fly fisherman DK
10-19-2009, 12:06 AM
Sorry for such a late report. We were in the Smokies from the 10th to the 12th. We had a great time fishing and just being there. Anyways, here's the report from our trip.
Saturday, we went to a crafts festival in Waynesville for my mom, and she loved it. We saw some cool artwork of trout and the mountains too. The next day, we went to Cataloochee to hear the bulls bugle, so my mom could see the valley, and so we could do a little fishing. We first saw everything in the valley and then we went and had lunch at the campground. Then, after lunch I decided to wet my line in Cataloochee Creek before we headed over to Caldwell Fork. I can tell you, it was a good idea. After only a few casts with my elk hair caddis I had a fat 9 inch rainbow in my hands. That fish got me pretty revved up for the rest of the day.
After I caught that rainbow, we headed over to Caldwell Fork. The fishing was tough for my parents, but I caught around 10 fish. The best fly was a yellow or orange stimulator. To start it off I caught a nice 8-9 inch brookie. Then, I caught another brook trout and a rainbow. After that I caught two 8-9 inch browns only to find out that I had just caught the slam and didn't have a picture of a rainbow. So with only about 20 minutes until sunset I caught another brown, and then to my luck a nice chunky rainbow. I was really excited about getting that last rainbow and couldn't wait until the next day.
On our last day in the Smokies, we decided to go to Bunches Creek so my Mom could catch a brook trout before we had to leave. It was true to its name a very foggy, smokey day up in the mountains with a light, drizzly rain. Anyways, we started down the trail to the creek, and when we got to the creek walked downstream a few hundred yards. Then we let the stream settle for awhile. After about half an hour we started fishing. We all started off with orange stimulators and they seemed to be the ticket. The fishing that day wasn't as good as compared to the last time we went there, but we all caught some fish and my mom caught her first brook trout, and she actually managed to catch 4 out of 1 hole and 4 out of another. My dad and I also caught a few with the best one from that day coming from me. The brookie was a nice 8 incher and he came out of the same pool that my cousin caught a good one out of last time. We ended the day with about 20 to 25 fish. Finally, we hiked out, went and got some early dinner, and started the long trek home. I hope everyone has a chance to go fishing and see the fall scenery it's still good.
I will try posting some pictures tomorrow.
Daniel Koeppel
Saturday, we went to a crafts festival in Waynesville for my mom, and she loved it. We saw some cool artwork of trout and the mountains too. The next day, we went to Cataloochee to hear the bulls bugle, so my mom could see the valley, and so we could do a little fishing. We first saw everything in the valley and then we went and had lunch at the campground. Then, after lunch I decided to wet my line in Cataloochee Creek before we headed over to Caldwell Fork. I can tell you, it was a good idea. After only a few casts with my elk hair caddis I had a fat 9 inch rainbow in my hands. That fish got me pretty revved up for the rest of the day.
After I caught that rainbow, we headed over to Caldwell Fork. The fishing was tough for my parents, but I caught around 10 fish. The best fly was a yellow or orange stimulator. To start it off I caught a nice 8-9 inch brookie. Then, I caught another brook trout and a rainbow. After that I caught two 8-9 inch browns only to find out that I had just caught the slam and didn't have a picture of a rainbow. So with only about 20 minutes until sunset I caught another brown, and then to my luck a nice chunky rainbow. I was really excited about getting that last rainbow and couldn't wait until the next day.
On our last day in the Smokies, we decided to go to Bunches Creek so my Mom could catch a brook trout before we had to leave. It was true to its name a very foggy, smokey day up in the mountains with a light, drizzly rain. Anyways, we started down the trail to the creek, and when we got to the creek walked downstream a few hundred yards. Then we let the stream settle for awhile. After about half an hour we started fishing. We all started off with orange stimulators and they seemed to be the ticket. The fishing that day wasn't as good as compared to the last time we went there, but we all caught some fish and my mom caught her first brook trout, and she actually managed to catch 4 out of 1 hole and 4 out of another. My dad and I also caught a few with the best one from that day coming from me. The brookie was a nice 8 incher and he came out of the same pool that my cousin caught a good one out of last time. We ended the day with about 20 to 25 fish. Finally, we hiked out, went and got some early dinner, and started the long trek home. I hope everyone has a chance to go fishing and see the fall scenery it's still good.
I will try posting some pictures tomorrow.
Daniel Koeppel