Reattempt 2024

[Big J]

Doug and I scouted this stream about 5 years ago.  Plan was always to revisit it and make it all the way down through the gorge before fishing back up.  We attempted this trip in 2023.  A weekend of torrential downpour aligning with our tight window for this trip derailed plans and we were never able to re-coordinate it in 2023.  I didn't really have high hopes for making this trip happen this year, but last minute we got out ducks in a row between tax season, Doug moving, my family being in constant state of sickness this spring.  Neil joined us literally the week we were planning on leaving.  Weather forecast looked good.  Trip on.



We fished a couple streams close by our hike in point.  We all caught fish.  Just noted how cold the water temps still are and how slow the fish were to bite.  Got a little nervous on if we called this trip a couple weeks too early.  Did run into a bear.  Hiked down a trib and hoped in stream.  About 25 yards stream I hear a commotion just to catch a glimpse of a black blob running opposite direction thru brush.



















Fog rolled in at some point.



Then burned off.


 



Baby woodcock if you look closely



Then fog came back as we drove to the stream we were hiking into.  Neil was happy about the bag of kindling Doug was having him hike in.







Set up camp and Doug got started with some chicken alfredo



Next morning we woke up, coffee and breakfast, then made our way 2 miles downstream with about 1,300 ft elevation loss.  Most of the loss is in a 1 mile stretch that is some of the roughest waters I've fished.




Never have seen this much trillium in my life though.








This was more common occurrence with Neil's felt boots 














You can get a glimpse of Doug over on right side inbetween trees.


Going uphill around falls in gorge was slow going.


You can barely see Neil on left hand of stream up towards last falls.






Coffee break

Back at camp after a long day, we got busy getting firewood for the night.  Axe came in handy.  Took down a 25' dead locust for our wood for the night.  Almost fell it on an oblivious Doug and Neil who looked like the a couple of stooges scrambling into each other as they tried running away.




I made some tacos from some Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice freeze dried meals.  Wasn't bad for freeze dried.




Locust sure beat the birch and beech we were burning.



Sunday we packed up camp, hiked out and hit a stream on drive back.  Caught a couple.  Nothing really note worthy.  Neil didn't even rig up a rod and just looked at plants and watched a bunch of eastern towhee fluttering in woods.



Good trip and good to get the three of us together again.  Been too long.  I think in a couple weeks that stream will have some bigger fish more active as water temps rise and hatches start up.  I was happy with the numbers caught, scenery, and I know Doug and Neil were happy with the plant life.

[troutboy_II]

Impressive to say the least. Not sure which was prettier, the creak, the fish, or the plants/flowers!  Great trip report. Thanks for sharing it with us.

TB

[Dougfish]

#4,5 & 6

5 streams in 3 days.
Started here.

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The second stream was sneak preview of the target.
Little to no trail. And it also falls right off the mountain.
With lots of obstacles.

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But the one we camped on was the target.
We wound the rest of the way back on 4 miles of bouncy FS roads to find a logging crew set up at the parking area.
It appeared they have been paused for a while. Lumber prices are down and that might explain it.

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Greedy bastards in one small pool.

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I was bushwacking around a fall.
J's in there working the pool.

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Neil is going up and around. Center left.

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Opps.

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Signs that we weren't the only idiots to have been there.

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Huge Trillium erectum.

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I've fished some rough stuff.
That MFer takes the cake.
I cramped up in the middle of the night after day one.
And I cramped up twice after hiking down to the bottom of the target.
But not since then. A miracle.

Some shots Fin contributed:

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Hike out and hike stream 5 on Sunday.
Colder morning. No dew! Pack up dry stuff. How novel.
Coldest stream too. Knee deep for only a few minutes at a time.

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Pack was too heavy.
Meh. Whats new?
And I feel pretty good today.

           

Neil wants to do it again when I hit 70.
We'll see....

 

[greg]

Damn pretty fish.

[Onslow]

Awesome trip!

Flagellation followed by flatulence.

Glad you all made out in one piece.  Looks mighty rough.

I wish the cascades of Bullhead creek near my house had some water flat enough to fish.

[Phil]

Dang, you guys did the work and caught sublime fish in a most fine looking place. Excellent!

[Mudwall Gatewood 3.0]

Many thanks for the report.  It was a memorable trip for sure.

Also, very nice photos, kudos!  I particularly enjoyed the shot of Fin holding the poke of kindling.  It appears he's developed the start of a manly paunch.  Here's hoping he will mature into my silhouette.

Peace.

[Woolly Bugger]

Y'all done good!

[trout-r-us]

Great report.
Pretty fish.
That salami and bread looked great. 👍