Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

Wrapped things up at work at 9.30 AM at Boone.  With sufficient time available to so some significant snooping, it was on.  I had an hour jump start on a small river that had been pulling at me.

(http://i.imgur.com/JSSnCOS.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Nd04w8H.jpg)

Hit the trail and traversed the meadows for about a mile and a half with the intent of dipping my stick in the gorge downstream.

Much bloomage along the way to keep things interesting.

(http://i.imgur.com/39jKUkm.jpg)

Need to hit the books for this one

(http://i.imgur.com/A47e32i.jpg)

This appears to be phlox, but phlox doesn't bloom this early anywhere in my locale, or adjacent mountains.

Excitement was welling up as I heard the roar of the first gorge rapid.  As I approached, it became painfully apparent my plans to penetrate the gorge was going to be much tougher than anticipated.  Rockcastles!

Found a route down to pool below the first plunge.  I hate undercuts!

(http://i.imgur.com/eBeHTz6.jpg)

Once at the edge of the pool, there was no way to enter the water, and then get back on the rock. 5' high table with deep water below.  I did fish the pool, and landed this bow.

(http://i.imgur.com/6OHehIl.jpg)

Much goodness below, and many more major rapids below the ledge series in the pic.

(http://i.imgur.com/ABeVxys.jpg)

With no hiking shoes in my day pack, and not much time to spare, I retreated to fish the meadows.  Caddis were buzzing about, but the fish rising appeared to be small.  I came here hoping for leroy action. 

(http://i.imgur.com/7EIwzAW.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ooqprF7.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/NJFxRJU.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/mq9irJY.jpg)

Pick up some big friggin stoggers in the falls pool.

No brown love....well except for the mixed race babe with breasts busting out of her top at the falls.

Stopped by hatchery degraded stream on the way home in Wilkes Co. that appeared it may be inhabited by wild fish. The creek only has a couple pull offs making things a bit inconvenient for the power bait folk.

(http://i.imgur.com/RdUqust.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/noqFWM1.jpg)

Pools were full of sediment.  Footprints were everywhere.  This concluded Monday's efforts.  A rather lousy day, imo.

Day 2

Had two streams on the brain in vagina land, but chose to hit a local that has been a consistent producer of large wild browns in the last several years.

(http://i.imgur.com/JD7vPB3.jpg)

Carolina Silver Bells were blooming on the river.

(http://i.imgur.com/PfraRkX.jpg)

The white flowering tree is one the largest specimens I've come across.

(http://i.imgur.com/s3fEji0.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/jT8Vpi3.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ErXBXQi.jpg)

Half way point.  A small trib enters here.  Drifted a couple nymphs, but no love

(http://i.imgur.com/Qqef50D.jpg)

As luck would have it, I hooked up with 5 fish here and all became unglued.

Finally managed to get a nice walnut colored 16" ish wild brown in hand, reached for the net but the had worked its way where I couldn't easily reach.  That fish too went missing.

(http://i.imgur.com/WI6EqrR.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/JLFeVZP.jpg)

Perhaps a domesticated plant gone rogue.  Doug?

(http://i.imgur.com/rygkI63.jpg)

Second house/eyesore built on this stretch of fine river.  Dumb fucks.

(http://i.imgur.com/ycyKAKx.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/bOVJOfF.jpg)

http://youtu.be/u6VTj7LhCtE (http://youtu.be/u6VTj7LhCtE)

After busting out 2.2 miles there, I took off to a nearby trib I wanted to test.  Whenever chubs and daces occupy primary feeding lanes, it is not a good sign.  After 20 minutes, I headed home. 

This variety of bottom land vegetation was starting to pop.  During wet years, the plant leaves can extend out over 4'.  Does anyone know what these are called?

(http://i.imgur.com/MZSKsp6.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/RxAiEaa.jpg)

Two lame days on the water.  My soul is crushed...like this possum