Asheville, NC

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
My oldest niece is getting married, (outdoors and barefoot ?
what's *that* all about ;-), in Asheville on Saturday June 10.
[snip]
Anybody have a recommendation for someplace to fish for a few
hours on a Friday in June near Asheville ?

I would start with the wild section of the Davidson which is some 20
miles or so from the Asheville airport. There are several hatchery
supported (delayed harvest) rivers near Asheville, the only ones I have
any familiarity with are the South Toe and Pidgeon. The south toe had
some feeder creeks that fed into that offered some very nice native
brookies. There was also a TU project on a stream in Waynesville NC
which is fairly close. I vaguely remember a Mills river or some such
too.

There was a great flyshop in Asheville called Hunterbanks. Before a
certain fly shop opened in Morganton, I used to consider it the best
shop in the Southeast. They will be probably be very helpful.

ditto on the Davidson....

Along the road is good and you can go all the way up by the hatchery and
it's very good.

the road quits short thereafter and a small hike takes you to the upper
reaches of the Davidson...

Easy access from Ashville...

john

Ken:

Long time lurker here, but I do know the Asheveille area, so here goes.

Budget trip 1

Go to the Mills River on your own. Hatchery supported, so fewer crowds.
Take I-26 south from Asheville, take the airport exit, go towards Brevard.
You'll see a sign and you can fish near the road.

Budget trip 2

Same directions, keep going towards Brevard, take a right on Hwy 64 and go
up to the hatchery. Park in the parking lot. Step out into fly fishing
heaven. 20" fish in a fly fishing only area. The only problem is that it
is SOOO crowded and the fish have PHD's. If you catch one, it will either
be luck or on a #24 midge. Up your chances of success by getting a guide
from Hunter Banks. On the web at HunterBanks.com. They used to have area
maps as well. I HAVE NO AFFILIATION WITH THIS SHOP. There is another shop
at the intersection of 280 and 64. I think it's the Davidson River Fly
Shop. They may have info as well.

Premium trip

Call above fly shop and do a float on the South Holston, the Watauga or the
Tuckaseegee. Done them all and they are all fantastic. But you have to
float and it ain't cheap. The boys can get you over there and back for the
day. About an hour and 15 min drive.

Tight lines.

Patrick
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
. com...
My oldest niece is getting married, (outdoors and barefoot ?
what's *that* all about ;-), in Asheville on Saturday June 10.

We'll arrive Thursday and being male and therefore a fifth wheel
for wedding purposes I'll have all day Friday June 9 to fish.

Anybody have a recommendation for someplace to fish for a few
hours on a Friday in June near Asheville ?

--
Ken Fortenberry

prm wrote:
Ken:

Long time lurker here, but I do know the Asheveille area, so here goes.

Thanks Patrick and thanks to everyone else, except Timmmaaaay.
Me and Kipper will fish while the others obsess and rehearse
and we'll be back in Asheville in time to clean up and go to
the rehearsal dinner. This uncle business is OK. ;-)

--
Ken Fortenberry

Ken:

Happened to be up there last weekend, although I did not fish and here's
some better directions to the Mills River.

Go down Hwy 280 to the North Mills River Road. Follow that to the Mills
River Recreation Area. Go about 1/2 mile into that area and just before a
one lane bridge is a parking area four about four cars on the right. Water
looked nice both up and downstream from there. Saw 3 fisherman in an area
of about 3/4 of a mile of river on a nice Saturday. Most of the crowd will
be at the Davidson. I doubt you get a trophy at Mills, but you wouldn't get
one at the Davidson either, although you would get to LOOK at one at the
Davidson!!

Tight lines.

Patrick

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
t...
prm wrote:
Ken:

Long time lurker here, but I do know the Asheveille area, so here goes.

Thanks Patrick and thanks to everyone else, except Timmmaaaay.
Me and Kipper will fish while the others obsess and rehearse
and we'll be back in Asheville in time to clean up and go to
the rehearsal dinner. This uncle business is OK. ;-)

--
Ken Fortenberry