http://www.pamlicoguide.com

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http://www.blackhillsflyfishing.com

Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Magazine - Index

58
NORTH CAROLINA
OREGON
SOUTH DAKOTA
• Pamlico Sound
• Captain George Beckwith
North Carolina is
blessed with great saltwater
fishing—nowhere
more so than in the Pamlico
Sound, near the tiny
coastal village of Oriental. If you visit, however, you need to come prepared:
Leave your dainty trout rods at home, because most of your work here will
require 8- and 9-weight gear with large-arbor reels and plenty of backing.
Believe it or not, the fishing begins in March and doesn’t let up until the
middle of January in warmer years. The weather on the Pamlico Sound itself
can be unpredictable, so dressing in layer’s is the order of the day.
Out on the sound the question becomes, “What do I want to catch
today?” Most fly anglers come here in search of redfish, but they often fall
victim to aggressive speckled trout and stripers, as well. Throw big flounder
into the mix and you can see why anglers flock to this area. In fact,
some anglers have even begun to develop a tarpon fishery here. Daily rates
for fishing begin at $400 for long half-day trips, but may be varied with
full- or with multi-day adventures. For more information, contact Captain
George Beckwith at (252) 671-3474, or see www.pamlicoguide.com,
a consortium of topnotch local guides. by Beau Beasley
“Trout average four to six pounds, and fish
• Upper Klamath Lake
up to 12 pounds are common.”
• Rocky Point Resort
If that’s not enough to send you running to
speed dial for a plane ticket read on.
“Home to the largest native adfluvial redbands
in North America.” Still not on the road to Oregon?
“Studies show that redbands here reach 20 inches in three years, 26 inches
in five years, and fish 17 to 20 pounds are commonly caught.”
Go pack. You can finish this article on the plane.
Upper Klamath Lake covers 96 square miles in south-central Oregon
just outside Klamath Lake. It’s not easy water, but it is monster trout water.
Miles of cattail rushes and tules and a weird algae bloom add confusion
and disguise to this world-class trout fishery. The seven-foot average depth,
however, means that by late spring water temps are too warm for trout, and
the big rainbows head to the north end and the mouths of several cold-water
creeks. They stake out summer lies in ultra-clear water at the edges of Crystal
and Thomas Creeks, Williamson River, Harriman Springs Creek, Malone
Springs, and Rocky Point.
It’s a small-boat (almost impossible to fish from shore), wet-fly show.
Rocky Point Resort (www.rockypointoregon.com; 541-356-2287) is in the
thick of the challenge, with rental boats, fly shop, guides, great restaurant,
fishing licenses, moorage, RV and tent space, plus cabin rentals with kitchens
that run from $120 to $160 for a unit that sleeps six. by Terry Sheely
• Spearfish Creek
• Dakota Angler & Outfitter
I first fished on Spearfish
Creek as a kid in the 1970s,
and one of my first memories
of stalking and hooking a big
trout comes from the here.
Flowing through the northern Black Hills on South Dakota’s far west
side, Spearfish is not a big stream. But, its quality, beauty and ease of access
make it one of the better-known and appreciated trout waters in the Dakotas.
Spearfish can provide both nymph and dry-fly action (and some streamer
fishing in the deeper pools and pockets). Midges and Baetis mayflies are common,
and the shading provided by the canyon can encourage insects to hatch
at unexpected times. And with Highway 14 running immediately adjacent,
there are many places to access the creek if you see bugs in the air.
Hans Stephenson, the owner of Dakota Angler & Outfitter (605-341-
2450; www.blackhillsflyfishing.com), fishes Spearfish Creek extensively,
and has a long a list of favorite patterns. A few of those (by season) are: red
copper John (winter), CDC thorax Baetis dun (spring), Mercer glass-bead
micro mayfly nymph (summer) and bubble-back midge larva (fall, or all year
for that matter). Additional patterns to tie or buy would include red squirrel
nymphs, caddis emergers, and a smattering of smaller attractors.
Contact Dakota Angler & Outfitter in Rapid City to book a guided
trip on Spearfish Creek. A conservation note: Didymo is present in nearby
Rapid Creek. If you plan on fishing there, take precautions to avoid being
a vector for the spread of this organism. by Jason Borger
TOSHBROWN.COM PHOTO
JEFF EDVALDS PHOTO
JASON BORGER PHOTO