never again..

[2weightfavorite]

So as I fished the little yesterday a thought came to my mind. Now it wasn't the first time Ive wondered about it, but how it must have been back in the day on the little.. I'm talking pre logging, pre stocking, pre acid rain and all the other ways we have hurt the little. back in the days of brookies in the big river.

Could you imagine fishing up the little and catching nothing but brook trout? Surely they got big, the river is good sized and I'd say the hatches may have been a little heavier back then as well. Imagine Metcalf during the quill Gordon's. Their wold still have been fish rising all over that area, however the question of whether it was a brown or a nice rainbow you just missed wouldnt exist.

If anyone has any info on how the little fished or any old time photos of fish from the little maybe you guys could post them. Now I realize that no one probably has brook trout photos from before 1900, but even some old photos of bows or browns would be nice.

[JoeFred]

There's some interesting first-hand account history on the Little R in the pre-logging days in the paperback "Smoky Mountains Trout Fishing Guide" by Don Kirk, Menasha Ridge Press - ISBN 0-89732-036-0. It may be out of print. There is a used one listed at http://www.bookbase.com .

Joefred

[ttas67]

I don't think it's out of print. I saw it for sale at a gas station in townsend.

something that doesn't have much to do with this, but made me think of it: I'm currently reading "My Life Story" by Cas Walker. This book has some of the craziest stories in it, much to do with him logging in that area as a young man. It gives you a good feel for what life was like in sevier county in the early part of the century. i'm only half way through, and he's already shot or killed multiple people.

[JoeFred]

I've read Cas' book and highly recommend it!

JoeFred

[Rog 1]

Another interesting book that paints a vivid picture of life on the little river during the logging era is "Last Train to Elkmont"...talks about Townsend, Tremont and Elkmont....for those that fish the Middle Prong above the Cascades it gives a full account of the purpose of the dam up there....hard to imagine what those last few remnants were a part of....talks a little about the fishing and the hunting in this part of the Park...what is amazing is how far up these creeks people were actually living and how far up the mountains they took those narrow guaged trains....my grandfather worked in the lumber yards in Townsend and fished Tremont and Elkmont until he was 82 years yoiung......I do remember him talking about the pre-rainbow days.....

[BlueRaiderFan]

Well, at least we will always have the park. I do wonder why there are more/larger trout in the middle prong.