You’d be wise not to overlook this North Carolina fishery!
On The Fly Freshwater
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April 2024
Article and Photos by Jimmy Jacobs
The North Toe River offers some good trout fishing options to fly fishers in the northwest quadrant of North Carolina. The action often gets overshadowed by the better-known angling on its tributary stream, the South Toe River.
The North Toe rises in Sugar Gap, between Bald and Sugar mountains in northern Avery County. From there it meanders westward through Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties, to empty into the Nolichucky River. The majority of the trout water on this stream is situated from the headwater down to the town of Spruce Pine in Mitchell County.
Along that route the flow rarely exceeds 100 feet in width and is mostly composed of pools separated by small shoal areas. A great deal of this stream is wadable. While there are a number of places offering access to the water from Spruce Pine upstream, be aware that there also are stretches on private land. Fortunately, those landowners make their property plainly visible through the use of no trespassing signs. It is wise to honor those.
The bulk of the North Toe’s trout water is managed as hatchery supported, so it is open to fishing from the first Saturday in April until the last day of February annually. No fishing is allowed from March 1 until 7:00 a.m. on that first April Saturday.
The designated trout water has four distinct areas along the river, three of which are hatchery supported. Farthest upstream is a one-mile portion in the town of Newland in Avery County that is designated as Mountain Heritage Trout Water. Along this course from the Watauga Street bridge to the Roby Shoemaker Wetlands and Family Recreation Park there are a couple of fishing piers and parking areas, along with a portion of a greenway walking trail.
Stocking here in 2024 consists of 525 trout in March, 560 in April, 450 in May, 375 in June and a final 300 in July. All the trout releases on the North Toe are in the standard North Carolina stocking ration of 40 percent rainbows, 40 percent brookies and 20 percent browns.
Moving downstream, the next section runs from the State Route 1164 bridge (Minneapolis School Road) in the community of Minneapolis, downstream to the Mitchell County border. Along this part of the river, the plantings of trout are more substantial. In March 3,730 fish are released, followed by 4,190 in April, 2,950 in May, 2,275 in June and 1,700 in July.
From the Mitchell County line downstream to the SR 1121 crossing, another 5.1 miles of the North Toe is open under hatchery supported regulations. Through here the stockings amount to 500 trout in March, 500 in April and 250 each in June and July.
After a short break downstream of the SR 1121 bridge, you reach the final trout area on the North Toe. In the town of Spruce Pine there is 2.3 mile stretch of Mountain Heritage Trout Water open under delayed-harvest regulations. From October 1 to the first Saturday in June those rules apply, with catch-and-release with single-hook artificial lures mandated.
Then on that first Saturday of June regular hatchery-supported fishing regulations apply. However, from 6:00 a.m. to noon on that day, only those under 16 years old may fish. Beginning at noon on through the end of September fishing is open to everyone.
The DH waters that run from US 19E bridge downstream to the NC 226 bridge get 3,300 trout each month in March to May and again in October and November. This part of the river also offers the most access for fishing on the North Toe. This portion of the flow also is noted to hold some bigger hold-over browns. Fish up to 26 inches have been caught through here.
As you might expect, the stocked trout, and especially the ones in the DH section, are not the wariest fish you will encounter. During the spring months they are susceptible to a variety of attractor dry flies. Sulphurs, Parachute Adams and Elk-Hair Caddis are a few of the local favorites for this action.
The fishing slows during the hotter months of summer. Your best bets then are flies imitating terrestrial insects. Grasshopper patterns are good when those critters are abundant at streamside and ant patterns also work. You might also fish deeper with bead-head Wooly Buggers.
For the delayed-harvest water, again, the Wooly Buggers are a good option, as are Y2K patterns. Additionally, dry-dropper set ups with Stimulators or Royal Wulffs on top, paired with Rainbow Warriors or Tellico Nymphs can prove useful.
Regardless of the time of year, or your preference in flies, the North Toe River can deliver some interesting fly fishing in the northwest corner of the Old North State.
