Respecting Private Property and Landowners When Fishing

The Watauga River

  
I was very saddened this week to hear of the closing of public access to some of the delayed harvest trout water along the Watauga River in North Carolina. The private land owners in this part of the river have always allowed anglers on their property. However, they say they have been forced to make this move due to abuse of their properties by activities other than angling. The stretch of river now closed runs from  Shull Mills rd. downstream to a parking area close to the intersection of N.C. 105 and Old Shull Mills rd. Since there is no more public access, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will not stock it with trout this fall. 

The full news article can be found here 

This is an ongoing problem not just in North Carolina, but everywhere. The sad thing is that a few disrespectful, immature people can ruin a good thing for all of the others that show the proper respect for someone else's property. 

When allowed access to private lands and waters please treat the property as if it were your own. 

1. Clean up and pack out all trash.
2. Be careful with campfires and cigarettes, and observe all burn bans! 
3. Don't play loud music since someone's home may be nearby.
4. Remember to close any gates you open behind you! The quickest way to pissing off a landowner is to let their cattle or horses out!
5. If a gate is open, leave it open. They have it open for a reason.
6. Don't  harass any livestock, or other animals on the property.
7. Behave like a grownup, don't shout profanities,talk loudly,or relieve yourself out in the open. Remember, someone might be living nearby. You wouldn't want your kids hearing or seeing that!  
8. This SHOULD go without saying,but sadly most folks don't do this. If you see the landowner while there....say Thank You!

Following these simple guidelines will insure that YOU are not the one that makes the landowner decide to lock their gates, and put up no trespassing signs. 




Tight Lines!

Shawn   
       

Float Trip,Watauga River,TN 8-16-12

I had the pleasure of fishing with Ollie Smith of Blue Ridge Anglers on this trip. This was a very emotional trip for me. Ollie was my father in laws favorite fishing guide and also very close friend. This trip was Christmas gift to me from my father in law two Christmas's ago and I was of course supposed to go on the trip with him. Sadly, he passed away in November of last year. So, I instead went on the trip with his friend King of 48 years as that was as close to going fishing with my dad in law as I could get.

I'm the big guy on the left,Ollie center, and King right.

                                                                                      

Guide

Ollie Smith-Blue Ridge Anglers

Ollie is an amazing guide! Very professional, and has a wealth of knowledge about the area's  entomology,trout locations,feeding habits, and what flies worked and what wouldn't.  He handled his Hyde low profile drift boat like a pro always positioning us for the perfect cast, and he knows the Watauga like the back of his hand. Mid-day he served up a great shore lunch of homemade fried chicken,various chips,pimento cheese, and a ton of other items. He just kept pulling and pulling food out of the compartments in that boat. Which was good,because King and I can eat!  

Ollie offers half day and full day trips on some of North Carolina and Tennessee's most scenic rivers. He tailors each trip to meet his clients' desires and skill levels. Blue Ridge Anglers also offers cabins for rent at The Watauga River Lodge located right on the bank of the Watauga. You can see rates and pictures by clicking on the hyperlink to The Lodge above. 

I've never gone fishing with a guide and not learned a lot, and Ollie was no exception. He knows more about trout behavior and feeding habits than anyone I have ever encountered. Although I've fly fished for years, Ollie noticed some bad mechanics that I had let creep into my casting. He helped me correct them, and I was casting better right away. I think that is one of the most valuable things about fishing with a good guide that people often don't think about. Just like Major League hitters have a hitting coach there to let them know when they start to make mistakes or have bad mechanics with their swing. I think it's a good idea to have someone who really knows a lot about casting to look at your cast every now and then. Don't let your ego get in the way of fishing better.

     

 How did we do?

We put the drift boat in at 8:30 in the morning and took it out a little after 4 in the afternoon. The trout weren't biting that well. Due to it being late in the summer and they have been fished hard for months. However, we still had a great time. We started out stripping size 14 olive and white bead head Wooly Buggers from the bank and started getting takes right away. Later Ollie switched us to a Stimulator size 12 with a Quasimodo bead head pheasant tail #22 dropper that we caught several more on. We also saw some  action on a pink Salmon egg pattern. Altogether caught around 30 Rainbows like this guy here.

Which wasn't a great day on the Watauga. Ollie said a good day earlier in the season is around 60-70 trout. King pissed me off by catching the biggest of the lot!

   

If you've never seen a trout's stomach pumped. Here are a few pictures of Ollie doing it below. Didn't help us much, as whatever this little guy had eaten was already too digested to figure out what it was. 

My one that got away story is on video below. I was high sticking a San Juan worm in fast moving water and hooked a HUGE slob brown. I played him for five minutes before King started filming this video. I made the mistake of thinking he was through fighting just as he went on another run and broke the tippet. I wasn't giving him my full attention and that big brown made me pay! He lulled me to sleep, and yes I'm still kicking myself! You can hear Ollie coaching me on the video.

It was great day still. I plan on taking another trip with Ollie next year much earlier in the year like around May, and have one of those 70 trout days! 

Hope you enjoyed reading!

Tight Lines!

Shawn