Fishing Reports — May 16, 2017 — 3 min read — Updated June 9, 2026

Fly Fishers it is Not About Your Fly!

Fly selection is the most overrated variable in fly fishing — and the one most aggressively marketed. The fly rod, the fly line, the leader, and the fly itself are all secondary to the angler behind them. Presentation, approach, water reading, casting mechanics, and hook setting produce fish. Gear does not. Mac Brown has guided on the Tuckasegee and Nantahala rivers since 1987 and consistently finds that a well-presented attractor pattern outfishes a perfectly matched fly with a dragging presentation every single time.

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Fly Fishers: It's Not About Your Fly

"Fly fishers: it's not about your fly" seemed an appropriate post for mid-May. May is one of the best months of the year for trout fishing. Bryson City, NC is one of the gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies receive over 14 million visitors per year. The number one question most fly anglers ask when visiting here is "What flies do I need?" for their fly fishing adventure.

Hatch Report

The trout in the Smokies region are opportunistic. They don't remain ultra-selective like many waters in the western states. This is great news for visiting fly fishers because it means pheasant tail nymphs, hares ear, soft hackles, elk hair caddis, and parachute Adams will work just fine! These patterns are among the most generic and common fly patterns on the planet.

Trout Fishing Is About You, the Angler

Your successes and failures on the stream depend far more on your abilities than on fly selection. Ability is a huge factor in fly fishing and includes line control, casting, water reading, fish behavior, rigging, hooking, and playing fish, among other important factors. It also helps to be on the water during trout season when water temperatures are ideal.

Consider the order of significance as a fly fisher. Many will assume there's a "magic fly" as challenges increase on the water. In reality, your fly selection process is a much lower priority than the abilities I mentioned above.

"Tourist Season" Does Not Equal Trout Season

High water temperatures greatly impact trout survival. The warmer the water, the less available oxygen for the trout. We do have a few tailwater options in the area that offer great trout fishing through July. The summer months offer plenty of other fly fishing opportunities in the region. Smallmouth float trips are fantastic when water temperatures rise.

Unfortunately, most visitors during peak "tourist season" miss the best trout season. Trout metabolism is optimal when water temperatures remain around 50–54 degrees. Peak tourist numbers arrive in July and August.

The Delayed Harvest programs have greatly helped Western NC economically. Anglers who understand the seasons fish here year-round through the winter months. Twenty years ago, it was rare for me to guide trips through January and February from Bryson City. Now the numbers through winter are breaking records every year! This is because many are coming during the best trout season.

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Wild Trout Fishing Near Bryson City, NC

Fly fishing for trout around Bryson City offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The small wild streams feature many waterfalls with lush vegetation along the banks. Fishing these smaller wild streams is technical due to diverse water currents and foliage, which is exactly why I love the fly fishing challenges the area offers.

If you're heading out on your own adventure in the Smokies, remember to keep it simple. Bring the basic fly patterns mentioned above in various sizes. There are far more important aspects of fly fishing than worrying about your flies. Fly selection is really the least important factor overall. So remember: fly fishers, it's not about your fly!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does fly selection really matter in fly fishing?

Less than most anglers think — and far less than the fly fishing industry would have you believe. Drift matters more than pattern in the vast majority of fishing situations. A well-presented attractor pattern with a drag-free drift consistently outfishes a precisely matched hatch fly with poor presentation. The exception is highly pressured, selective fish in slow clear water during a specific hatch — where size and profile matter more than exact imitation.

What matters more than fly selection in fly fishing?

In order of importance — drift, approach and stealth, water reading and fish location, casting mechanics and line control, hook setting, and then fly selection. Most fly fishers invert this list entirely, spending their budget on flies and gear while neglecting the skills that actually produce fish. A creel study on the Upper Nantahala River found that only 2% of anglers catch over 90% of the trout — the top 2% are not using better flies.

Why does the fly fishing industry overemphasize fly selection?

Because flies are easy to sell and skills are hard to sell. A new fly box is an immediate, tangible purchase. Better water reading and casting mechanics require time, practice, and ideally instruction. The industry's incentive is to convince anglers that the next fly, the next rod, or the next line will solve the problem — when the problem is almost always the angler's presentation, approach, or casting.

What is the most important skill to develop in fly fishing?

Drift — achieving and maintaining a drag-free presentation. It is the foundation of dry fly fishing and nymph fishing alike. Without it no fly will consistently fool trout regardless of how well it matches the hatch. Drift is developed through better casting mechanics, longer leaders, upstream mending, proper approach angles, and water reading — all teachable skills that improve measurably with proper instruction.

How do I become a better fly fisher without buying more gear?

Take a casting lesson. Book a guided wade trip focused on presentation rather than fish count. Practice mending on your home water. Study water reading — understanding where fish hold and why tells you more than any fly pattern ever will. Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, NC offers private casting lessons and instructional wade trips specifically focused on the skills that separate the top 2% of fly fishers from everyone else — led by the only FFI Master Casting Instructor in North Carolina since 1987.

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