“Musky Mile”: This is a local favorite spot for trying to go toe-to-toe with the closest thing a river may have to a shark, a Musky. These toothy critters are more formally known as Muskellunge and are the largest member of the Pike Family. They are apex predators in the freshwater bodies of water that they live in and typically reserve themselves in areas with abundant forage and cover. This is where the French Broad River comes into play. There is a roughly three-mile-long section of the French Broad from Hap Simpson Park to Wilson Rd that is known to contain the biggest fish in the southeast. This section is characterized by slower moving water that is deeper than most other sections upstream and the fish have a nice conveyor belt of juvenile smallmouth and rainbows to keep them fed. However, this section of the river is becoming increasingly more pressured and the nearby sections may produce just as many fish as the famed stretch. It should be noted that Musky fishing requires heavy tackle in the 10 to 12 weight range with flies that can get as big as 16 inches long. A raft, drift boat, or Jon boat all work well here but, be aware that fallen trees line the banks of this entire section, and there are sometimes surprise log jams that will require a portage or creative float techniques.
Directions From Asheville: Take I-26E to NC-280 following signs for Brevard. Continue to US-276/Hwy 64 through Brevard. Hap Simpson Park will be on your Right.
