Mike Giles with a white bass taken from Fontana Lake on a recent trip.

Zooming around hairpin curves and deadly switchbacks on two wheels while viewing spectacular fall foliage one could scarcely believe there was a lake filled with smallmouth bass, trout and all types of game fish anywhere near. I was beginning to doubt myself as I continued to ascend the dragon’s tail which kept winding higher and higher carrying me to heights I could hardly imagine.

    The Tail of the Dragon is on the bucket list of cyclists and sports car enthusiast from around the world. With 318 switchbacks over 11 miles the North Carolina mountain run near Deal’s Gap provides a destination with breathtaking beauty and the opportunity to conquer the elements with danger lurking around every curve.

    Nestled among the towering Smokey Mountains, Fontana Lake dam soars high towards the sky and impedes the flow of the Tennessee River which snakes back and forth through deep gorges, long valleys and breathtaking woodlands.

    Slicing through the mountains like a sharp knife Fontana Lake provides a glimpse of astounding mountain beauty as well as the wildlife that inhabit it. Black bears roam the woods and frequent the shores of the lake, as well as wild hogs, deer and many predators. Anglers and boaters alike are privy to numerous wildlife sightings around the lake.

    Anticipation soared as I met guide Ken Kendall at the Fontana Village Resort and we discussed our plans for the day. After a short trip to the marina we began our search for the prolific smallmouth bass. A lifelong angler and wildlife biologist, Kendall has spent the last 20 years fishing Fontana’s deep clear water and the last few guiding anglers and tourists alike.

    This fishing trip was like no other I’d been on before. The lake was 350 to 400 feet deep along the dam and the prime fishing depths were over 50 to 70 feet. As we trolled over a shallow 50 foot deep ridge a smallmouth bass sucked in my pin minnow lure about 30 feet down and really put up a fight.

    I’d accomplished my goal of catching a smallmouth in only minutes.

    “Mike, as the water cools the smallmouth will keep rising and start feeding near the surface,” said Kendall. “Fontana Lake provides some fantastic late fall smallmouth bass fishing.” With very little fishing pressure on this end of the lake, anglers are provided the opportunity to experience a fantastic fishing day on a lake surrounded by beautiful scenery and fall foliage unlike any other this time of year.

    As Kendall filled me in on the history of the lake, an eagle soared nearby, and a coal black boar hog made a brief appearance along a rocky shoal, before scurrying back into the woods. Fishing was our primary focus but I was enamored with Kendall’s stories of the history of Fontana and the birth of the lake.

    Easing alongside a steep bluff another fish slammed into my setting spoon and the fight was on. A few minutes later I pulled in a white bass and things were heating up. Although we were fishing very leisurely and enjoying the conversation, the fish were biting and you never knew what might strike your lure.

    By now we were trolling the edges of the deep drops and picking up a variety of fish. In addition to the many smallmouth bass landed, I also caught spotted bass and white bass and they were all very colorful and hard fighters.

    Fontana Village Resort is nestled in the “Quiet side of the Smokey’s” and is just the ticket for someone wanting to experience the outdoors with a touch of the past. The area is full of promise complete with hiking trails, trout streams, and a multitude of waterfalls.

    Elk roam the mountains to the south and deer, turkey, bear and wild hogs are prevalent and easy to spot as well. Whether you’re searching for the peace and quiet of the great outdoors, or just want to catch a trout, kayak or canoe a river, the area around Fontana Village Resort offers endless opportunities and possibilities.

    If you’re looking for a unique outdoors experience, then you owe it to yourself to pay a visit to Fontana Village Resort and sample the local cuisine, outdoors scene and experience North Carolina’s outdoors magic and friendly people. And if you want to catch a smallmouth bass or lake trout line up a fishing trip with Ken Kendall and you’ll also get a historic accounting of the lake while you’re catching fish. Contact Fontana Village Resort at 828-498-2211 or online at www.fontanavillage.com

    Contact  Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or e-mail him at mikegiles18@comcast.net