FRENCH BROAD RIVER FLY FISHING

 

French Broad River

The Vanderbilt family obviously knew what they found when they stumbled into the Asheville valley. What is now the Biltmore Estate was once merely a floodplain to the headwaters of the French Broad River. It’s one of the oldest rivers in the world, and one of the few that cross a continental divide. It offers anglers the opportunity to catch trout, smallmouth bass, musky, walleye, and a variety of other species in a variety of water types.  Section 9 of the French Broad is perhaps the best place to see its geological history. Through here, the river is 100 yards across in some places with enormous rock croppings and class IV rapids. Throughout its course, cold spring-fed creeks and streams feed the French Broad from its headwaters near Brevard, NC, to Knoxville TN. Notable trout rivers such as the Davidson River and Mills River feed the French Broad.  

  • Guided Smallmouth Bass Trips are one of our specialties. We primarily target smallmouth on the fly, but offer conventional spin tackle as an alternative. We have access to over 400 miles of pristine water among four large river systems surrounding Asheville, NC, and have two private base camps with exclusive access. We go the extra river miles for our guests.

  • AFFC is the only guide service in the area offering Multi-Day Trips and Smallmouth Bass Whitewater both with the option of Overnight accommodations.  These trips are a true wilderness experience.    

  • AFFC possesses special federal forest permits and the highest level of safety certification, ACA Level IV Swift Water Rescue, CPR / First Aid certified and fully insured, allowing us to access the Nolichucky River Gorge and French Broad River Section 9, which are both full of Class III & IV rapids.  

 

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