Headwater Browns and Architectural Wonder Destruction

Left out early Saturday morning in search of some cooler temps and no people. Figured my best shot was some headwater areas that gets little attention...which is fine by me. I took along a good friend of mine interested in fly fishing but just getting the hang of it. I've taught a few folks how to fly fish but I am no means a master, I'm only decent enough to fool these local fish and manuever very tight cover.

After a stupid wrong turn in an area I know well, we arrived at the destination at about 7:15. I hoped to see no other trucks but if so we had 3 other very close options. But, to my surprise, one joker in a mini-van appeared to have beat us to our #1 choice. Luckily, after looking around we noticed he was mixed up and fishing a tiny feeder and not the stream we wanted. After parking he surprisingly pulled up beside and asked some directions, apparently he took a wrong turn from the start and was VERY far from his intented destination. He then made a comment that gave me one of those crap eatin grins, "these streams here are just too small to fly fish." I just smiled the best I could as if I agreed and sent him on his way.

The fishing started off with a bang, I was hooked up with a healthy 8 incher off the bat as he murdered my #14 yellow stimi (fly of choice this time of year). After that we found out the browns had our number as the sun was at our backs and the spookiness of these fish were unreal. We witnessed dozens of fish dart upstream at every run and pool. The only success we could muster involved painful ninja stances and long casts which was near impossible on this headwater stream.

Somewhere along the trip we noticed one of the most unusual things I've seen while fishing. Some joker spent an untold amount of time constructing something I would have never deemed possible. A "rainbow" of sorts made from creek rocks. I was astonished at the work of selecting the right rock and then leveling key rocks with much smaller rocks. We could also tell the stack had been in place for quite some time as it had gathered moss and a fairly nasty spider web. But, it also overlooked a nice hole so I kept on fishing. After another "no-luck" run I was simply standing there as yet another nice brown took my shadow and ran for cover. While trying to get him to run back out for a better look I heard what sounded like a small rockslide. I didn't even have to lookup as I knew what happened, my buddy accidentally bumped the "8th wonder of the world" and the structure came tumbling down. Needless to say he felt horrible but I couldn't help but rag him the rest of the day and I suspect on into this week.

As we approached the end of our trip we arrived at a set of waterfalls that I was sure would call it an end of the trip as we were tired of climbing and jumping to keep going upstream and the fishing was just "off". I made numerous long distance casts hoping for one last good fish when finally a very dark colored, beautiful brown got crazy and inhaled the fly on my final cast of the day. He came sliding out from under the falls to investigate, think, watch, and then WHAM! He took it like his last meal. A long fight was had with the limp 3 weight and a few pictures were taken and he was put to the tape for the heck of it. He stretched almost 10.5" which is remarkable based on location and size of stream.

We then called it a day and rock hopped back to the truck. After easily tabbing up the small number of fish to hand and recounting the untold amount of spooked fish, I had only one thing to say, "these streams are just too small to fly fish..."

Smokies Trip

I just arrived back from my first trip into the Smokies for a couple days of backpacking and fishing. Our destination was well known but very difficult to reach. After planning and packing enough food and gear for 3 days of camping we took off in the wee hours of Friday morning. Little did I know the drive would take less time than the hike. Our target was as usual, native brook trout with the chance at a trophy. The weather man was predicting near perfect conditions and for once he was correct.

So, after the long and difficult 1500 ft climb to the top and the 1000 ft decent off the back, we reached campsite at about mid morning, set up camp, took a short rest and off we went. Literally within site of my tent and on the first cast my first smoky mountain brook trout was in hand. This stream was beyond triple the size of your typical brook trout stream. I'm more accustomed to catching brook trout in streams not much larger than a flippin rain puddle and this one was more like cramming the Atlantic into a large funnel.

From then on out the fishing was actually a little slow and difficult. The brooks seemed lazy with their takes and numerous missed strikes. In most situations this may call for a smaller fly, but the fast and turblent water would have made it impossible to locate any fly smaller than an airplane. Now, what rainbows we could locate were more than eager to jump on our offerings. What was most interesting was the small "clicks" of rainbows we would locate. When one would strike you could release him down stream, catch another, and repeat. One fast run produced 4 rainbows within 5 minutes...all of good size.

With about 4-5 hours of fishing on the first day we easily landed a couple dozen and made our way back to camp to rest our worn legs and shoulders. On our first night a lonely hiker had joined us. He had traveled nearly 14 miles before stopping to set up camp. His name was Tim and once I realized he was wearing a Barney Fife t-shirt I knew he was an OK guy. We did the usual and shot the bull and gained tons of info from his extensive smokies hiking career and hit the hay early.

Up at daylight we hiked another mile to a feeder stream that was about half the size as the previous (which is more like a typical mountain trout stream). Saturday's success was unreal. I always fish a dropper combo from the start but no matter what the dropper offered the dry fly was taken 9 out of 10 times. The nymph only served to foul hook a few where I missed the strike of the dry fly. By the end of the day we landed more than we remembered to count with quite a few in the 7"-9" range. We had sincerely hoped for a 12 incher but never did get so lucky.

By Sunday we were taxed and knew the hike out would be easier than the hike in, but nonetheless we were ready to get the burn over with so we packed up and made the trek home. I will say this area is one of the true existance of God as no idiot with the ability of trained thought could imagine this creation by anything less powerful than the Almighty. The main stream was very intimidating and one that demanded respect or it would take it from you. Boulders the size of buses and pools large enough to swallow an elephant. It's clear to understand how many trout call it home as the river is massive for brook trout standards. I would go back in a heartbeat and hope so one day as I hope to share it with my son as he gets old enough to carry dad's 40 pound pack.

Wide Open Fishing...lazy blogger

I've been fishing quite a bit, on mostly wild trout streams close to home and a pond trip with my son. But, I've also been very lazy about the blog. Seems that happens from time to time. I have plenty more fishing to be done but spring has been pretty good to me. The hatches so far are fairly predictable but sporatic at best. Some dry fly action but one would be a fool to put up the nymphs just yet. I can't help but always fish a dropper of sorts with the go-to being a stimulator or EHC with a hares ear or pheasant tail off the back. The water levels are great but it has been dry the past few weeks, actually getting a little sprinkle at the moment which is good news.

Well, again, I've been a lazy blogger...so, how's bout just some pictures???

Just more coonhunting...

Well, in between the massive snow storms of the year I've been coonhunting quite a bit. I still enjoy this sport very much as I love the chase and the hound. I've also been taking my 3 year old quite a bit and he seems to love it too. We even managed a very big mountain coon with him along a few weeks ago and we decided to have it mounted just for him. But, I tell ya, if it don't thaw out and quit this stupid snowing I'm gonna puke. Dern Al Gore and his global warming....he's such and idiot who needs a real job.

So, I'm very ready for spring time now, bugs hatching and brookies screaming at the sight of my SAGE. I've been tying a few flies and keep threatening to buy a new TFO but have yet to spend the moo-lah. Also hoping for an overnight backpacking trip in the spring to the smokies, never fished there, always stick to the home waters but will finally branch out a bit this year.

Well, until next time, go hunt or catch something....

09 Deer Season Re-Cap

It's easy to say I've just gotten lazy on the blogging, but quite honestly I've hunted hard and enjoyed a ton of great days in the woods with my family, including my wonderful 3 year old son. I think he'll be a natural, he just loves being outside just like his ole man.

But, a picture is worth at least 500 words so here is a photo recap. We slammed the bucks on our GA lease this year and witnessed one of the most visable ruts yet. Many great trail cam pics and new horns for the wall! Been a great 2009 deer season.

Is it deer season yet!?

As a man with a one track mind and with the last two trips with the fly rod being nothing short of miserable...."where is deer season!?"

Went last weekend to hang a stand locally and put out one trail cam. I hunt the mountains here in NC some but mostly the massive woods of GA. The hunting in GA is just so much better, more bucks and bigger bucks. Poaching is such a HUGE problem here locally that it drove us to find another area (or state) altogther to hunt. GA has been great to us and we've never looked back.

I'll update often with hunt reports and trail cam pics as I round them up. "Hey, let's go huntin' "--Dean Durham

Dried up and soakin' wet...

Man, trying to wrap words around the worst two days of fishing I've had all year. Wifey and son went out of town so I had two days of nothing else to do but fish...and work a little. Sunday we hit a new brookie stream, stream way low, fish way spooky, and way picky. Did manage a few brookies and a small brownie. Hopped out of that stream and went to an old faithful...still the fish are denying me like a chess geek chasing the prom queen. Still, landed a few.

Monday, made dust out of work at 4:59 and raced up the hill. Walked the 1.5 mile in, fish about 1 hour and the sky opens up worse than anything I've ever experienced. Rain fell at the rate of 4 inches per hour (no, I aint got no gauge in my pocket, checked the stats later) along with dime size hail. I learned the BB size hail that started it sounds kinda cool pinging off your hat, but that dime size slammin' your head and neck is rather painful. I hoofed it out in record time...the old toyota never looked so good. No pics as I had nothing on my mind but a roof over my head. Needless to say, after then soaking my truck in wet clothes, I had to ride to work today sitting on two towels as to not appear as if I pee'd my pants on the way in...

With that said, I have a 4-80 Sage for sale along with a huge assortment of supporting equipment.....KIDDING!!! But, I'm ready to say...bring on deer season.