Tuckasegee river Bryson NC 11/16/19:

[AndyS]

First attempt in the NC Smokies didn't go all that well. Did as much homework as I could on line and decided to drive 4+ hrs. to the Tuckasegee river in Bryson. River was gin clear and the skies were clear, a far cry from the huge storm that was taking shape along the North Carolina coastline.
Had the place to myself and hit some pretty deep runs and holes, nothing, not even a follow ! Worked 2 stretches pretty hard for about 3 hours nothing. Packed it up and went to Dillsboro up river. Apparently this stretch gets fall stocked pretty well. Hit an access point and had 2 small "stockies" I guess fighting for my jig, one looked like a Brook Trout that they stock here. All was well and fine until the owner of the Dillsboro Inn decided to dump all his leaves into the river, I packed it up. Drove further up river and stopped at a bridge going over the river, saw what looked like a 3 pound trout, skittish and stuck out like a sore thumb so again I am guessing from the fall stocking.
Drove up along the river guessing I was in Dillsboro, Ela, or Webster but it started to look like the South Branch in Califon on opening day !!! The place was railed !! There are cabins for rent along the "Tuck" up there and it was 3 wand wavers every 50 yards or so. I pulled over and watched them standing in ankle deep water casting into ankle deep water, it was a mob scene, now here come 2 DRIFT BOATS down the river !!! By now it was close to 60 degrees out and I drove a bit further. Don't know about water releases etc. on this river but 95% of it was shin to ankle deep. The deepest parts I found were down in Bryson city where I had to be careful where I waded or I was going swimming. Didn't take a lot of photos. Maybe next stop will be the Catawba, my son lives out by the Watagua and he said that is a very shallow stream also. Gotta pick your days if you want to catch trout in gin clear water that is shin deep. Saw very few bugs and at one stop a few small baitfish.