Fly Fishing NC’s BEST Trout Stream | The Nantahala River

Fly fishing the Nantahala River - We went fly fishing for trout in what is arguably North Carolina’s best trout fisheries...The Nantahala River.
Here we are again! OG Slab fans might remember our video from last year when we went on this same exact trip. We were SO pumped to get back to the NC mountains this year and target some of the MONSTER brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout that call the “land of the noon-day sun” home. The Nantahala is without a doubt one of our favorite places to fish on EARTH, and potentially one of the best, most unspoiled trout streams in the state. Enjoy some downright beautiful scenery and some EPIC NC fly fishing action!
Part 2: • CRAZY DISCOVERY WHILE ...
Part 3: • FLY FISHING HIDDEN WAT...
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#flyfishing #nantahalariver #slabdynasty

[@SlabDynasty]

Part's 2 and 3 out now! Pt. 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6XWhIl6nrNpq5I Pt. 3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6bGgpdqo7Flnc0

[@ACBYT]

Glad you enjoyed our local water, it definitely provided some good footage. No shame in some bobber action though, I fish these WNC streams with some Team USA world champion fly anglers and they use strike indicators regularly! Sometimes the snobs forget that it's about enjoying yourself on the water, not impressing the other fish nerds

[@SlabDynasty]

We are definitely still fly noobs, so we’ll do whatever it takes lol!

[@ACBYT]

@@SlabDynasty I'm right there with you, this is a great place to learn

[@AzimuthTao]

Was just fishing the Nantahala and a huge Brook came up twice to swipe at my indicator. I finally did catch him. Those fish are insane!

[@SlabDynasty]

I’m jealous! We need to go back soon.

[@SCYCOFISHINGHUNTING]

Can’t wait to get into fly fishing! I just ordered a combo today and it is arriving Tuesday! I can’t wait. I tied up some eggs and I am going out Wednesday

[@SlabDynasty]

Oh sweet man! Yea eggs work well, just let em drift in the current where current meets deeper slack water and creates eddies. It can be tricky though, so keep changing it up

[@ChanceBolt21]

Do you have a link to the place you stayed at? Enjoyed the video! Thankful to be from such an amazing place.

[@timothystancil7579]

Love the freaking vid keep up the banger content

[@SlabDynasty]

Thanks for watching man!

[@jacksonlanier4180]

I’ve only been fly fishing once but it’s something I wanna do more

[@SlabDynasty]

It’s really fun once you get the hang of it. Completely different game than conventional fishing though

[@BobLeeSwaggerified]

Awesome content! My father’s side of the family is from that area. Would you share the name of the cabin you guys got? He’s older, and would love to have something easily accessible for him, like that. Thanks!

[@SlabDynasty]

It's called the Nantahala River Lodge

[@HeavensWanderers]

What part of the river are you fishing? Where is that bridge in the beginning?

[@garyhannah756]

None of the stock fish hold over. After June 1, the fishing pressure by bait fisherman is intense for 2 weeks. After that the only fish around are the wild fish. Typically on the Nantahala, all the bigger stocked fish are the Brook. As the season goes on and the stocked fish get skittish, you can use a wooly bugger with a prince nymph tied off the bend as a trailer about 10 inches behind. Those Brook will roll out on that bugger and then hit the nymph. That technique works well in April and May. The first Brown you caught was wild, the rainbow below the foot bridge was wild. You mentioned that fish were rising at the bridge. I would say that was a pod of wild rainbows. The stock fish practically never feed off the surface. They just are not conditioned to it. The wild fish were likely feeding on Blue Wing Olives. Looks like you had a fun trip.

[@hesko125]

Thanks for the expert local advice. I want to head that way soon. I live near asheville

[@chrisb6823]

What is wrong with someone that bait fishes ? you say it like it is someone beneath you.

[@timbumgarner1207]

I'm a local Dude who loves to fly fish the Nantahala. When the power company isn't pumping is the best

[@taylorstory4183]

Looks pure, sad I couldn’t make it this year

[@SlabDynasty]

We missed ya dude!

[@AdamMiharaFishing]

This trip has such a different vibe than the first one. What kind of fly was it that the old man gave you? I like the 21 and older disclaimer lol

[@SlabDynasty]

Honestly no clue on the fly, he told me but I totally forgot lol

[@AdamMiharaFishing]

@@SlabDynasty it's hard to see in the video. Almost looks like a giant Griffith's Gnat

[@jackthomas7427]

Hey man, awesome video! I was fishing right where you were today and saw the same net that you were using in the video washed up in the bank. Did you by chance lose it?

[@SlabDynasty]

Just checked with everyone, don’t think we lost a net, it’s probably another anglers who fished thru there after we left. thanks for checking though!

[@jackthomas7427]

@@SlabDynasty No worries man, appreciate you following up. Hit me up if you ever want to fish some of the other streams in that area!

[@ericdarby6691]

Hi awesome fly fishing killer fish, hiw can I rent that cabin? I want to go fishing on the Nantahala..!!!

[@TheFishingDream]

Nice guys

[@SlabDynasty]

🤙🏻

[@corysullivan7141]

What’s the name of the house and what rental company is it through?

[@SlabDynasty]

Nantahala River Lodge. They have a website. Really great people!

[@ADUB1]

I'm coming next time... 😂 With or WITHOUT an invite 😈

[@SlabDynasty]

Hahaha, I thought we invited you...where was you at???

[@ADUB1]

@@SlabDynasty 🤔🤔🤔😂

[@GroovyJo]

🔥🔥🔥

[@SlabDynasty]

💪

[@philliphaworth3387]

I’d love to know the brand and specs on your rod, reel, and line in this video

[@ryancoleman1]

10000000% a wild rainbow.

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

That's a big brookie in the thumbnail.

[@hesko125]

What rod are you using.

[@michaelparamo3722]

Great video!!! Thanks for sharing. Do you have a contact for that house you rented? Thanks for any info you might have on it. Thanks

[@SlabDynasty]

Google the Nantahala River Lodge it should show up

[@gavinhelm2234]

Seems like you reel right handed you know you can swap that reel to right hand right.

[@SlabDynasty]

Yea I just had it set up that way and didn’t really want to change it

[@seanbrennan3824]

That's left handed fishing with a right hand reel

[@Joe-bh4vz]

That’s how I fish. I cast an crank with my right hand.

[@mbaker24]

Super frustrating to watch

[@garyhannah756]

The Rainbow was probably 20 The hatchery does stock a few that big. The best news was you guys caught a few wild fish. Upper Nantahala was such a good wild trout stream before the delayed harvest started.

[@SlabDynasty]

Interesting, so do those larger fish ever end up holding over long enough to grow that big or are they stocked that size? Or both?

[@reaganriddle]

Y’all oughta try out the laurel river one day. Great fishing.

[@cjsmith5992]

Straight 🔥 Can’t wait to go back next year!

[@olex.p6447]

Love the vid, except there is literally 0 wild trout in the Nanty, it is heavily stocked every year. For wilf trout go into the smoky mnt park, the creeks there are 100% wild

[@justinpatterson5511]

U can catch wild on the nantahala

[@ncoutdoorlife3987]

It’s actually not heavily stocked places like the Davidson river and a lot of other places are stocked much much more also it matters by the type of river it is if it is hatchery supported, delayed harvest, or wild trout water because there are sections in the that are wild trout waters. I hope I cleared things up for you.

[@chrisb6823]

Not true, the Nantahala River is full of native trout. I grew up there and and fished that river since I was able to hold a pole and follow my dad and uncle up the river I am 56 now. It is stocked but I know for a fact it holds quite a few native trout. My brother and uncle still lives there and fish above and below the power house and catch native Rainbow and Brown regularly. My uncle lives about 2 miles from Nantahala school and fishes the river allot. My brother sent me 3 pictures of native Brown he caught yesterday above the power house on artificial lures. I went home last August and fished above and below the power house on the big part of the river all the way down to the swinging bridge and caught allot of stockers and some beautiful native Brown and Rainbows all on artificial lures.

[@GenX...MCMLXV]

@@chrisb6823 they aren't "natives" they are holdovers or as some say, wild trout born in the river system .......... Neither rainbows nor browns are native to here. Only thing you can call native is a wild brook trout

[@chrisb6823]

@@GenX...MCMLXV ​ @Gen X Thank you I stand corrected maybe I used the wrong words they are holdovers from a very long time ago when the stocked trout could reproduce and be naturally born into the stream. Alot of people dont understand that the only " native trout" in all the Appalachian Mountains are Brook trout or as we naturally born people call them "Specs" The hatchery stocked fish of today is sterile and cant reproduce as the fish that was stocked years ago. When i was in college i took a class called Appalachian Studies and they are reports of Brook Trout "Specs" being caught in Vally River in Andrews and Murphy before the Civil War that were over 3 pounds. I am a descendant from Cherokee Indians and of mixed blood my families has been in that valley and that area before the first white man step foot on North America so does that make a native or natural born. I was born in Andrews in 1966 and my families records go back as far as the US gov. kept records.

[@WildBlueDiscovery]

The Nanty is a sweet stream! Done some fly fishing and filming there also. Thx for sharing. Tight lines

[@SlabDynasty]

Thanks for watching!

[@Obadiah50]

I LOVE IT!!!! Prefect, fishing, food, company. Love it.

[@dangomango1312]

Nice, that was a wild Rainbow, and the two ways you can identify wild rainbow’s is one: those big spots you mentioned( I realised that these big spot’s, almost disappear when they get big like 38cm and up) and number two: the tips of the fins are white, they turn white because of various reasons( bacteria and etc).

[@wesmcclure8994]

Any chance you can share with me the link to the cabin you rented on the river? Been looking for a place to stay on that river to fish.

[@davidgray3321]

Love your enthusiasm but please, everyone take note, if you want to release a fish unharmed remember balancing the trout with a one handed grip isn’t good , always gently cradle it with two hands, as you did with the first brown. If one hand is used some pressure is inevitable and it puts pressure on the internal organs. Good fishing in 2021.

[@SlabDynasty]

Thanks for the tip! We are by no means expert fly fisherman, so we appreciate the input. Tight lines 🤙🏻

[@davidgray3321]

@@SlabDynasty well you are doing very well though, you are lucky fellows in the USA , lots and lots of wild river fishing. But do try to keep the salmon and trout farms out, they have done terrible damage to our wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout (that’s a brown that goes to sea and back like your steel head). The fish farmers have PR departments but they are all liars , they bring very few jobs and wreck the fishing which is your birthright, defend it like you are fighting those redcoats! It’s far more serious. All the best from the U.K. David

[@owljones3389]

@@SlabDynasty They throw them off bridges to stock them. Some places, they are dropped from helicopters. They're not that fragile, and on top of that - these are stocked fish. Don't let the fish worshippers get to ya. You did fine.

[@deanhenderson6936]

That spot behind the house and that whole stretch is just loaded with trout

[@SlabDynasty]

Really is, crazy how concentrated they were there

[@deanhenderson6936]

@@SlabDynasty yah they are some smart trout

[@grizzthebear7026]

What the best to throw this time of year. Ill be up there this weekend. Been out in CO ripping streamers and San Juan worms just crushing them

[@kathrynjodawson6200]

Was the house a rental? If so would you please share :)

[@scotthill9648]

Dude ... Dood ... Duuuuuude ... you guys are hilarious (sorry .. Dudes) Nice vid

[@Donahuekp]

First! Beautiful place! Tight lines!

[@SlabDynasty]

Wooo! It’s downright gorgeous up there

[@jimcates7645]

Great fishing! Headed that way for the first time next week. Can you give a couple of landmarks for GPS ?

[@SlabDynasty]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video. Can't give much away about this place, but it's very easy to find some great spots with the use of google maps. The DH section is a great place to start. Good luck!!

[@brian_onthewater]

Hoping to get up there soon, spent the last two days of 2020 on the toccoa dh.

[@SlabDynasty]

Heard of Toccoa, we'll have to check it out some time

[@edwardreidt1230]

Good video like to see fly fishing going to be getting back into it my self just have to get a fly rod

[@SlabDynasty]

Let us know if you need some help picking out a good starting combo

[@iancarpenter5488]

That Brook Trout you caught at the end isn't a brook trout, It is a Splake. you can tell from the lack of red spots with blue halos, Splake are a Brook Trout X Lake Trout hybrid. Places stock them because they grow faster than brook trout and tend compete better with nonnative browns and rainbows

[@SlabDynasty]

Awesome! Thanks for the info. We’ve been catching both splake trout and Brook trout for years without knowing.

[@BrettFox]

@@SlabDynasty Real brook trout that size don't exist. Go find the real ones up in the high elevation

[@neanderthalradiopodcast]

I just filmed a few videos here too. Nantahala is a gem 👌

[@GenX...MCMLXV]

F-

[@christopherrollins7910]

When your fishing in GSMNP you need to be as stealthy as you can. Very easy to spook.

[@benniemaxwell2869]

Never been fly fishing but awesome video guys

[@SlabDynasty]

Thanks Bennie! You should try it some time

[@henryhernandez3131]

Is the place open to the public for rent, if so can you send me the info to contact them.

[@SlabDynasty]

It sure is. Just search “Nantahala River Lodge”.

[@henryhernandez3131]

@@SlabDynasty Ok thx

[@mattbuddo4602]

Amazing Trip, but the heartbreak is real...

[@SlabDynasty]

Hope no one catches her til we go back 😂. You’ll get your revenge dude

[@craighovde6195]

Do you have a link to the place you stayed at? Enjoyed the video! Thankful to be from such an amazing place@@SlabDynasty

[@mizzle1788]

Miller light... Where's the bud light

[@SlabDynasty]

It’s gone now! 😂

[@mizzle1788]

@@SlabDynasty fair enough haha

[@jojinsbagins8657]

Bro y would you tell us the name ur gonna ruin your spot

[@WWJD.]

THE DREAM!

[@thomastuorto9929]

Great content.

[@G-fishing]

Did ya'll get cell service where you were? (Not asking for the location, just need service so my boss doesn't know I am on the water :) )

[@SlabDynasty]

Not much, it's very spotty out there

[@G-fishing]

@@SlabDynasty appreciate the heads up!

[@desiredfishing8698]

Hey what is that cabin?

[@SlabDynasty]

It’s called the Nantahala river lodge

[@desiredfishing8698]

@@SlabDynasty thanks keep up the great work and grind!

[@bhart42]

Holding a fish in the net while your buddy catches one is not doubling up.

[@micah_lee]

Aren’t rainbow trout invasive here?

[@SlabDynasty]

“Non-native” which is similar just means they don’t cause harm to our ecosystems

[@Joe-bh4vz]

Invasive or non invasive depends on the body of water. They are invasive in the upper reaches of the river system where native Brook trout inhabit. In the lower stretches where native Brook trout formerly inhabited, they are just non native. I’ve often argued that the native Brook trout population should be restored in the lower sections of the river section. But I am no expert on the viability of that. From an angling perspective, non native rainbow and brown trout cause no harm and are far better suited for the angling pressure.

[@micah_lee]

@@Joe-bh4vz I suppose I enjoy angling but also conservation biology at the same time. I don't know enough about fish that live in streams so that is one reason I asked the original question. Thanks for your answer! I suppose that at this point you would consider rainbow trout to be naturalized in the eastern US. And at the same time to be lowering the native trout diversity by perhaps out competing the local trout species. I say that because I see you explain how in some areas they are just chilling and there are no native eastern trout there, however in other places these trout still exist and may be liable to harm from Rainbow guys.

[@anthonystan8210]

Not sure why his buddies don’t help him with net to land him. Won’t fish with those clowns