Another Holiday Weekend Trip, no fish pics

Started by rbphoto, July 06, 2022, 06:02:31 AM

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rbphoto


I don't fish nearly enough these days, so when I get the opportunity, I tend to pack in as much as possible.  The long holiday weekend was just such a time . . . 3 days on 4 streams with typical summer temps.  Beggars can't be choosers.

I didn't take a single picture of any fish this weekend.  I only took the phone out when I was changing flies, watching the water, or relaxing while not casting.  I took more slow motion videos than I did pictures, but haven't had a good way to post them, so I started a YT channel just for them.

This year, fishing buddy brought along a new fishing buddy, making it a three-person expedition.  That means bigger water, more leap-frogging, more food, more beer, etc.  we rolled out of Greenville around 7:30 Saturday morning loaded with too much gear, too much food, just enough beer and headed to WNC.

Hit a tailwater by about 9:30 and had great success until the generation started.  I thought I had another 20 minutes and had just gotten to a good pool when I heard the sound change.  Not as sketchy of an escape as the first time we fished it several years ago, but I am going to get a retractor for my walking stick/wading staff before I hit big water again.

We then headed off to a higher elevation stream.

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The rhodo was prolific, beautiful and littered much of the trails and rocks.

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With the last month having very little rain, this place is amazingly green.

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It was fairly cool although extremely humid, but I was worried about water temps all weekend.  Water temps bumped into the upper 60's Saturday and we cut things short as the day wore on.

Saturday morning promised more of the same, start with the tailwater - earlier this time, hop to a different stream and call it quits before the heat or rain hit.

Lots of fish caught with a couple of extra hours of river time. Generation hits and I'm in another sketchy situation - bottom of a long run at the base of a 25' climb straight up.

Head off to a stream I haven't fished in probably 30 years.  I don't mind walking a ways, but the other 2 weren't up for it.  Fishing was marginal and we needed to clear a couple of falls to find the fun fishing.

I hiked up above the others to this little feeder into a long pool.   Quite a trek down to the creek and caught a couple of nice little brookies here. 


More rhodo blooming

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Had a frog-strangler hit on the way back to the cabin, fishing buddy's buddy had to head back to town so we went and found dinner and libations.

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We knew we needed to fish someplace that wasn't blown out from the storms, so we started into research mode and found a little place in the park that did require some walking.

We didn't really walk far enough.  We caught fish, but it was brutal.  Bailed out around Noon because the air temps were upper 80's and the water temps were rising.
60 yd long pool with a few fish rising.  Caught a couple of rainbows here.  Par-marked beauties that would hit just about anything - yellow sally, soft hackle, etc.  The butterflies floating around are Azures.  They were everywhere.



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This is just a video of why I go fishing.  To move slower and enjoy life at a pace that is healthy for me. 



Just another pool that held several fish. 


This silver spotted skipper spent about 20 minutes mineraling on the tailgate of my truck at the end of the trip.

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Raymond
"maybe procrastination is another word for fishing..." ben
"Just butchered my first silk kitty...." Wooly Bugger  January 26, 2018, 12:41:27 PM
You can't land an otter on 7x. Now I know - Dougfish

Dougfish

"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here?
 Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change? "
Kelly's Heroes,1970

"I don't wanna go to hell,
But if I do,
It'll be 'cause of you..."
Strange Desire, The Black Keys, 2006

Woolly Bugger

well played, all that was missing (besides fish pics) is some banjo music  /'/
ex - I'm not going to live with you through one more fishing season!
me -There's a season?

Pastor explains icons to my son: you know like the fish symbol on the back of cars.
My son: My dad has two fish on his car and they're both trout!

Woolly Bugger

well played, all that was missing (besides fish pics) is some banjo music  /'/
Quote from: rbphoto on July 06, 2022, 06:02:31 AMbut I am going to get a retractor for my walking stick/wading staff


This staff is the bomb!

https://www.brfff.com/forum/index.php/topic,16396.msg170696.html#msg170696
 
ex - I'm not going to live with you through one more fishing season!
me -There's a season?

Pastor explains icons to my son: you know like the fish symbol on the back of cars.
My son: My dad has two fish on his car and they're both trout!

rbphoto

Quote from: Woolly Bugger on July 06, 2022, 07:29:40 AMwell played, all that was missing (besides fish pics) is some banjo music  /'/
Quote from: rbphoto on July 06, 2022, 06:02:31 AMbut I am going to get a retractor for my walking stick/wading staff


This staff is the bomb!

https://www.brfff.com/forum/index.php/topic,16396.msg170696.html#msg170696
 

I have a couple of red oak walking sticks in the garage, including one that I epoxied a copper pipe cap to the bottom to keep it from wearing & splitting.  Just need to find the retractor like I use for my net.  I sourced it from the crane remote control industry as a sample . . .
"maybe procrastination is another word for fishing..." ben
"Just butchered my first silk kitty...." Wooly Bugger  January 26, 2018, 12:41:27 PM
You can't land an otter on 7x. Now I know - Dougfish

Dougfish

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About 24" of 1/8" bungee cord material attached with screw and washer to end of dowel. Caribiner on other end.
Got about $10 invested in whole staff.
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here?
 Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change? "
Kelly's Heroes,1970

"I don't wanna go to hell,
But if I do,
It'll be 'cause of you..."
Strange Desire, The Black Keys, 2006

itieuglyflies

Great report and welcome to the world of wading staffs. For years I used a homemade one made from bamboo (0 cost). Only problem it floated down stream
from me while I was fishing and seemed to be in the way a lot as I used a fixed length of cord to keep it tethered to my belt. Determined to never spend
$150 for a proper wading staff (stick) I have settled on what works for me. I bought a pair (that's how the are sold) of trekking poles ($30) and a heavy duty
Gear Keeper(brand name). When not used the adjustable length pole retracts to about 18 inches and hangs from my wading belt on the Gear Keeper($25).

Getting old has its challenges but a wading staff has kept me fishing. I am off to the Madison river next week for ten days and my stick is packed!

Phil

I shucked out the big bucks for a heavy-duty Folstaff, but it has lasted over 10 years now and I put all my weight on it a lot.

Onslow

Very nice.  Glad you had a chance to get your legs wet.