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Big Pine! Get Your Fishing Rod Ready
Story and Photos by Doug Green
Click photos to enlarge
Thad Payne fishing the ideal pool
The Falls - a likely spot
Shady spots where fish lurk
No fishing
Big Pine Valley from Grassland Ridge
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Fishing season in Madison County starts April 5, and Big Pine Creek is an excellent spot to reel in that big trout. Located on the south side of the French Broad River, you will find hatchery supported water right after crossing the bridge at Barnard.
Thad Payne, who grew up on Big Pine says, "I love fishing in the creek. I have caught some big trout but also some really small ones."
He says the best spots to fish have fairly deep water where you cannot see the bottom and where a stream runs into them. Cast your line into the running water and let it float down. When it gets to the middle or so of the water hole, start reeling in slowly. If you feel your pole tug, pull up and maybe a fish will be on your hook. You may have to let the trout run around and get tired before you start reeling it in.
"I like to go right after a steady rain," said Payne. The fish seem to bite much more." In fact, the drought that began last year has caused the creek to be extremely low, making it hard to fish. "I have never seen the creek that low," Payne said, "Everyone was fishing the same hole, making it hard to have a good time or catch anything."
He uses a spinning reel. "Fly fishing is hard to do. I always get my line tangled up. I like to wear the waders that come up to my knees because I have seen many snakes and spiders while walking up the creek."
Most of Big Pine is open to the public, but some spots are not. They are marked with "No Trespassing" or "No Fishing" signs. Don't worry. Most of those spots are no good anyway. But if you think it looks like a good spot, just ask the owner if you can fish there. Most will be fine with it. Just don't leave trash.
Trout have fins without spines, and all of them have a small fin along the back near the tail. The most common fish you will catch is the Rainbow trout, which you can tell by the reddish stripe along its side, or the Brook trout, which has red speckles. There are also Brown trout, and Horny Heads, which are tiny fish that steal your bait. If you catch them, throw them back or cut them up to use for bait. Sometimes it's possible to catch a crawdad. Be careful getting them off your hook. They have pinchers.
Big Pine Creek is hatchery supported trout water, which means the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission stocks the creek with fish. They stock it four times - March, April, May and June, and each time they put 1,050 fish into the creek. Rainbows and Brook trout make up 40 percent each, and Brown trout make up 20 percent of the total. You can use any kind of bait, artificial or live, as long as you use a hook and line. You cannot use nets or any other ways to catch fish.
According to Powell Wheeler, state fisheries biologist for District 9, which includes Madison County, hatchery trout are easier to catch than wild trout, and most will be gone within a couple weeks of stocking.
There is a catch limit of seven trout per day.
The season opens on the first Saturday in April and lasts through February. The month of March is closed. To fish for trout you must have a license. You can get one at Wal-Mart, Dick's Sporting Goods or the hunting store located on the by-pass in Marshall. A 10-day permit costs $5 for state residents. A yearlong license is $15. The cost doubles for out-of-state residents.
There are many different types of lures and baits you can use. Spinners and plastic worms are common. Corn is not as common but also works. Night crawlers are real worms, and they are the best. "The fake baits work, but the real thing works the best, but it may make you a little bit dirtier," Payne advises.
Directions from Mars Hill College:
Take highway 213 west to 25/70. Make a right and go north. Go past Ingles on the right. Turn left at Sharp Hollow (Walnut Community Volunteer Fire Dept). Go 0.9 mile to a "T" (Barnard Rd - no sign) and make a left (there's a small sign directly in front of you at that "T" telling you to make a left for North Fork Baptist Church). Make a left, cross the French Broad River, and after the bridge bear right onto Big Pine Road. Continue on Big Pine road. The creek runs alongside the road.
Reader Comment:
Cindy Whitt, staff, 3/27/2008, 9:29 a.m.
Good article Doug. One of the best "dates" I ever went on was to go fishing on Laurel. Be sure and get up early or you may not find a spot on the bank!
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