designed to resemble some form of bait fish or other large
aquatic prey. Streamers may be patterned after both freshwater and saltwater prey
species. Streamers are a very large and diverse category of flies as they are effective for
almost any type of fish. When fishing with streamers, you let the streamer sink in the
water and then gently tug it across to emulate what would be natural movement.
Streamers are loads of fun to fish with - here is an example called a
Woolly Bugger.

If you are not certain what flies work best, CWO offers pre-packaged
kits which will make your day go smoothly and allow you to adjust to
various conditions.

New Year? Gear for Fishing...
As with any new sport or project, one of the things that needs to be learned is what to
call the tools/gear you are using. With fly fishing, fortunately, it is fairly simple when
you get started. Your fishing rod consists of the rod itself and the reel at the bottom.
Rods and reels range greatly in price depending on how much you want to invest in the
sport. We also know that you need a fly to attract the fish (see last month's 'Fly Chick'
article for descriptions of the 3 basic types of flies).

The names of things that were unfamiliar to me when I started were the leader and
tippet. The 'Leader and Tippet' is the connection between the fly fisher and the fly (and
also the name of Jeff's dogs). It is the section of line after the fly line (connected to the
reel) and before the fly. Its purpose is allow for natural presentation of the fly and be
strong enough for the fly fisher to retrieve any fish that might strike at the naturally
presented fly. Sounds simple enough, but to me it is still a bit complicated.

The leader in fly fishing is tapered. It is thicker at the butt section, than at the tippet
section. It is usually divided into three sections. The butt is tied directly to the fly line,
and is about 60% of the leader. The mid-section is next and its purpose is to taper down
to the tippet without losing a lot of strength. The final section is the tippet The tippet is
the actual section that is tied to the fly. It is the thinnest section so it needs to be strong,
yet allow for a natural drift. It resembles a piece of filament and you use the tippet to
secure the fly to your line.

Waders are important. You can wear hip waders or can choose full waders that reach
your chest. You can also use waders that have the "boot" built into them or you can buy
the kind that you purchase a separate boot for. The latter are much more stable, so I
would suggest that if you are going to be spending much time in the streams, that is the
way to go. CWO has a wide range of products to offer in either of these categories!

"How Our Fish Feed and What Flies to Use"
Now that Spring is upon us, there is going to be more movement among trout as the
temperatures slowly start to rise. One thing that can be confusing is how to spot the fish
and determine what they are feeding on so that you can use the best fly possible to
attract them.

Trout can create rings on the surface of the streams when they rise to take insects off the
surface of the water. If rings are reappearing in the same spot, this is an active hole where
they are probably eating insects. This is when you should be careful to watch the surface
of the water to determine what bugs the fish are looking for so that you can select a fly
which most closely simulates the bug.

If trout are splashing as they rise to the surface (and you often hear this rather than see it
in my experience - I always just seem to miss it), it usually means they are feeding on
caddis flies. This is when the fish have to leap from the water to catch their prey since
they are moving so quickly. Dry flies are great for this type of fishing.

There are times when insects are floating right along in front of you and yet the fish are
not going for them. They are just beneath the surface looking for bugs that are just about
to emerge from the water. When this happens, the water bulges upward and occasionally
you can see the back of the fish as it rises. When bulges are occurring, floating nymphs
are often a great way to go.

The weather is breaking so get out there and don't be afraid to play around with
different types of flies! Happy fishing!