Escape to Rivers Ridge Lodge for an unforgettable fly fishing
experience! With 3000 feet of river frontage, you are never more
than a stone’s throw away from Rainbow Trout and Catfish. We
stock the river annually, and only our guests have access to these
waters. For more adventurous anglers, the Western North
Carolina region hosts some of the finest fly fishing locations,
information for which can be found on our EXPLORE WNC
page, OUTDOOR RECREATION Section. Ideal fly fishing
conditions at Rivers Ridge Lodge are generally during the spring
and fall when the trout benefit from cooler, well-oxygenated
water. Properly licensed guests may fish at any time at Rivers
Ridge Lodge and we recommend several options for those
interested in obtaining fly fishing instruction at the Lodge or
elsewhere and guided trips:

Randy Kropp, Director of Blue Sky Fishing & Casting School,
is an accomplished instructor who has introduced men and
women of all ages to fly fishing and fine-tuned the skills of more
advanced enthusiasts for over 20 years. Randy has fished
Saltwater and Freshwater species across North America since
1969 His insight has helped students to develop an efficient style
to match their individual personal abilities and goals. Please call
Lana Massey in advance (828) 243-5762 for Randy’s contact
information. Randy will travel to Rivers Ridge Lodge to teach
your group and/or organize a trip to area public waters. Randy
travels with his own equipment and a few loaner sets for students
to use during his instruction.

On The Fly Guide Service, Inc., based in the neighboring
town of Marion, offers fly fishing guided services and equipment
rental. Visit their website and click on the Guide Trip
Information link for details on Wild Trout, Smallmouth Bass,
Delayed Harvest Trout, Special Regulation Trout, State Stocked
Trout and Private Stocked Trout Guided Fly fishing Trips. On the
Fly’s four skilled fly fishing guides will enthusiastically navigate
the waters of Western NC to locate the finest fishing available.

The Hunter Banks Company in Asheville is a full service fly
fishing shop located across the street from the Asheville Area
Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 29 Montford Avenue in
downtown Asheville. Hunter Banks offers the largest inventory
and most comprehensive services for fly fishing in the Asheville
area. A visit to their website yields much useful information
about area waters, up-to-date stream reports and NC Trout Maps.

USEFUL FISHING INFO:

• North Carolina mandates that fishermen ages 16 and older must
  obtain a regular NC fishing license to fish our private waters at Rivers
  Ridge Lodge (a trout stamp is not required). A youth under the age of 16
  accompanied by a properly licensed adult may fish without a license.
   

• When fishing public waters, it is important to check the regulations in
  effect as Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest state waters require a
  trout stamp, for example.
   

• It is best to arrive with the proper licenses. You may purchase
  licenses in advance through the NC Wildlife Resource Commission
  online or by phoning toll free: 1 (888) 2HUNTFISH.
   

• In Old Fort, licenses may be purchased at Faw’s Hardware: 11
  Catawba Ave., Old Fort (828) 668-4548 or at Presnell’s General
  Merchandise: 2668 US 70 W between Old Fort & Marion (828)
  724-4815. After business hours, licenses may be purchased at any Wal-
  Mart. The closest Wal-mart is in Marion on US 70 W, a few miles past
  Presnell’s.
   

• New to the sport of fly fishing? Check out the NC Wildlife Loaner
  Program that works like a library and provides loaner rods and reels
  (free of charge) to anglers of all ages.
   

• NC Wildlife also provides a great map of fishable public waters in and
  around Old Fort. Note that Curtis Creek is partially wheelchair
  accessible.