Supafly: Trying to match the hatch from our mountain waters? Current dry fly bets include Yellow Sally, Golden Drake, Yellow Drake, Light Hendrickson and Dark Hendrickson. On tailwaters, Sulfurs are working, and we’re just days away from the emergence of Green Drakes. Thanks to store manager Shane Buckner of Hunter Banks Company in Asheville for the local knowledge.
Hot off the presses: Those clever people at National Geographic have just published a new map of the wilds from Linville Gorge south to Mount Mitchell. It reached stores last week, with coverage including the Pisgah National Forest’s Grandfather and Appalachian ranger districts, Linville Gorge, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mount Mitchell State Park, Grandfather Mountain, Wilson Creek, the Brown Mountain OHV Area, the South Toe River, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Lake James State Park. The map, No. 779, is printed on heavy, plastic-coated paper for durability. Look for it at local outfitters, or visit www.ngmapstore.com.
For the birds: Closures are still in place at Linville Gorge climbing mainstay Table Rock, due to the nesting peregrine falcons there. Most of the routes between Blood, Sweat and Tears (No. 13) and Excess Reality (No. 45) are a no-go until the avian family matters are resolved. For up-to-the-minute news on the closures, call the U.S. Forest Service’s Grandfather Ranger District office at (828) 652-2144. If you’re killing time, there’s also a lively discussion of the closures in Web chatrooms.
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