A Visual representation of High Country Fly Fishing

There is really nothing like cool water flowing around your legs, a calm breeze wafting around you, or the feelings of soft soil, moss covered rocks, and sand beneath you. These feelings come from the always immersive and magical experience of fly fishing in the High Country. Fishing, in itself and through these feelings, has a way to give us a state of clarity, peace, or relaxation. The quite setting with water rushing over rocks in the background and tall trees surrounding you, provides a place to simply be one with nature and your surroundings, free from the judgement and chaos of the word. Fly fishing and the outdoor experience that it provides allows us to be ourselves, meet new people, and ultimately grow an appreciation for our surroundings and the beauty that it holds. Fly fishing pushes and challenges our exploratory nature as humans and our desire to create our own paths. Finding a water hole by yourself, untouched by others, and catching fish there is something unmatched and gives you a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction. The Appalachian mountains and the surrounding areas of Boone are some of the best places to explore and find those great fly fishing spots. The High Country offers a plethora of fly fishing opportunities, with beautiful streams and creeks full of fish, including the native brook trout. Its high elevation, cool waters, and shaded cover and homes for fish from the abundant trees and rocks, provides a wonderful fly fishing experience for all anglers. Ultimately, fly fishing in the High Country offers a unique opportunity to relax, find peace, and embrace our beautiful surroundings.

Relaxation...

Chloe Weigl, 12, strips out line as she casts towards a waterfall in Goshen Creek, Boone, NC. "Fly fishing is therapeutic. Slowly moving the line back and forth in a circular motion is relaxing, and so is wading through a beautiful stream. I can tune the noise of the world out and listen to the birds, the waterfalls, and the breeze. Nature doesn't care about my physical appearance, emotional qualities, and performance. When I go fly fishing I am simply a part of creation, and I find a lot of peace in that," said Weigl.

New Connections and Opportunities

Amelia Lynch, 11, pulls back her fly line, preparing to attempt a bow and arrow cast under a fallen tree into a small stretch of Goshen Creek on February 28. "Fly fishing is my main focus on outdoor activities! What I enjoy most about fly fishing is being more interactive in nature, taking my friends out and teaching them, and I also feel like I learn something new every time I'm out! My dad got me into this sport, and working at The Speckled Trout Outfitters has influenced my hobby a lot more. I've created a lot of connections with people and have gotten a lot of opportunities with organizations," said Lynch.

Gear and Apparel

Pictured above is a fly rod reel and wading boots; two essentials in Fly Fishing, especially during cold weather. Wading boots with a set of waders allows anglers to fish through colder temperatures and wade through deeper water, making it easier to cast to further spots and get closer to fish. The Fly Rod and Reel is a specialized, lightweight fishing setup designed to cast nearly weightless artificial flies, unlike conventional fishing which uses the weight of the lure to cast. This setup is primarily used for precision, allowing anglers to present tiny flies delicately to fish, often in rivers and streams, though it is used in all water types.

The Why...

Chloe Weigl carefully ties on a new dry fly to her line as she prepares to fish a new spot on the creek. "I enjoy fly fishing because I get to connect with the surrounding ecosystem. I wade with the water’s tempo, casting with my right hand as the line glides through my left. I hardly notice scratched arms from dodging branches or scraped knees from climbing banks, because when I am on a mountain stream, my thoughts are on the next section of stream to be explored," said Weigl.

Pictured above is the beautiful setting of Goshen Creek, covered with mossy rocks, fast moving waterfalls, and High Country boulders.

Casting and Technique

Fly fishing casting is fundamentally different from conventional fishing because it involves casting the weight of the line to carry an extremely light weight fly, rather than casting a heavy lure or bait to pull a light line. It requires a rhythmic, two-part motion cast , forward and back that is designed to "bend" or "load" the rod, which then acts as a lever to launch the line. Almost all anglers would say that fly fishing is much harder when compared to spin fishing and requires mental focus and determination to get the art down.

Creativity within the Sport

Beyond just the forward and backward motion, there is much more creativity involved in the casting realm than most people know. Fly fishing casting can have many techniques and methods where anglers can become innovative with their casts depending on surroundings. If the creek has a lot of trees overhanging the fishing holes or obstacles covering the water, then you might use a roll cast or a bow and arrow cast. If the river is wide and stretches out for longer distances then you may use a double haul cast which allows you to reach further.

Page updated