One need not travel to the North Carolina mountains, Montana, or Patagonia to enjoy fly fishing. Opportunities abound just minutes away, both salt and fresh water, in Brunswick and nearby counties. Catching a redfish on a fly is an experience that “hooks” anglers to saltwater fly fishing for life. A hard-hitting largemouth bass on an 6-8-weight rod and/or a feisty bluegill on a 3-weight rod are good local alternatives to those trout you wish you were catching in the mountains.
This note suggests a few locations below.
Fishing the marshes and/or nearshore waters:
Ft. Fisher – fish the rock wall, the grass lines along the flats, and the shallow creek systems along the beach side.
Bald Head Island – cast to creek mouths, oysters, and grass lines in Cedar Creek and Buzzard’s Bay.
Elizabeth River – target the oyster beds, grass lines, and creek mouths, including the mouth of Molasses Creek.
Dutchman Creek – cast to docks, creek mouths, and grass lines, notably the area near the power lines.
Wildlife Creek – fish back of Wildlife creek and sandbar ledges outside mouth of Jump and Run Creek.
ICW – look for “tailing” redfish on grassy flats on both sides of ICW on high “spring” tides.
Beaverdam Creek – fish for reds on short grass flats on high tides; for trout at the mouth and first three bends.
Davis Canal – fish for trout at the mouth and for redfish in area where Montgomery Slough connects to canal.
Lockwood Folly River – fish creeks and flats on both sides of the river, also shell banks along the ICW and river.
Masonboro Inlet – Google Earth will show you the “highways” the redfish use to enter and exit the flats.
Morehead City/Wrightsville Beach – fish for false albacore near shore; the birds will find them for you.
Georgetown – sightfish for redfish across the vast marshes from a boat – or a truck! Guide highly recommended.
Fishing freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and creeks:
St. James Plantation – if an SJP resident, you can access fourteen “community” ponds that the Property Owners Association has stocked with bass and bream. The SJP Fishing Guide (find under “Fishing” menu) identifies the community ponds and establishes rules such as catch and release. Do not fish “private” neighborhood ponds unless accompanied by the home/lot owner.
Lake Waccamaw – fish docks, grass and lily beds, and wake markers along west, deeper shore.
Rice’s/Town Creeks (Winnabow) – cast under tree limbs, beside blowdowns, near stumps, and along lily pads.
Black River (Kelly) – cast under tree limbs, beside blowdowns, coves, and creek mouths.
Lake Sutton (Wilmington) – fish deeper water (about 6.5’) in middle left part of the first lake towards the Hot Canal.
Boiling Spring Lakes – the largest of its 53 lakes is under repair but others remain accessible to non-outboard craft.
Greenfield Lake (Wilmington) – cast to the paddle boat docks and the cypress trees near the landing.
Tight lines!