The Catawba River tailrace below Lake James is about an hour from Charlotte and is an incredible brown trout fishery. With over 15 miles of trout water and very little public access float fishing is your best bet. It’s BROWN TROUT galore!!!

This is the state’s only Special Regulation Trout Stream, anglers are allowed to keep 7 trout, only 1 may be kept over 14″. No bait or hook restrictions just like Hatchery Supported Trout Waters. But don’t let that fool you.. the limited access keeps most anglers away and allows us, float fishing guides, to access remote stretches of the river.

Our self bailing rafts with custom oar frames allow us to put our clients on stretches of the river at all water levels. This allows our clients to fish the river regardless of generation schedules.

The NC Wildlife Resource Commission has been stocking the river with all catchable size brown trout for the past few years. These brown trout are growing at an incredible pace! With nearly 10,000 brown stocked each year this river is blowing up!! From a great caddis hatch in the spring, nice cool water throughout the hot summer months (can you say terrestrials??) and of course fall and winter fishing that rivals the great tailraces over the hill in TN.

Located less than 10 miles from the dam, in Marion NC, On The Fly Guide Service is proud have this incredible fishery as our our HOME RIVER! We have been fishing and guiding on this river for the past 15+ years!! Over the past 5 years the numbers of guide services offering trips on this river has more than quadrupled. With so many other guide services jumping on the bandwagon, we decided to lease a 300+ acre tract on the river which allows us to offer wade trips as well as having a private take out / put in. We also offer overnight camping on our private stretch.

Here are a few pics of brown trout caught by our clients, and yes all these brown trout were caught on the fly!!

If that doesn’t get you fired up not sure you have a pulse! When you are ready to experience the Catawba River Tailrace below Lake James just click here and we’ll get your trip set up!

For more information…

On The Fly Guide Service 470 Yancey Ridge Lane Marion, NC 28752 828-659-0059 NCONTHEFLY.com