BIG SNOWBIRD CREEK
Graham County, in the far southwestern corner of the state, earns my vote for the ultimate “trout fisherman friendly” county in the state, although Avery County would certainly give it a run for its money. It has a number of fine streams, among them Big Santeetlah, Little Snowbird and Slickrock creeks, but here it is Big Snowbird that truly stands out. It appeals in many ways. You can take a “Smokies Slam” (catch a wild brown, rainbow and brookie in a single day’s outing), or fish from Mouse Knob Falls upstream, in the state’s finest speckled trout water. The lower reaches of the stream, up to a place known locally as The Junction (the site of an old logging railroad turnstile), are accessible from Big Snowbird Creek Road (State Road 1120, which turns to a gravel Forest Service road) a few miles out of Robbinsville. The sections along the road are hatchery supported but have plenty of wild fish. Upstream from Junction this is wild trout water.

REGULATIONS AND TACTICS
All the streams in the park noted above, along with a couple of others, have restrictions on types of lures or involve catch-and-release fishing only. Others allow bait, treble hook lures and the like, as well as flies or single-hook artificials. This isn’t the place to go into detail on favorite trout offerings, but throughout North Carolina, for the flyfisherman, keep in mind that it is presentation, not pattern, which matters most. Any attractor pattern, perhaps fished in tandem with a nymph dropper, should serve you well. Where allowed, natural bait offerings, such as worms, spring lizards, “nests,” or crickets, are hard to beat, and the spin-fisherman will find favor with Mepps Aglias, beetlespins or a Colorado blade followed by a Yellarhammer tied on a long-shank hook.

No matter what your preferences, these waters offer something for everyone. From park and walk 50 yards to the nearest pool situations to remote locations that require considerable hiking and a high level of fitness, the Old North State has it all. As I hint from time to time, feeder streams always merit investigation, and on a personal level, it has long been standard practice for me, when venturing into an area I haven’t fished before, to see what sort of opportunities side streams might present. For now though, here are 10 of North Carolina’s best, and if you haven’t visited each and every one, you owe it to yourself to do so. Every one promises tight lines and fine times.

Editor’s Note: Among the 40-plus books written or edited by Jim Casada are Modern Fly Fishing and Beginner’s Guide to Fly Fishing. He is presently completing a massive treatment on fishing in the waters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For more details on his work or to sign up for a free subscription to his monthly e-newsletter, visit www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com .