Weekend Fishing

[doghaircaddis]

Anyone else plan on heading out this weekend? I'm trying to decide if I should go to the park to fish tomorrow. Do you think the streams will be fishable with all this rain we're getting? Maybe I'll just stick to the Clinch tomorrow afternoon. I haven't been in 2 weeks and I'm eager to hit the water somewhere.

[DryFly1]

Not going this weekend, but according to Byron(Fishing Report) the water is warmer and fishing should be better this weekend. *As long as it isn't a gully-washer.....If it is a slow steady rain your prospects most likely will be great.. * Good luck..
* *
DryFly1

[David Knapp]

If I could, I would definately be heading to the park tomorrow although I'm not sure what these last storms are going to do to the streams. Check the stream data link on the fishing report and go if the river isn't blown out. If the streams are fishable, the fishing should be very good tomorrow...

[doghaircaddis]

i just checked the 24 hr precip map, and it looks like the nc side of the park received no more than .25". so, im heading out. ill let you know how things go when i get back into town.

[doghaircaddis]

I left Knoxville this morning with plans on fishing Bradley Fork. I was pretty disappointed as I drove through the park. All of the streams along 441 were looking too high. I arrived at Bradley Fork and it was not fishable. I spoke to the ranger at the Smokemont Campground, and he said there were a few other fishermen that came in. They had decided on camping and trying the waters tomorrow. I was pretty bummed and decided to check-out some of the other streams in the area. No way was I going to drive right back home. After driving around for almost an hour, I found a remote stream that appeared to be in good shape. I fished this stream for probably about a mile. There was no trail running alongside it, and I didn't see anyone for the 5 hours I fished. Just the way I like it. The fishing was on fire! I used a #16 BHPT and must have caught around 25 fish. The strange thing was that most of the fish I was catching were 7-10" browns. Up until today I had never caught a brownie in the park. I even managed to catch a few very small brookies today. This was the 3rd time I have fished in the park...definitely my best outing yet.

Oh yeah, I walked up on a large black bear that was frolicking around in the stream on my way back down. He was probably about 15 yards in front of me. When I came upon him, he took off and sprinted up the bank. There wasn't any confrontation at all, he just took off. Yep, today was a good day.

[doghaircaddis]

Here are a couple pics of the stream I fished today. Also, a pic of my first brownie from the park.

[David Knapp]

Great pics! I'm glad your day turned out well. Those fish sure are hungry this time of year and are tons of fun to catch.

[DryFly1]

Thanks for the report and pics,

Absolutely nothing better than a great day on a mountain stream!

DryFly1

[buckeyetrouter]

hey DHC......when you hit those smaller areas....what are you targeting as far as water, and what methods are you using.....
I am trying to learn as much as possible on fishing below the surface......

thanks...
buckeyetrouter

[Byron Begley]

doghaircaddis

Do you mind if I use those two beautiful stream shots on the top of the message board? I rotate the photos every day and I'm always looking for good photos. If you don't mind, just e-mail them to me in high resolution. As you can see at the top of this page I have to crop them to a square. Thanks.

Byron