Brookies or Die Trying (Lengthy tR)

Started by Dee-Vo, May 18, 2016, 21:19:04 PM

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Dee-Vo








I busted my ass today, plain and simple. Three creeks. All steep. Total hiking and creek-stompin' comes to about 6 miles. Creeks that aren't visited often and tough to access have been calling me lately. Today, I left the house with every intention of scratching a few off my list. Done.

I hit this creek recently only to stop short. Today I pressed on. Gnarly stuff. Waterfalls for days. I was lucky enough to locate a trail (if you can call it that) that went a good ways into the gorge. I exhausted every option and cleared it out of my mind, finally. Any further would land a man in the hospital as the point where I turned back literally formed a gradual, constant, whitewater rapid/fall for at least 100 yards. Both sides of the gorge was vertical.


Yet another greeting ceremony. These pychos kept nipping at my heels. Frustrated, I turned and waved my arms, and yelled. They spooked and took off behind an old single-wide trailer-house. "That's that," I thought. "I showed them." Immediately, from the opposite end of the trailer, right as I rounded it's corner, this beast rushes me. I almost lost my mind. I took off and quickly made it through my entrance hole in the barbed-wire. One huge, daunting, spooky creature.

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Pouring rain, I ventured on. The flow was expectedly much higher than my last visit. Water was dirty to say the least.

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Even in the murky water the natives were playful. Again, no very small fish.

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My previous stopping point.

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11" or so, and thick.

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Top of the waterfall. Mess up here, you're done.

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Things got rough, quick. Fish were caught. Massive pools entertained me.

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Break-time.

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My lunch guest.

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Smaller (10-15') falls began to show.

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At this point the trail was only a trace. Nowhere to go. Falls/rapids drowned out all other sounds.

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More falls for as far as I could see. Impassable. I had climbed the mountain to an elevation that had me hiking through a cloud of fog. Pretty neat.

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80 yards from my truck, and this monster appears from across the creek. The junkyard dog may have been 50 yards to my right. Huge pit. Luckily, he never came much closer. Not as frightening as the bull, but damned close.

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I was in the fog somewhere up there.

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Stopped at a country store for a refreshment and snack for an energy boost. Game on. I sped to my next locale. Ran into what looked like the mexican cartel. No english. No habla. Some back and forth went on, then I shook his hand, having no clue what just transpired between us, and stuck to my plan. Super sketchy here.

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Bridge of death. Rotting and swaying, I carefully baby-stepped across.

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More of these, great. This creek was an instant kick in the teeth. Extremely tough to traverse right from the get-go. I pressed on for 1/3 mile before being forced to turn around. No-go. Three falls within my short climb. No playground here.

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Very tight. Choked. Hands and knees through most of it. Not fun.

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No brookies. Damn. They're there, but you'll need to pack your rock-climbing gear to even get close. Disappointed, I head back after a short state of confusion as to where I came in. Trail? Not really.

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After months of thought and planning, I leave empty-handed. Ignore the sign, I did.

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Still not satisfied, I headed further up the mountain to my last target. A heavy fog had set in.

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After the two tiring endeavors I had already made, this one was crazy. I did it, but it wasn't easy. A 2.5 mile hike, down and back up. Steep and muddy. A biblical downpour ensued shortly after beginning. What fun.

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After a lengthy hike, I had located my creek only to find it sucked, badly. Hardly any water. No brookies once again. Creek is now off my mind, though, thankfully.

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The trailed laughed at me. It seemed endless. The other hikes from earlier were nagging at my feet and leg muscles. Cramps were imminent. I cursed everything from my rod, to my boots, to the creek, and trail. Blasted tough hike. Painful.

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Around 3000' here. The trail drops around 1000' within a mile. Dammit.

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Huge and ugly shroom of some sort.

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If you made it this far into this report, I appreciate the look. Long and picture-heavy. Do it right if you're going to do it, I guess. Sore, and still cramping, I'll survive.

This was one hell of a day, and won't be soon forgotten.




Onslow

I'd pay 20 for the first... one fine creek for sure.  Still can't believe you had the balls to fuck with #2 shithole.

We need to go back to #1 next year.  I think there are a couple 13"s in there.

Dee-Vo

We can do it. I'm ready when you are.

I may still check it out on top at some point.

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

BrookieHunter

That's a hell of a day right there.  'c;

Jfey

Yup, going fishing

Woolly Bugger

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!

ncguy

I can't believe the paddles on those brookies!

ptfranze

Damn man that is a serious day of fishing!   bd;0 'c; 

joe friday

I tip my hat to you, Sir.  That was an effort, there.  Congrats on the fish and on avoiding that dog.

PisgahSpeck

 d:b looks fun.  That first creek looks one to keep close vested, although I'd say the dog and cattle help with that, for most.  Enjoyed the report.

JD

Man that looks like some tough hiking! Makes it that much more rewarding though. I'd be all about creek #1, but I'd probably break a leg on one of those waterfalls.

JD

What flies were you throwing in that high water?

Dee-Vo

The replies are appreciated, fellers.

@ joefriday -- That bull was far more unnerving than the big pit. Either could've been bad news. I got lucky.

@ PisgahSpeck -- Indeed. Loose lips sink ships.

@ JD -- Being the second time venturing into the creek with the stained and higher water, I had a leg-up on what to start with. The first trip, I nymphed until realizing something larger would be just as productive, especially on the larger fish. This go around I started with a large woolly bugger. Black with conehead for weight. They kill it in these large pools.