Santa/December Update

December update

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Tuck Fly Shop!  What a great year this has been.  I feel like it flew by for me but sitting here looking back has really made me realize how blessed we are to have the support from all of you.  To us here at Tuck Fly Shop it’s more than just selling you a puck of flies or taking you out fishing.  We truly cherish building relationships and seeing the same faces again and again.  We appreciate each and every one of you that walks through our doors or wades into the river with us and we look forward to seeing you all in the new year!

Now for the fishing, let’s start with the Tuck.  Overall it’s been fishing pretty good this month and has been very wadeable.  Duke has been consistently releasing in the mornings off the West Fork which keeps conditions safe when fishing on foot.  The water does take a little bit to get to the DH so if you’re getting out on the boat I would plan a late morning start so you have enough water to make it through without having to get out and drag.  For earlier in the morning floats, running the Bryson City DH stretch is a great option with generally plenty of water in it.  Both sections are seeing fish not get too awfully picky.  You’ll be most productive bouncing small nymphs and soft hackles along the bottom but most subsurface flies and streamers will get the job done to varying degrees of success.  Heck I even had a guy come in here the other day after he landed a 20” brown on a size 10 green mop, go figure.  

For everywhere else I would absolutely suggest fishing those smaller bugs and focus more on your presentation.  Our mountain fed freestone streams are going to be cooler than the dam controlled water on the Tuck.  That means fish in these areas are going to slow down and start moving into winter holding spots.  You’ll want to focus on transitional areas where water depths change and current slows down.  I think bouncing a jig streamer can still get some good fish to eat but for the most part you want to put something natural in front of their face.  For bugs I would be fishing midges and small dark nymphs.  A small soft hackle brought down with a heavy point fly is a great combo.  You’re also going to get a lot more subtle eats this time of year so set on everything.  Remember there’s no such thing as rocks when you’re nymphing!  

Well I wish you all a happy and safe Holiday season.  Hopefully you get a little time to sneak away from the in laws and catch a couple fish.  See you out there!