Specktacular Weekend in the Backcountry (pic heavy)

[joe a]

This weekend was the first backpacking/fishing trip of the year and what a treat it turned out to be. I spend three days solo, hiking, fishing, and relaxing in a tremendous setting. The fishing was nothing short of remarkable and the scenery was breathtaking. The drive up on Friday had me a little worried as all the roadside streams were high and off color. The target stream was a touch high but not too dingy. Fished for a few hours and picked up a brown and some bows.

The fist brown of the trip....

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2040.jpg

A typical streamshot....

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2041.jpg

One of the nicer Bows....

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2043.jpg

After a few hours I decided to get back on the trail and put in a few miles heading up to the water that would hold my ultimate target species. I set up camp and did a touch more fishing, but it was getting dark and the natives were already sleeping.

Saturday was a different story as the fishing bordered on ridiculous. I left camp around 8:00 and headed downstream towards the barrier falls.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2046.jpg

A little Trillium....

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2048.jpg

And then the specks just could not get enough of about anything I threw at them. The average size was solid and a good presentation was rewarded in most good looking water.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2052.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2053.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2054.jpg

[joe a]

Good looking water!

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2057.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2058.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2060.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2062.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2063.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2070.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2071.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2073.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2077.jpg

Time to rest....

Sunday brought a nice hike up to a ridge trail and back down to a feeder stream. I plan on fishing it the next time around.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy198/jgattaway/0412/IMG_2078.jpg

I had decided to head back below the falls and see if I could hook into some bigger browns and Bows. The plan paid off and I brought some really nice size browns to hand. The caddis were thick and a size #14 or #16 brought some beauties to the surface. I headed home and gorged myself with the family on mexican food and cold adult beverages. Three days, many fish, and I only saw two hikers the entire weekend. I will chalk this one up as one of my top backcountry adventures to date.

[duckypaddler]

I'm looking forward to an overnighter myself this weekend. I hope my trip goes as well as yours.

If that a pink caddis I see?:eek: That's a first for me.

Great pics, and congrats on the Smokies slam:biggrin:

[GrouseMan77]

My kind of trip...thanks for sharing.

[Knothead]

Thanks! Where is the barrier falls? Where did you camp? Might have to give it a try this year. Not real familiar with the park. Sounds like you had a great time and SPECKtacular fishing!

[Grannyknot]

joe a, thats a great report, thanks for sharing.

[mattblick]

Thanks! Where is the barrier falls? Where did you camp? Might have to give it a try this year. Not real familiar with the park. Sounds like you had a great time and SPECKtacular fishing!

I don't recognize the site with a barrier falls that close either. If you wouldn't mind, please share the site number?

Thanks for the great trip report Joe, Specktacular indeed!

[Grannyknot]

I don't recognize the site with a barrier falls that close either. If you wouldn't mind, please share the site number?

Thanks for the great trip report Joe, Specktacular indeed!

That stream is not in the national park.

[David Knapp]

Looks like an awesome trip into the backcountry! I'm getting inspired to plan a trip myself...thanks for sharing!

[joe a]

Grannyknot is correct. The stream is in NC, but not the GSMNP.

[tnflyfisher]

Grannyknot is correct. The stream is in NC, but not the GSMNP.

Nice report!

What is it about NC water outside of GSMNP...?!? It always looks soooo good!! Like forbidden fruit that I can't touch... well, not without a NC license that is. :rolleyes:

Tight Lines,