We also use the #7 Winchester loads with 1 1/8 oz. of shot. Rogers' Sporting Goods usually has them on sale in the fall. Get on their email list and you'll get the sale flyer. We've tried the 6's but pretty much stuck with the 7's.
I think you would have better success west of Asheville. A guy I hunt with had 5 flushes this past Saturday near Waynesville. However, there are some large tracts of gamelands in the area that you mentioned but I haven't gotten any reports from that part of the state. Good Luck!