The catch and release regulated section of the Davidson River is known, to many anglers, as one of the top fly fishing rivers on the east coast. This is due, in part, to its excellent population of large trout and regularly occurring hatches throughout the year. In fact, there is a potpourri of aquatic insects evident at all times. The browns, rainbows, and brook char all take advantage of these insects; however, ...

midges take the reign as the most important food source on a year round basis. The Davidson is a small, freestone stream with sections of fast riffle water, pools, deep pockets, and glassy flat water. The fish are extremely educated due to its size and heavy angler pressure. These finicky fish are difficult to fool on most occasions unless anglers are proficient at sight fishing with tiny midge patterns and nymphs on the lightest of tippet. The fish average 10 to 16 inches but it is not uncommon for anglers to see and fish to trout that range in size from 20 to 30 inches. Productive patterns include zebra midges, red hot midges, squirmy wormies, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, pheasant tails, rainbow warriors, disco midges, stripper midges, Sly and the family stones, flash midges, RS2's, WD40's, WD50's, Rosenbauer's rabbit foot emergers, Mercer's micro mayflies, bionic brassies, and brassies.