Outdoor Feature Article, Mnt. Xpress Newspaper

Cast, Mend, Set

by Susan Hollingsworth in Vol. 16 / Iss. 39 on 04/21/2010

Photos by Adam Elliott

Step into the Davidson River with a fly rod, waders and a net and you're bound to meet some beautiful fish.

Not too complicated: First comes practice casting and other maneuvers, the author (right) learned on a trip with fishing guide J.E.B. Hall.

Fly-fishing guide J.E.B. Hall of Davidson River Outfitters in Brevard just might know these Western North Carolina fish better than anyone else.

The 10th-generation Bryson City resident, who penned theWestern North Carolina Fly Guide and also has his own independent guide service, boasts an astonishingly comprehensive knowledge of and experience with the local fish. He can tell you precisely what the fish are eating on a given day, where they hang out in different sections of river and how the most recent rainfall will affect them.

Hall's passion for the sport is contagious (the true sign of a good instructor): Even as a complete stranger to the fly-fishing world, not once did I feel it was too complicated for me to grasp. Fly fishing, it turns out, combines all the elements outdoors enthusiasts seek: connecting with nature, the adrenaline rush and, of course, the cool gear.

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