Ramps and Specks

[joe a]

Hey all,
This is my first post to the board and I wanted to share a last weekend's trip up to the park. We headed out early Friday and after a mellow 4.5 mile hike we set up camp and headed upstream. We saw some nice wildflowers on the hike up...

The Trillium was in full bloom

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1345.jpg

Some really pretty Bloodroot

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1349.jpg


We suited up and quickly got into a mix of wild rainbows and small brooks

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1320.jpg


http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1322.jpg

After a few hours of fishing we headed back downstream and came upon a small cluster of Ramps.


We found an endless supply around the campsite. We DID NOT saute them in butter with wild trout.

Oh yes we did!!!

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1341.jpg

Saturday brought a cold morning followed by some fantastic afternoon fishing

About a quarter mile up from the campsite we got into some hot brookie action. All on various drys.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1334.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1331.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1335.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1336.jpg

Checked out a prong. If you recognize this I have a question for you.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1338.jpg


Sunday brought a hike out and on to another stream for some rainbows and browns


http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1360.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/GSMP0010311/IMG_1361.jpg

Today brings sore legs and great memories.

[pineman19]

Very well done Joe_a. You're posting like True Vet of the forum already:biggrin:

Neal

[Streamhound]

Thanks for sharing

[psnapp]

joe --- how were the ramp-sauteed fish? Have had ramps in omeletes, and they were superb but haven't tried them with fish.

[mattblick]

Thanks for the report, the photos are great..

[silvercreek]

Good report and some nice pics. FYI here is a link to gathering wild foods in the Park
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/parkmgmt/upload/09-Compendium.pdf Section 2.1

[oldhickory]

Welcome to the board. Great first post. Love those brookies!

[joe a]

Good report and some nice pics. FYI here is a link to gathering wild foods in the Park
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/parkmgmt/upload/09-Compendium.pdf Section 2.1

Ah Rats Silvercreek!!! Ignorance was bliss, but thanks for the info. Any knowledge of why the gathering for personal consumption is prohibited?

[duckypaddler]

I'm glad to see more fishing posts:smile: Nice pics. I have also been enjoying the trillium blooming everywhere, and wasn't familiar with Bloodroot so thanks for the lesson on that one:biggrin:

As SilverCreek mentioned harvesting ramps in the park is now illegal. You even now have to get permits to harvest in the National Forests.:frown:

I even remember my old Smokies brown book told you to harvest a few & mix with you eggs in the morning at campsite 23. I'm sure you had no idea, and i don't think anyone will hold it against you;)

Again welcome, and thanks for posting

James Locke

[FishNHunt]

Great post. I also eat alot of ramps and just this weekend my son and I transplanted 2 walmart bags full of ramps to a spot. I hope that they do well. We transplanted them where blood root, black cohosh and ginseng were present so I assume that it will do well also. While we where there I pointed out the different plants to my son and we had to dig up one of every plant minus the sang which he has saw plenty of. We didn't see any blooming blood root yet tho. I posted something earlier this spring about not being able to eat ramps from the park. Where are you from?

[whitefeather]

Excellent fishing report and pictures! Thanks for sharing with us!

[silvercreek]

Joe a, just speculating, but it seems allowed gathering is of fruiting bodies, but not taking the plant itself. For ramps you would be harvesting the bulb and removing the plant and reducing the population. That's my best guess.