Best fishing rod and reel for western North Carolina

This article will cover the best fishing rod and reel combination, and combinations) for fishing in western North Carolina. Obviously, this is all freshwater fishing. For the most part we will discuss river and stream fishing. However, there are plenty of lakes in Western North Carolina as well. Most of the fish are of modest size, though there are some large bass, stripers, and trout available.

The real answer is that there is no one fishing rod and reel combo that is perfect for all fishing situations. However, if I had to choose one outfit to fish with in western North Carolina, the choice is a pretty easy one. It would be a 6 foot spinning rod, light weight with a fast action. By “fast” action it means a rod that is limber at the tip but has a fairly stout butt section. The limber tip allows for long casts and helps detect light bites. The stiffer butt section helps with casting and handling a decent sized fish.

The best rod and reel combo for western NC

My personal favorite combination at an affordable price is the Lew’s Hypersonic combo. At only $60, it is a bargain. I own several and really like them. It is light enough for trout fishing and still stout enough to handle medium sized fish.

Click link to shop Amazon for Lew’s Hypersonic combo

When trout fishing, I spool up with 4 pound flourocarbon line. When fishing for panfish such as bluegill, sunfish, and crappie, I will bump it up to 6 pound test. When bass or stripers are an option, I will go to 10 pound braided line with a 3 foot flourocarbon leader of 10 pound test.

More Lew’s fishing rod and reel combos

At just $60, many anglers can afford a second or even a third outfit. The Hypersonic combo is available in a 6’6″ medium outfit and a 7″ medium rod and reel.

Click links for a 6’6″ Lew’s combo and a 7′ Lew’s combo

Lew’s also offers some higher priced rods and reels. Generally speaking, the more it cost the better the quality. However, I personally have caught plenty of nice fish on these modestly priced products. They cast well and have smooth drag systems. I have never even had to service them, other that a quick rinse after fishing.

Click link to shop Amazon for more Lew’s fishing rods and reels

Fishing in western North Carolina

I will briefly discuss the fishing opportunities in western North Carolina. I think it is fair to say that here in the mountains, trout is king. I live in Franklin, but I think it is true throughout. Bass would be second, both largemouth and smallmouth. Panfish, also called “bream” (pronounced “brim”0 here in the South, are also very popular. Finally, there are those anglers that prefer catfish, striped bass, and even walleye.

Trout fishing in western North Carolina

Anglers have a wide variety of trout fishing opportunities in western NC. There are tiny streams with native brook trout in the higher elevations. Many streams and rivers are stocked heavily in the spring. The Delayed Harvest stretches are stocked again in fall. Ponds and lakes offer trout fishing as well. Most anglers wade fish, but drifting is a very effective technique. Most anglers fishing for trout in lakes troll for them.

Many anglers fly fish for trout, but angers spin fishing certainly catch their share. That lightest Lew’s combo is perfect for this. My favorite lure in a 1/16 ounce Rooster tail spinner. Second would be a Trout Magnet under a float. Live and prepared baits certainly produce, though I rarely fish bait. It is hard to beat half a nightcrawler.

Bass fishing in western NC

Bass fishing is very popular in western North Carolina as well. It is probably evenly mixed between largemouth and smallmouth bass. Most smallmouth anglers prefer to fish in flowing rivers. Conversely, anglers chasing largemouth bass primarily do so in lakes. Smallmouth bass will be caught in lakes as well, often times larger than those on rivers. Spotted bass have invaded many lakes and ruined the smallmouth bass fishery.

Fishing for panfish in western NC

Panfish are plentiful in the lakes and warmer streams and rivers in western NC. Bluegill and sunfish are the most numerous. Live worms and crickets free lined or fished under a float work well. I love catching them on small Beetle spin lures as well as fly. Crappie school up and are often caught near brush piles on jigs or live minnows. Rock bass can be plentiful in streams.

In conclusion, I hope this article on the best fishing rod and reel for western North Carolina will help anglers choose the best outfit and catch more fish!