Float fishing

N.C. DOCUMENTS CLEARINGHOUSE JUN 19 1990 Oil C. 2— FLOAT FISHING N.C. STATE LIBRARY There is a certain charm in floating a river in a canoe or cypress skiff. To ЙгйЙНЙ water's pace through a hardwood bottom or mountain meadow is to choose a more casual, less pressurized mode of fishing in the spirit of the past. Such float trips are not necessarily less productive than lake fishing or wading. They may be more varied, both in the kinds of fish available and in the constantly changing scenery along the river bank. Rivers and streams listed here are not all of those in North Carolina suitable for float¬ fishing, but they are representative. The range is from mountain streams with roaring white water where you had better mind the boat rather than the rod, to dark, slow acid water of tupelo and cypress swamps. There are two species of trout, several basses, including largemouth and smallmouth, and even more panfish species, pickerel, as well as shad and stripers which ascend coastal river to spawn in spring. Access to streams is at public and private ramps and at bridge crossings, many of which are on secondary roads. Neither official state highway maps nor oil company maps show these routes. However, you may buy county maps for the counties you will be floating. Write to: Department of Transportation, Location and Surveys, Highway Bldg., P О Box 25201, Raleigh, NC 27611. Phone (919) 733-7600. A list of public boating access areas and a fishing rules digest may be obtained from: Wildlife Resources Commission, Div. of Boating and Inland Fisheries, 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27604-1188, or phone (919) 733-3633. THE MOUNTAIN STREAMS There are several mountain streams that are suitable for canoeing and for wade-fishing, but not for float-fishing. They are too fast and may have falls and rapids. The streams recommended here may be fished from a boat or by wading after beaching a canoe or boat. Principle game fish species are rainbow and brown trout, smallmouth bass and panfish, principally rock bass (redeyes) and robin. Some of these rivers have sections designated "Public Mountain Trout Water". They are closed for fishing for about a month in March and early April. State law requires anglers who possess a fishing license and a trout permit when fishing trout water. On game lands, a special permit is also required. In all other waters, a state fishing license is necessary. Mitchell River in Surry County from Kapps Mill to Yadkin River. Access at bridge crossings. Spring through fall for smallmouth bass, a few trout, robin and catfish. Floating is difficult in upper sections when water is low because of shoals and rapids. Scenic. Canoe. Little Tennessee River in Macon and Swain Counties (from Georgia line to Fontana Lake). Access at bridge crossings. Spring through fall for rainbow and brown trout in upper section, smallmouth bass, channel and flathead catfish and panfish in lower section and a few muskellunge. Floating is difficult from Franklin to Fontana Lake because of numerous shoals and rapids. Canoe. Scenic, but there are dangerous rapids near Fontana when the lake is low. Johns River in Caldwell and Burke Counties. Access at bridges below Collettsville to Rhodhiss Lake. Spring through fall for smallmouth bass and robin. White bass run the low section in early spring. Can be waded in spots. Low during dry periods. Canoe or small boat. Dan River in Stokes County. Access at bridges. Spring through fall for trout, occasional smallmouth bass and robin. Two and one half miles of Designated Mountain Trout Water. Trout only in upper section. Canoe or small boat.