North Carolina Hatch Chart
Fall (September–November)
- Dry flies: As water temperatures cool and trout sense winter coming, they key on small mayflies and caddis. Small olive mayflies (Baetis/BWOs) sized 18–24 are the most abundant hatches from September through November. On cold days the best surface action is from noon to late afternoon, while warm autumn mornings can produce all‑day dry‑fly fishing. Fall caddis in orange or dark green emerge late in the day—sizes 18–20 fool fish that have been feeding on leaves all afternoon. Use long, light leaders; trout in clear fall water often require 6X–7X tippet and 12‑ft leaders to avoid spooking them.
- Nymphs: Trout continue to feed subsurface all autumn, so a dropper under your dry remains effective through October and November. Diptera midges in sizes 18–22 get the nod when cold fronts hit. If you’re targeting cautious browns, small bead‑head nymphs (#16–18) are often more effective than the large stonefly patterns used in spring; larger patterns can spook fish in low, clear water. Shorten your dropper length by 3–4 inches compared with summer to keep your tungsten bead off the bottom and out of leaf piles.
- Streamers/baitfish: Big browns hunt baitfish in fall, but low flows mean downsizing your streamers. Small Clouser Minnows and Woolly Buggers (sizes 6–10) dead‑drifted like a nymph and twitched occasionally resemble an injured sculpin or minnow. Avoid very large, heavily weighted streamers in leaf‑clogged water—lighter patterns snag less and still draw reaction strikes.
Dry Flies — Fall
| Insect (Adults) | Fly Pattern (Dries) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Caddis | Palomino Caddis, Front End Loader | 12–16 |
| Light Mayflies | Yellow Sally CDC & Elk, Pale Morning Duns, Light Cahill, Sulphers | 16–18 |
| Terrestrials | Stubby Chubby, Bionic Hopper (Any good Grasshopper & Cricket Imitations) | 8–14 |
| Grey/Blue Mayflies (Baetis) | Purple Haze (Adams Variant), Blue Wing Olives | 12–18 |
| Beetles | Black Unsinkabeetle | 8–12 |
| Ants | Black Toast Ant | 12–18 |
| Midges | Parachute Adams, Grey Midges | 18–24 |
Nymphs — Fall
| Insect (Nymphs) | Fly Pattern | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Flies | Pat’s Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, Copper John | 8–12 |
| May Fly Nymphs | Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, Holy Grail | 12–18 |
| Inch Worms | Green Weenie, Chartruse Squirmy | 10–12 |
| Midges | WD-40, JuJuBee, RS-2, Zebra Midge | 18–26 |
Baitfish / Crustaceans — Fall
| Baitfish / Crustaceans | Fly Pattern | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpins | Sculpin Snack, Fish-Skull Zonker, Sculpzilla | 4–10 |
| Minnows (Dace etc.) | Softy Minnow, Charlie’s AirHead | 6–12 |
| Crayfish | Joe’s Mini Crayfish Jig | 6–10 |
| Creek Chubs | Wolly Bugger | 2–8 |
Winter (December–February)
- Dry flies: Surface activity is rare in winter, but tailwaters like the Davidson, Nantahala and South Mills can produce small Blue‑Winged Olive or midge hatches on milder afternoons. Carry tiny Parachute Adams and RS‑2/BWO emergers (sizes 18–24) for those brief windows, but be prepared to fish subsurface most of the day.
- Nymphs: Cold water (high‑30s to low‑40s) slows trout metabolism, so fish hug the bottom and feed selectively. A two‑fly nymph rig is the go‑to: a larger attractor such as a Squirmy Worm (sizes 8–10) or egg pattern (#12) appeals to opportunistic trout when rain washes worms and eggs into the river. Trail it with a small, natural nymph—Pheasant Tail, Rainbow Warrior or Zebra Midge—in sizes 18–24. Fish slow and deep; the winter “playbook” is a pair of tiny zebra midges under an indicator drifted through the deepest, slowest part of each pool. On tailwaters this approach is effective all winter.
- Streamers/baitfish: When the water is stained from winter rain, larger meals coax lethargic fish to move. Girdle Bugs (stonefly nymphs) and weighted Woolly Buggers fished slowly near the bottom imitate stoneflies, sculpins or crayfish. Stick to smaller sizes (6–10) and short, slow strips; trout will not chase far in cold water.
Dry Flies — Winter
| Insect (Adults) | Fly Pattern (Dries) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Wing Olive Mayflies | Parachute BWO, Thorax Dun | 18–24 |
| Midges (Cream, Olive, Black) | Parachute Adams, Midge | 18–24 |
| Micro Caddis (Black, Gray) | Elk Hair Caddis | 18–20 |
| Dark Stones | Clipped Caddis | 18–22 |
Nymphs — Winter
| Insect (Nymphs) | Fly Pattern (Nymphs) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Olive Mayflies | Olive Hare’s Ear, Olive P.T. | 16–20 |
| March Brown Mayflies | BH Pheasant Tail | 16–20 |
| American Grannom Caddis | Peeking Caddis | 14–18 |
| Rockworm Caddis | Super Pupa | 16–20 |
| Midges (Cream, Black, Olive) | RS-2, WD-40 | 18–24 |
| Dark Stones | Copper John (Black, Copper) | 16–18 |
Baitfish / Crustaceans — Winter
| Baitfish / Crustaceans | Fly Pattern (Streamers) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpins | Near-Nuff Sculpin, Cone Head Muddler Minnow | 4–8 |
| Minnows (Dace ect.) | Zonker (White, Black), Cone Head Bunny Muddler | 6–12 |
| Crayfish | Wolly Bugger (Black, Olive, Brown) | 4–10 |
| Creek Chubs | Double Bunny (Brown, Tan, White), Cheech’s Sculpin Slider | 2–6 |
Spring (March–June)
- Dry flies: As water warms to about 50 °F, the first big hatches (Quill Gordon and Blue Quill mayflies) appear in early March. Fish quill‑gordon wets or dries during these emergences by letting the fly sink and then rise toward the surface to mimic an ascending dun. May is the peak hatch month; Hendricksons, March Browns, Light Cahills, Gray Caddis, Gray Fox, Yellow Midges, Sulphurs, Black Caddis, Green Drakes and giant stoneflies fill the air. Carry a varied box of mayfly and caddis dries (sizes 12–16) and be ready to match the hatch. Late spring marks the start of terrestrial season—small hoppers, ants and beetles make their first appearance.
- Nymphs: Nymphing remains the most consistent way to catch fish when no hatch is occurring; trout obtain roughly 85–90 % of their diet subsurface. Pheasant Tail and March Brown nymphs are reliable early‑season patterns. During high, stained water from spring storms, increase tippet size and fish bigger nymphs or egg patterns; heavier Zonkers, Woolly Buggers and Zoo Cougars (sizes 4–6) work well in these conditions. Egg patterns can be especially effective during rainbow trout spawning in early spring.
- Streamers/baitfish: Rising water and discoloured flows call for streamers. Strip or swing large Zonkers, Woolly Buggers or Sculpin patterns near banks and around structure to imitate baitfish flushed from cover. When water clears and insects dominate, downsize or switch to dry‑dropper rigs.
Dry Flies — Spring
| Insect (Adults) | Fly Pattern (Dries) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| March Brown Mayflies | March Brown Standard / Parachute | 12–14 |
| Blue Quill Mayflies | Parachute Adams, Thorax Dun | 14–18 |
| Red Quill Mayflies | Quill Gordon | 14–18 |
| Cahill Mayflies | Light Cahill, Sparkle Dun | 12–18 |
| Green Drakes | Green Drake, Coffin Fly | 8–12 |
| Caddis | Elk Hair Caddis | 12–18 |
| Yellow Sally Stones | Yellow Sally | 16–18 |
| Golden Stones | Stimulator | 12–18 |
Nymphs — Spring
| Insect (Nymphs) | Fly Pattern (Nymphs) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| March Brown Mayflies | Hare’s Ear | 12–16 |
| Blue Quill Mayflies | BH Pheasant Tail | 14–18 |
| Green Drake Mayflies | Fox Squirrel Nymph | 10–14 |
| Caddis | Super Pupa | 14–18 |
| Golden Stones | Kevin’s Stone, Micro Golden Stone | 8–12 |
| Yellow Sally Stones | Copper John | 16–18 |
Baitfish / Crustaceans — Spring
| Baitfish / Crustaceans | Fly Pattern (Streamers) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpins | Woolhead Sculpin, Olive Zonker | 4–10 |
| Minnows (Dace ect.) | White Zonker, Sparkle Minnow | 6–12 |
| Crayfish | Near Nuff Crayfish, Joe’s Mini Crayfish Jig | 2–6 |
| Creek Chub | Woolly Bugger Brown | 2–8 |
Summer (June–August)
- Dry flies: With spring hatches over, trout switch to terrestrials. By mid‑June, ants and beetles start producing along banks with overhanging vegetation. July and August are “hopper‑dropper” season—hoppers, ants and beetles drive surface feeding on high‑elevation mountain streams. A Dave’s Hopper or Chubby Chernobyl in sizes 8–12 makes a high‑floating indicator fly, while foam ants or beetles in sizes 14–16 match the smaller terrestrials. On tailwaters such as the Davidson and South Mills, trico spinners (sizes 22–26) fall at sunrise; fish them early, then switch to a hopper‑dropper once the spinner fall ends.
- Nymphs: Low flows and clear water mean nymphs should be lightly weighted. In the Smokies, guides typically rig a bushy, high‑floating dry fly (#14) with a modestly weighted dropper nymph (#16–18) suspended 18–24 inches below. This setup allows the nymph to sink without dragging the dry under. Save heavy tungsten nymphs for colder, higher‑flow seasons. Fish early and late when lower‑elevation streams warm; high‑elevation streams above 2,000 feet stay cool and offer all‑day fishing.
- Streamers/baitfish: Low summer flows make large streamers less effective; instead, use smaller Woolly Buggers or Slumpbusters in the evenings or during summer storms when flows rise slightly. In high‑elevation creeks, terrestrial patterns often out‑fish streamers, but tossing a small sculpin imitation at dusk can draw a big fish from cover.
Dry Flies — Summer
| Insect (Adults) | Fly Pattern (Dries) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Stones | Stimulator | 12–16 |
| Yellow Sally Stones | Yellow Sally, Palomino Caddis | 16–18 |
| Grasshoppers | Dave’s Hopper, Chubby Duo Hopper, Club Sandwich | 8–14 |
| Crickets | Dave’s Cricket | 10–14 |
| Beetles | Black Unsinkabeetle | 8-10 |
| Ants | Transparent, Fur Ant, Black Toast Ant | 12-18 |
| Midges | Parachute Adams, Midge | 18–24 |
Nymphs — Summer
| Insect (Nymphs) | Fly Pattern (Nymphs) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Stones | Kevin’s Stonefly, Micro Golden Stone | 8–12 |
| Yellow Sally Stones | Copper John | 16–18 |
| Inch Worms | Inch Worm, Chartreuse San Juan, Squirmito | 10–12 |
| Midges | WD-40, Disco Midge, RS-2 | 18–26 |
Baitfish / Crustaceans — Summer
| Baitfish / Crustaceans | Fly Pattern (Streamers) | Hook Sz. |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpins | Slumpbuster | 10–12 |
| Creek Chubs | Double Bunny, Cheech’s Sculpin Slider | 2–8 |
| WD-40, Disco Midge, RS-2 | Zonkers, Conehead Bunny Muddler | 6–12 |
| Crayfish | Near Nuff Crayfish, Joe’s Mini Crayfish Jig | 4–6 |
| Damsel Fly Nymphs | Wolly Bugger | 6–10 |
