Fishing the Davidson River from the Art Loeb Trail Bridge to the English Chapel

When fishing the Davidson River, located in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina, there is good access to the river at the Art Loeb trail swinging bridge. The bridge and both sides of the bank received major reconstruction recently thanks to heavy rains and flooding from tropical storms. Road side parking is available near the trail leading to the Art Loeb Bridge which is only a few dozen feet from the road itself. Additional parking is located about a quarter mile further down the road at a parking area beside the concrete bridge locally known as the Job Corps Bridge.

The stretch of water, both the Davidson River and down from the bridge, is typically shallow and clear. There are good holding spots for trout along both banks thanks to over hanging rhododendron, hemlock, beechnut and other trees. As you make your way up stream, you will begin to see the concrete bridge, previously mentioned, which is the only access to the Schenck Job Corps and the Davidson River Campgrounds. This is a good time to reiterate the pressure which this stretch of water receives. Sandwiched between the Pisgah campground and major access route to the Pisgah Forest, the river receives an extraordinary amount of pressure from fishing and recreational use.

Due to a recent storm, there is a tree across the river about one hundred yards below the bridge. Although there are lots of limbs and associated log debris, take the time to work the many pockets along the logs and branches.