October 14, 2020 #45
Gas $2.09
I've been looking at maps and decided to go to the middle section of Wilson Creek above Edgemont. There was an unmarked trail down Laurel Mountain Branch. There used to be a small pull-off and a tree had a small, ½ " x 3" white paper with a quote about fishing which marked the trail head.
As I drove along Wilson Creek I noticed that the bear hunters were out in droves. I stopped a chatted with them, asking about their luck. Some had dogs that had been working a bear but they lost it, others had no luck at all. There were a lot of fisherman out on the DH water.
As I approached the trailhead I noticed that there was yet another group of hunters parked in a new, to me, parking lot and an official forest service sign for trail 264. The one hunter at the vehicles indicated that the rest of the group was on the way out after losing track of a bear that had crossed the high water of the creek. I drove on. Thought about taking the trail to walnut bottom creek which also now has a forest service sign, but decided to go on up the road to where the lower road crosses upper Wilson Creek at 2800 feet. I was thinking I might run into rainbows and brookies. The upper road crossed the creek at 3500. I took a serious look at Little Wilson Creek but in the end opted for the bigger water.
Activated the Spot while gearing up. Got a message almost immediately on my phone.
FRM:noreply@findmespot.com
MSG:Woolly Bu..
ll=36.07465,-81.79535
Everything is A-OK, just checking in! Starting my trip now.
This is the text that was also sent to my contacts.
There was plenty of water flowing in the creek and it was clear as glass, the sky was cloudless and I began my trek up the creek. Went with the hopper dropper and was surprised not to get any lovin at all. I kept working up the creek which is fairly slow going especially when stopping to take photos of everything, the water, the fall colors, it was beautiful day. Even in "bomb proof" pools I didn't even see a fish. Well now I was getting miffed, rigged up a new leader and continued on. Finally getting a fish to rise to a small stimi. I was thinking rainbow but was surprised to see it was a brown up at 2904'. I continued on catching only more browns. Shoulda taken the higher road, oh well there is always next time.
Only went about a half mile up the creek and only 100' in elevation, but it seemed like much more. Pressed the "custom" message button on the Spot and opened a can of barley pop. The phone confirmed that it was sent. I was surprised that I was getting an AT&T cell signal (one bar) at this location.
There was now a truck parked across the way with a women sitting in the passenger side looking at her phone, I had put up all my gear and almost finished my beer before she finally looked up and saw me. She got out and we spoke for a while. Her husband was fishing downstream. Fly fishing was on his bucket list, they are from Morehead City, he is almost 69 and they are semi-retired from a marine service co.
When I got home I checked my spot account and saw that during my two and a half hour trek the Spot had been able to send 10 tracking pings including start and stop.
Here's the photo dump....
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Damn rock stackers...
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Getting after it. V:;
The purpose of getting the Spot to fish more small streams solo?
I fished that section a couple years ago for about an hour. Same results. The pools are like empty bowls with no place for the fish to hide. Also fished Little Wilson. All I could catch were 5 inch brookies.
Quote from: Big J on October 15, 2020, 08:53:17 AMGetting after it. V:;
The purpose of getting the Spot to fish more small streams solo?
some people worry about the bugger when he's out and about;
Believe it of Not!
My wife said she saw a bear as big as a cow in the I-40 median while driving through the Pigeon River Gorge last night. I guess that is one way to hide from the dogs and hunting parties.
Great report! And the seeing light in the trees in your photos was spectacular. Excellent photography! Thanks, as always, for sharing.
TB
Noice. Beautiful.
Beer hunters talk to hippies. Huh?
Quote from: Dougfish on October 15, 2020, 18:09:18 PMNoice. Beautiful.
Bear hunters talk to hippies. Huh?
fixed... and I was a bit surprised, just ask about their dogs and they won't shut up... jis say'in
Nice....that's the only place I've seen a bear not from my car
I haven't fished that stretch of Wilson's in many years -- fish were mighty sparse even 15 years ago. Great pics as always, and ya didn't get skunked!
Quote from: Dougfish on October 15, 2020, 18:09:18 PMNoice. Beautiful.
Beer hunters talk to hippies. Huh?
Only hippies or swells with a "purty mouth".
https://youtu.be/nLEL-Gewt6E
Comforting I am sure knowing the Spot Geni 4 kept you from being sodomized. Even if unfortunate, you could have marked the exact location.
Wonderful photos you take. Kudos!
Looks like a fine day to be out in the woods!
Quote from: The Dude on October 15, 2020, 12:38:38 PMMy wife said she saw a bear as big as a cow in the I-40 median while driving through the Pigeon River Gorge last night. I guess that is one way to hide from the dogs and hunting parties.
I live right at the upper end of the gorge. We lost a couple dogs on 40 during bear races back in the day.
Woolly, I tried to put my son on a few fish in that area Friday.
Lots of pretty water, but very few places for them fish to hide. Water was gin clear as well. Saw lots of shadows darting across the pools.
Quote from: Grannyknot on October 20, 2020, 08:26:34 AMWoolly, I tried to put my son on a few fish in that area Friday.
Lots of pretty water, but very few places for them fish to hide. Water was gin clear as well. Saw lots of shadows darting across the pools.
yeah it was slim pickings for sure.. but damn if it ain't pretty...
I've been staring at the Lost Cove escarpment, and contemplating bushwacking down to the precipice from the Blue Ridge Parkway, but then rational thinking sets in. This TR reminds me how deficient Catawba streams can be.
Quote from: Onslow on October 20, 2020, 18:55:50 PMI've been staring at the Lost Cove escarpment, and contemplating bushwacking down to the precipice from the Blue Ridge Parkway, but then rational thinking sets in. This TR reminds me how deficient Catawba streams can be.
There's no need to start at the parkway. You can come down off Roseboro and get down there pretty easily. Some of those catawba streams are really great, then you go just over the next ridge and the drainage is complete doo doo.
Quote from: Grannyknot on October 22, 2020, 07:33:36 AMQuote from: Onslow on October 20, 2020, 18:55:50 PMI've been staring at the Lost Cove escarpment, and contemplating bushwacking down to the precipice from the Blue Ridge Parkway, but then rational thinking sets in. This TR reminds me how deficient Catawba streams can be.
There's no need to start at the parkway. You can come down off Roseboro and get down there pretty easily. Some of those catawba streams are really great, then you go just over the next ridge and the drainage is complete doo doo.
[/quote)Quote from: Grannyknot on October 22, 2020, 07:33:36 AMQuote from: Onslow on October 20, 2020, 18:55:50 PMI've been staring at the Lost Cove escarpment, and contemplating bushwacking down to the precipice from the Blue Ridge Parkway, but then rational thinking sets in. This TR reminds me how deficient Catawba streams can be.
There's no need to start at the parkway. You can come down off Roseboro and get down there pretty easily. Some of those catawba streams are really great, then you go just over the next ridge and the drainage is complete doo doo.
GK, the section I'm interested in is the portion between the 2800'-3250' mark. There are no trails in, or along the creek. Just a crazy steep creek that I doubt is ever fished. Heck Tranny won't touch this one.
I never touched that part of it 35 years ago when I was down in that entire area bushwhacking quite a bit. Very steep, rocky, and difficult. I wouldn't dream of it now, damn it. :embarassed:
That top part of Lost Cove looks like an easy hike off the BRP. Topo lines aren't that tight. Get to it boys.
Quote from: Onslow on October 22, 2020, 11:39:18 AMGK, the section I'm interested in is the portion between the 2800'-3250' mark. There are no trails in, or along the creek. Just a crazy steep creek that I doubt is ever fished. Heck Tranny won't touch this one.
maybe one of these nice people would let you in... <-;: :wave :o
kenlcc.jpg
Quote from: Onslow on October 22, 2020, 11:39:18 AMGK, the section I'm interested in is the portion between the 2800'-3250' mark. There are no trails in, or along the creek. Just a crazy steep creek that I doubt is ever fished. Heck Tranny won't touch this one.
ah. gotcha. that would be a brutal bitch.