Anybody with a jones for the outdoors has long known about Asheville, NC. A gorgeous mountain town nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, downtown Asheville lies within 70 miles of no fewer than five entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Even closer than the park entrances are miles of epic mountain biking and hiking trails and stellar white water kayaking and rafting. Those same waters provide great fishing opportunities, especially for trout, which the North Carolina Department of Fish and Game does a fine job of stocking. All that water is put to another sensible use: Asheville has more breweries per capita than any other city in the United States. After a day on the water, you can kick back at any number of local tap rooms, or visit the eastern outposts of such well-known breweries as Sierra Nevada or New Belgium. Remember: just like fishing, you should always know your daily limit when sampling beer. You can always discover more using the FarWide app and in-browser experience
Here are three good spots to fish near Asheville:
Just to the northeast of downtown Asheville, Carter Creek Game Land Portion is a small headwater stream accessible by trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway or Craggy Gardens Road. It’s tight, so don’t expect to make looping casts; in fact, consider fishing Carter Creek with a micro-rod. And per regulations, use artificial flies only.
Like most of the creeks around Asheville, Carter Creek flows into the French Broad River, which offers multiple access points along its banks. (Farwide features almost 20 destinations along the French Broad, not including its tributaries.) While there are plenty of more secluded places to fish in the Smokies, the French Broad’s proximity to downtown Asheville makes it a reliable spot for those who want to scratch an itch to make a few casts or to try out new gear. In fact, Orvis has an Asheville store not far from the French Broad’s banks. You can buy a license there as well, and if there’s a young fisherman in your life, think about buying him North Carolina’s terrific deal: A lifetime sportsman license for those over the age of 12 will be good for a lifetime of hunting and freshwater fishing in the Tarheel State.
The North Fork of the Swannanoa River has several fishable sections. Two we like are the section from the Asheville Water Supply Dam to the Swannanoa River itself, and the section above that from the fork’s source to the Water Supply Dam. The lower sections are easily reached from Old US Highway 70 near Grovestone; the upper sections require a bit more of a drive, then a walk. These are trout waters, but the lake behind the damn features some small-mouth bass fishing.
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