Why DuPont State Forest is Perfect for Hand Reel Fishing
Picture this: You're hiking the Cedar Rock Trail for those famous mountain views when you spot a perfect fishing hole tucked below Hooker Falls. With traditional tackle, you'd be out of luck – too much gear, too much setup time. But with your GoReel Pro in your pocket? You're fishing in seconds.
DuPont State Recreational Forest spans over 10,400 acres and features more than 80 miles of hiking and biking trails, creating a network of fishing access points that traditional anglers simply can't reach efficiently. When your entire fishing setup weighs less than a water bottle, every trail becomes a potential fishing expedition.
The forest's compact nature means you can hit multiple lakes and streams in a single day – something that's nearly impossible when you're lugging rods, tackle boxes, and folding chairs. Here, minimalist fishing isn't just an approach; it's the smartest way to explore everything DuPont has to offer.
The Five Lakes: Pocket-Sized Adventures Await
DuPont Forest has five lakes or ponds that are classified for general fishing, with warm water game fish such as largemouth bass, bluegill, and redbreast sunfish found in Lake Julia, Lake Dense, and Fawn Lake.
Lake Julia: The Adventure Starter
The largest and most accessible lake in the system, Lake Julia offers excellent shoreline fishing opportunities. This serene lake is perfect for lakeside picnicking, swimming, and beautiful walks. With a GoReel Lake Kit in your pack, you can fish the entire perimeter without the usual rod-carrying hassle.
Hand Reel Advantage: The lake's varied structure – from shallow coves to deeper drop-offs – is perfect for experimenting with different hand reel techniques. Try the sidearm cast for distance or the gentle underhand toss for precision work around fallen trees.
Lake Dense: The Hidden Gem
Smaller but often more productive than its famous neighbor, Lake Dense sits quietly upstream from the popular waterfall areas. This lake offers crystal-clear, swimmable waters with Joanna Mountain rising above the lake in the background.
Pro Tip: Lake Dense connects to the delayed harvest section of Little River, making it an excellent starting point for a multi-water fishing adventure. Pack your GoReel River Kit and you're ready for both lake bass and stream trout.
Fawn Lake: The Quiet Escape
This lovely small reservoir features a gazebo and boardwalk, creating perfect hand reel fishing platforms. The structure provides ideal casting positions without the need for waders or complicated boat setups.
Lake Imaging and Lake Alford: The Wild Cards
Lake Imaging and Lake Alford are small and do not contain as many catchable size fish as the larger lakes, but they offer something equally valuable – solitude and practice opportunities. These smaller waters are perfect for honing your hand reel techniques without the pressure of crowds or trophy expectations.
Hand Reel Perfect: Use your GoReel Pocket Kit to explore these intimate waters. The compact setup lets you bushwhack to hidden coves that boat anglers can't reach.
Little River: Where Wild Meets Managed
The jewel of DuPont's trout fishing is the Little River system, offering both wild trout adventures and managed fishing opportunities. Hooker Falls and Triple Falls form the backdrop of the Delayed Harvest section of this river that is heavily stocked through the fall and late winter through the spring.
The Delayed Harvest Section: Stocked Adventure
The delayed harvest water runs from the confluence of Lake Dense to 100 yards downstream of Hooker Falls, where trout caught from Oct. 1 through June 1 must be released. This mile-and-a-half stretch receives heavy stocking, creating excellent fishing opportunities.
Hand Reel Strategy: The delayed harvest section's popularity means plenty of other anglers. Your hand reel advantage? Quick setup, easy repositioning, and the ability to fish spots others overlook because they're "too much trouble" to rig traditional gear.
Try these hand reel techniques:
- Backhand toss for reaching productive pockets under overhanging branches
- Pendulum cast for precise presentations in tight quarters
- Direct drop for fishing the deep plunge pools below the falls
Wild Trout Waters: The Real Adventure
Almost 50 percent of the streams on the property hold populations of wild rainbows, browns, brook trout or some combination of the three, with nearly 18 miles of trout water on the property.
Hidden Gems: Grassy Creek and Jim Branch are worth exploring, with some streams containing native brook trout. These backcountry waters are where hand reel fishing truly shines – access requires hiking, and the fish are spooky enough that stealth matters more than gear quantity.
Pack your GoReel EDC Kit for these wild trout adventures. The ultra-compact setup disappears in your pocket, leaving both hands free for scrambling over rocks and through rhododendron thickets.
Hand Reel Technique Tips for DuPont Waters
Lake Fishing Techniques
The calm lake surfaces at DuPont are perfect for practicing precision casting. Use the sidearm delivery for distance when working lake edges, or switch to the gentle underhand toss for delicate presentations around structure.
Equipment Recommendation: The GoReel Lake Kit includes everything you need for DuPont's warm water fishing, from bass-busting streamers to bluegill-tempting nymphs.
Stream Fishing Approaches
DuPont's varied stream conditions – from the wide, stocked sections of Little River to narrow mountain brooks – require technique adaptation.
- Tight streams: Use the backhand toss to work under overhanging rhododendron
- Open water: The pendulum cast gives you distance and accuracy for working larger pools
- Deep holes: Direct drop techniques let you get flies down to where the big trout hide
The Waterfall Advantage
Fishing is prohibited within 300 feet of the top of all waterfalls, but the plunge pools below are fair game. The plunge pools at the bases of waterfalls are also a good place to practice deep nymphing techniques.
Hand Reel Secret: Use LineLocks to quickly adjust your setup when moving between the deep pools below falls and the shallower runs upstream. No re-rigging, no lost time – just fishing.
Essential Gear for DuPont Adventures
The Complete Setup
For maximum DuPont flexibility, consider this hand reel arsenal:
- GoReel Pro as your primary workhorse
- GoReel Lake Kit for the five lakes
- GoReel River Kit for trout streams
- Just a Bubble Mini for surface action on calm lake mornings
Why Hand Reels Excel at DuPont
Traditional tackle requires constant adjustments when moving between DuPont's diverse waters. Hand reels? One setup handles everything from lake bass to wild brook trout. Your GoReel Pocket Kit weighs less than most tackle boxes and delivers more versatility than a truck full of rods.
Planning Your DuPont Hand Reel Adventure
Forest Basics
The forest is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and fishing during closed hours is prohibited. A valid North Carolina fishing license is required, and trout fishermen must possess a special trout fishing license in addition to the basic fishing license.
Timing Your Visit
Parking lots at DuPont State Recreational Forest fill up early. Arrive before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. to increase your odds of finding a parking space. This early/late timing actually works perfectly for hand reel anglers – dawn and dusk are prime fishing times anyway.
Access Strategy
With over 80 miles of trails connecting fishing opportunities, plan your route based on your hand reel setup:
- Single lake focus: Park at the specific lake access for maximum fishing time
- Multi-water adventure: Use the trail system to connect lakes and streams in one epic day
- Wild trout exploration: Start at quieter access points and hike to backcountry waters
Weather Considerations
Mountain weather changes quickly, but hand reel fishing adapts. Rain squalls that shut down traditional anglers often trigger feeding activity. With your GoReel EDC always in your pocket, you're ready when conditions improve.
Conservation and Ethics
DuPont's popularity means it needs our protection. Hand reel fishing aligns perfectly with Leave No Trace principles:
- Minimal gear means less impact
- Quick setups reduce bank disturbance
- Compact equipment makes trash impossible to forget
- Direct contact with fish improves release survival
The delayed harvest section requires catch and release from October through June, but consider practicing catch and release throughout DuPont. These waters support too many anglers and adventurers to sustain heavy harvest pressure.
Beyond the Expected: Hidden Hand Reel Opportunities
The Waterfall Connection
While you can't fish near waterfall tops, the hike to places like Triple Falls (famous from "The Hunger Games") puts you within casting distance of overlooked pools. Most visitors focus on photography – you'll have prime fishing water to yourself.
Multi-Activity Days
DuPont's trail system means combining fishing with hiking, mountain biking, or waterfall photography. Hand reel fishing makes this seamless – no gear transportation headaches, no timing conflicts, just more adventure per day.
Family-Friendly Fishing
The combination of easy lake access and pocket-sized gear makes DuPont perfect for introducing kids to fishing. There are many picnic spots throughout the forest, as well as a playground near the High Falls parking lot. Pack a GoReel Pocket Pond Kit and turn any family hike into a fishing adventure.
The Bottom Line: DuPont Delivers
DuPont State Recreational Forest represents everything hand reel fishing enables – access to remote waters, the freedom to explore without gear limitations, and the ability to fish anywhere, anytime. Whether you're targeting stocked trout below famous waterfalls or stalking wild brook trout in hidden mountain streams, this North Carolina gem rewards anglers who think beyond traditional tackle.
The forest's diverse waters, extensive trail system, and stunning scenery create the perfect testing ground for hand reel techniques. More importantly, DuPont proves that when you fish light, you can explore more, discover more, and ultimately, catch more.
Pack your hand reel, grab your hiking boots, and discover why DuPont State Forest might just be the most hand reel-friendly destination in the Southeast. Every trail leads to adventure – and with your fishing gear always in your pocket, you're ready for whatever opportunity appears around the next bend.
Ready to explore DuPont State Forest with hand reel fishing? Start with our GoReel Pro and discover what fishing feels like when nothing stands between you and the adventure.
