Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:09 — 19.4MB)
Segment 2, June 13, 2024
Brian Hester joins the Carolina Outdoors with an update on his upcoming book She Talks to Fish. Brian was raised in Boone an avid fly fisherman along with being a 30 year art teacher in the CMS system but stepping away soon to focus on painting and his novel. Brian has always circled back to flyfishing through the years for inspiration in his works. Continue reading She Talks to Fish With Brian Hester
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:18 — 17.7MB)
Segment 3, March 23rd, 2024
Many times on the Carolina Outdoors we talk about how the outdoors helps heal. Whether it being taking on the Appalachian Trail after a job loss or divorce. Maybe it’s taking on Kilimanjaro or another tall bucket-list mountain after a cancer diagnosis. Recent guests on the program have spoken about the outdoors aiding with anxiety, depression, & anxiousness.
But what about returning combat veterans? How do they use sport & the outdoors to sooth their pains?
Continue reading Project Healing Waters with program lead Joseph Parente
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:05 — 14.7MB)
Segment 3, February 10th, 2024
Many call Bryson City, NC, the Fly Fishing Capitol of the south. With 4 different rivers running into the area as well as Fontana lake, there’s no better place to spend a day wading than Swain County. However, since 2019 there is more to do in Bryson City than just fly fish. The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians now plays host to an aquarium where you can view more than 50 species of freshwater fish, without the hassle of catching them first! Today, we take a closer look at what it took to bring the museum together, and what keeps people coming back. Continue reading The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians with Alen Baker
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:02 — 17.4MB)
February 10th, 2024
The Carolina Fly Fishing Club began in 2006, with the mission of passing on the legacy of fly fishing. The Club spends it’s time educating new fly fishermen, and encouraging seasoned vets to get out on the water. The CFFC is a chartered member of Fly Fishers International, and serves the greater Carolinas. Continue reading Carolina Fly Fishing Club with Bill Jewett
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:12 — 18.5MB)
Segment 3, January 6th, 2023
It’s fly-fishing season, folks! In the fly-fishing world, the sport is divided into 3 skill categories: casting, fishing, and fly-tying. Jesse Brown’s Outdoors’ very own head fly-fishing instructor and guide Elijah Saint Blancard joins the Carolina Outdoors show to talk all about that third pillar, fly-tying.
Elijah delves into the environment out on the NC waters this season. Less crowded rivers and lower water levels sure have made for interesting and enjoyable trips.
Fly-tying is a true art form that allows us to exercise our creative sides! Tying flies can be compared to that of a chef baking in the kitchen. With different recipes for different flies, materials like beads, eyes, foam, thread, rubber legs, flash, and tinsel are all crucial materials to best imitating nature. Tiers utilize both natural fibers and synthetic material to get the desired effect.
Charlotte outdoor store, Jesse Brown’s, is not only home to an abundance of fly-tying material, but also home to expert advice and instruction! Check out jessebrowns.com to visit our blog page that discusses deeper topics on all things fly fishing.
With a brand-new fly-tying club, the Charlotte Vise, in the works, Jesse Brown’s is offering instructional clinics lead by Elijah himself! The goal is to provide instructional introductory information by teaching easy, fishable patters while keeping things simple and fun. The next available clinic is January 31st, 2023, from 6pm-8pm. They are filling up fast so visit Jesse Brown’s website, send an email, or make a phone call to reserve your spot.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:39 — 10.7MB)
Segment 2, November 11th, 2023
Deer hunters wake up! But please be safe with tree stands & motorists need to be aware during the deer rut.
False albacore is happening at the southern Outer Banks on Harker’s Island & the Cape Lookout area. A Sage nine-weight fly rod or a Sage ten-weight Fly Rod is perfect for this type of fly fishing.
Trout streams continue to be low. However the low water has helped the top water fly fishing action in the mountains. Fly Fishing trips have continued to be popular with the guides from Jesse Brown’s. The guides are helping everyone from beginners to more experience anglers that are working on specific portions of the sport. Please pick a date and email us at jesse@jessebrown.com. The rest following that is easy.
The lack of rain has put burn bans on thirty counties in western North Carolina. However, the burn bans don’t mean that you cannot have a camp fire?
No. You can still have a campfire in a fire ring or a managed fire area. This can change depending on the situation which not only includes rainfall but also wind situation.
UPDATE on FIRE BANS: thirteen state parks in NC have a campfire ban in place now. These state parks include:
Chimney Rock State Park
Crowders Mountain State Park
Elk Knob State Park
Gorges State Park
Grandfather Mtn State Park
Lake James State Park
Lake Norman State Park
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
Mt Mitchell State Park
New River State Park
Rendezvous Mtn
South Mountains State Park
Stone Mountain State Park
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:53 — 19.1MB)
Segment 2, October 28th, 2023
Several weeks ago we welcomed Head Fly Fishing Guide & Lead Instructor from Jesse Brown’s, Elijah Saint Blancard.
He’s hit the ground running by speaking to groups in Charlotte & taking several fly fishing trips around the NC mountains. He knows where the water is flowing and where the fish are biting. More importantly he knows the sport of fly fishing (the how to learn properly, have fun, and catch fish).
In the segment of the show, Saint Blancard, speaks with host, Bill Bartee of the Carolina Outdoors about fly fishing western North Carolina during this time of year.
Things You’ll Learn by Listening:
Show Highlights:
How the fall fly fishing is shaping up thus far?
Addresses the concerns of water levels and the benefit of the cooler temperatures
The people going on the fly fishing trips are men & women of all ages.
What they’re catching and what flies are working
More Insights from the Outdoor Guys:
Book a North Carolina Fly Fishing Trip with Elijah at Jesse@jessebrown.com
or Call 704.556.0020
The Carolina Outdoors is brought to you by Jesse Brown’s. Check out this Charlotte outdoor store located in the Southpark-area.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:09 — 18.5MB)
Segment 2, October 20, 2023
Fall in the Carolina’s brings cooler weather, beauty, & cold water. The cold water is what we want to talk about on this segment of the Carolina Outdoors because it is where the rainbow, brook, & brown trout are living.
Guest Sam Johnson of WIld Bearings Outdoors is an author, speaker, & sportsman. He joins the Carolina Outdoors to talk fly fishing in western North Carolina this fall.
You’ll Learn:
The Lakes of the Biltmore Estate
Information about filming Wild Bearings Outdoors program on The American Country Network
Beauty of fishing in the fall
Challenge of fishing with leaves falling & how to solve it
Five places to fish that are featured with almost 200 other streams in Fly Fishing the Blue Ridge Parkway-NC.
Johnson names:
The Doe River that eventually flows into Elizabethton, TN
Lower Creek in the Mount Mitchell area of North Carolina
Dutch Creek outside Valle Crucis, NC
East Fork of the Chestnut Creek below Galax, VA
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:12 — 17.6MB)
Segment 3, October 7th, 2023
Let’s go fly fishing! Since the 1970s, Fly Fishing has been an important part of the business at Jesse Brown’s. A new contributor to the Carolina Outdoors, Elijah Saint Blancard, is the head fly fishing guide & lead instructor at Charlotte’s local outdoor store, Jesse Brown’s. His start was at age twelve in Pennsylvania. His teacher was the famed Joe Humphreys at Penn State University.
During this conversation, we’ll learn about Elijah’s background & fishing the streams of Central Pennsylvania. He speaks on his time being trained as a fly fishing guide at World Cast Anglers in Victor, ID, & the fly fishing trips in North Carolina.
His passion is teaching the sport of fly fishing & whether it’s a 9 foot 5 weight Sage fly rod or a 7 foot 2 weight Winston fly rod he can help you learn the sport properly.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:33 — 17.9MB)
Segment 3, September 23rd, 2023
A huge growth of people joining a sport that we talk about a lot on the Carolina Outdoors. The people? Women The sport? Fly Fishing
According a report published earlier this year by the OIA, female participation in fishing grew from 16 million to almost 20 million from 2012 to 2022. They represent nearing forty percent of total anglers and forty-two person were first-time anglers.
Linda Hickle was mesmerized the first time she saw someone fly fishing. She went on to help found & organize a Women’s Group of Anglers, called Women on the Fly.
She joins the Carolina Outdoors to tell that story, inform everyone about the upcoming Wine-Women-Waders Event at Jesse Brown’s, & tell her favorite places to fish.