http://youtu.be/jM8dCGIm6yc
Headed out early Friday morning to hit a couple creeks I haven't fished in awhile.
Breakfast of champions:
biscuit.jpg
Met this guy along the way.
turkey.jpg
First creek was a good-sized one, so I broke out my 10' rod:
creek1.jpg
It's full of these:
bow1.jpg
bow2.jpg
And these:
brown2.jpg
brown4.jpg
Unexpected company. It startled the crap out of me when it jumped off the bank into a hole right above me. These things are spreading out all over the place now, good to see them doing well:
elk1.jpg
Mmmm....tree limbs....
elk2.jpg
Fished a couple hours up this creek and caught a bunch of good fish. I hooked one really nice brown about 16", but he quick-released himself when I was reaching for him with the net, so no pics of him. He put up a heckuva fight on the long three-weight in the strong current, so I didn't begrudge him his freedom. Maybe I'll hook him again next year when he's bigger.
Sun is getting high now, time to head up a tributary.....
This smaller creek is a tributary of the first creek, and it always seems to hold some really good fish for the size of the creek.
creek2.jpg
They were hitting good, I spent a couple hours catching fish after fish. Very fat and colorful, and strong fighters.
bow3.jpg
brown3.jpg
bow4.jpg
bow5.jpg
bow6.jpg
Everything was lush and green. Thousands of maidenhair ferns growing along the creek:
ferns.jpg
This 12" butterbelly with a kype starting wound up being the fish to hand of the day:
brown1.jpg
Starting to get into the afternoon, and I was having a great time. But something is missing for a day in the Smokies: No specks yet. Lets see if we can remedy that....
Started up a smaller tributary that usually has some specks:
creek3-2.jpg
creek3.jpg
At first, though, it was just more of these:
bow7.jpg
brown5.jpg
But, finally, after working my way upstream, I started getting into some little tiny native jewels. Nothing of any size at all on the speck side today, but pretty little guys:
speck1.jpg
speck2.jpg
It was getting late, and I was tired, hungry, and happy; so I started the hike back out to the truck. Days like this are what keeps me sane and grounded. Doesn't get much better.
Fin.
'c; very nice, you done good!
Looks like you had a very good day. I spent Friday in park as well. No pictures. Left phone in truck. About 20 or so to hand. All rainbows except one brown. Nice report.
Love the Smokies reports and fish, Yaller. And ya got the grand slam. Fine stuff! 'c; 'c;
-+;
Damn nice day, right there. 'c;
Nice Slam
Pretty fish and good photos. Great colors on most of those babies - Good report,Sir 'c;
Pretty work.
Great report. Thanks.
👍😊 that's a good day
Looks like a great day. A wild slam is still on my checklist. I haven't been able to accomplish it yet, but hopefully soon. I think I know a stream I can do it on, but I haven't fished high enough to check for brookies yet.