Wade & Fish
The Creeks
Wild Trout Live In Beautiful Places
The creeks in Western North Carolina are the true definition of Southern Appalachian trout fishing. With year-round fishing opportunities, our creeks have options for anglers of all experience levels and disciplines. From the time we step into the woods until the last cast of the day, come ready to enjoy a wild foray into the Pisgah Gamelands, detach, and enjoy the beauty of the mountains.
Rates
Half-Day
Four Hours
Full-Day
Eight Hours
Brook Trout
The only trout native to Southern Appalachia, our creeks have a mix of larger stocked fish on Curtis Creek to truly wild natives on Newberry Creek. Their insatiable appetites and remarkable colors make them a true prized catch in the region.
Brown Trout
From bigger browns lurking deep in the lower stretches of the Curtis Creek to wild browns sipping dries in pools higher up the mountain, the brown trout fishing here is great year-round, using all popular fly tactics to land a fish.
Rainbow Trout
Rainbows are regularly stocked in the lower stretches of Curtis Creek, with tons of wild rainbows to be caught in the upper stretches and in Newberry Creek. They are plentiful, and they are hungry, with some studs living down in the lower sections.
About Your Trip
From easy roadside access points to more rugged backcountry hikes, our creek fishing trips were designed for those looking to experience Southern Appalachian trout fishing in its purest form. We can build your trip around getting more shots at larger fish, sight-casting to wild brook trout, or a combination of both. Join us for a day in the creeks and get a WNC Grand Slam or a True Wild WNC Grand Slam.
What's Included
These are fully guided creek fishing experiences, uniquely tailored to each one of our clients. Every trip starts with a conversation to learn more about you, your group, and what would make your perfect fly fishing trip in Western NC. We create a game plan based on the weather, season, and your angling experience.
Gear We Use
We take guiding seriously. The gear and tackle you use can make or break a trip, and that's why we use the best. From rods and reels to nets and packs, we take pride in our equipment. All that being said, we know a lot of anglers like to bring their own gear. Check out our packing lists for more information on recommended tackle and gear.
What To Bring
Come prepared for the weather during your season. We will be in touch with you leading up to your trip to ensure you're fully prepared for the season and the weather. We have a thorough fly fishing packing list with more information, and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
FAQ's
Yes! You will need a North Carolina Fishing License for your trip with us. If we're fishing in Cherokee, you will need a Tribal Permit (we will let you know if it is required). Children 15 and under do not need a license. Please contact us if you need help purchasing your license.
While we cannot guarantee you'll catch a certain number of fish, we 100% guarantee that our guides will work as hard as possible to get you on fish. We pride ourselves on a hard-working team of excellent teachers and patient instructors.
Our fish are our business partners. We are a catch-and-release operation.
Does your kid enjoy no internet and playing outside? If so, then it's perfect for kids! We recommend a minimum age of 6 and up, and they must be accompanied by a parent. We can tailor these trips to easier access points to ensure the kiddos are always close to a vehicle.
Come dressed for the weather, ready to wade/hike, and ready to catch fish. We recommend you bring snacks and water. If you book a half-day trip, you'll need to bring lunch. Lunch is included on full-day trips. The weather in WNC varies by season. We have created a thorough packing list for all of our trips to ensure you're properly prepared for your trip with us.
Of course! We know that most anglers have their favorite setup, and we welcome you to bring it. For more details on recommended setups, check out our Trip Planning page.
For all of our Creek Fishing Trips, we're meeting at Gateway Park in Old Fort, NC. It's where we get suited up, go over the game plan, and sometimes break for lunch depending on where we're fishing. We're able to access a lot of water within a 4-mile radius from here, so it's the perfect staging site for our adventure.
We love dogs, but we do not allow them on our trips.
If bad weather threatens the safety or quality of our trip, we will work with you to fish a similar waterway, offer a different experience, or reschedule for another date. We are always checking the forecast leading up to your trip and will be in touch if the weather may negatively impact the experience. Please review our policy page for more information.
We get it, things come up. We do our best to accommodate any last-minute changes or scheduling conflicts. Please review our policies for more information.
Yes! A 50% deposit is required to reserve your date. Depending on when you book, we may require payment in full. Please review our policies for more information.
Where We Fish
On our wade trips, we primarily fish two of the closest trout streams to Charlotte with a mix of wild trout and delayed harvest fishing opportunities.
Curtis Creek
Curtis Creek is the closest stocked trout stream to Charlotte, with a mix of Delayed Harvest and wild trout fishing opportunities. She flows from the Blue Ridge Parkway, through Old Fort, and eventually into the Catawba River. The creek fishes like your traditional Appalachian Trout Stream with a healthy insect population and a mix of pools, pocket water, riffles, and long runs.
- Less Than Two Hours From Charlotte
- Mix Of Stocked & Wild Trout
- Easy Access
- Great For Anglers Of All Experience Levels
Newberry Creek
For those seeking to catch wild trout and native Appalachian Brook Trout, Newberry Creek is an excellent option. It's tight and tucked away under the canopy of the Pisgah Gamelands with big pools and pocket water holding fish. We're using light tackle and a delicate approach. It's an absolutely gorgeous hike with fantastic fishing.
- States First Catch & Release Stream
- A Backcountry-Feeling Experience
- Get A True, Wild Grand Slam (Brown, Brookie, Rainbow)
- Light Tackle & Fun Fishing
Seasons
While the creeks around Western NC offer incredible year-round fishing, some seasons fish better than others. From epic hatches in the spring to tight-water euro-nymphing in the colder months, there is something for every angler in these hills.