Headwaters Outfitters

Wade trips are the classic Headwaters fly fishing experience. A licensed guide takes you into the water on foot, reading the river, putting you on fish, and teaching as you go. They run these year round on public water like the Davidson, one of the most respected trout streams in the country, and on private water where you trade the famous name for guaranteed solitude.

This is the trip to book whether you have never held a fly rod or you have fished for decades. Beginners get patient instruction and a guide who handles the technical parts. Experienced anglers get local knowledge that would take years to learn on your own: which runs are holding fish, what they are eating this week, and how to fool the educated browns the Davidson is known for.

Every wade trip includes the licensed guide, waders, boots, rod, reel, and line. You bring yourself, a fishing license, and a willingness to learn. Half-day and full-day options are available for one to a few anglers. Book ahead on their site, especially in spring and fall when the fishing is best and the calendar fills.

Float trips put you in a drift boat or raft and let the guide row you through water that foot anglers never reach. You cast to fresh banks and undisturbed runs all day while the guide handles the boat and the reading of the river. It is a different rhythm than wading, more covering water, less standing in one pool, and it often puts you on bigger fish.

A float is a good call for a longer day, for anglers who want to see more of the river, or for anyone who would rather fish from a boat than wade. Trips generally start early and run a half or full day. As with all their guided trips, the guide and gear are included, and you book ahead on their website.

When you want a fight, Headwaters guides float trips for smallmouth bass and, in the fall, muskie. Smallmouth are pound for pound some of the hardest-fighting fish in fresh water, and they hit hard on fly and light tackle. The bigger rivers in the region hold strong populations, and a guided float is the best way to find them.

Muskie are the fish of 10,000 casts, a true trophy that takes patience and pays off rarely and big. The fall muskie float on the French Broad is a bucket-list day for anglers who want the challenge. These are longer, specialized trips, so talk to the shop about timing and what to expect, and book well ahead.

For groups who want more than a day trip, Headwaters runs overnight canoe-camping adventures. You paddle a stretch of the French Broad to a riverside campground, spend the night under the stars, and paddle back the next day. They coordinate the gear and the shuttles, so the logistics that usually make a river camping trip hard are handled for you.

It is a great fit for families, scout troops, and groups of friends looking for a real adventure without a steep learning curve. Leave No Trace practices are part of the trip, in keeping with how this family treats the river. Talk to the shop about group size, timing, and what to pack, and book well ahead since these take coordination.

This is the trip people do not expect and never forget. In partnership with Llama Caddy, Headwaters runs a guided 2-hour hike through DuPont State Forest on the High Falls and Triple Falls loop, one of the most beautiful waterfall trails in western North Carolina, walking alongside friendly pack llamas. Guides Lydia and Mark lead it, and the llamas are the kind of detail that makes a trip memorable for kids and adults alike.

A few specifics, because this one has rules. Hikes meet in the morning and run about two hours. They are open to ages 5 and up, capped at a small group, and offered on select weekdays only, since DuPont's weekend trail traffic is heavy. Advance registration is required and dogs are not permitted. Spots fill fast, so reserve early through the events or hiking section of their website. If you want a one-of-a-kind morning that the whole group will talk about, this is it.