Over the mountain.

          So, I have been negligent in providing updates other than some cryptic anecdotes regarding a busy summer and now fall. Truth is I have been busy but also enjoying myself indulging in time with my Kids, family visits, home improvements, some work and even a little fishing. If I have been absent from my online endeavors it is due to leading a life of abundance in the physical world. This is not a criticisim or critique of maintaining an online presence but for me it was becoming too much of a reason to participate with the act of fishing, tying flies and enjoying the outdoors beginning to lose substance.            
          Enough ranting, after psychedelic exploration coupled with time spent outdoors on a smallish, less fertile, but beautiful and wild trout stream in the southeast I feel refreshed. Sleeping in the cold of a mountain hollow with the ghosts of the valley around you will have a profound effect on most some more positive than others (sorry wifey).

           This stream is in the GSMNP and drains several feeder creeks at high elevation that are difficult to access but worth the trouble. Flowing over ancient rocks in a deep valley that has softened over the ages, the tree canopy keeps the clear waters in a perpetual dim light that gives it an spooky feel even mid-day.  

The bottom 1/3 of the creek takes the namesake of a known stream farther down at low elevation where, the river is polluted and unsuitable for anything but beat up stocker rainbows, reclusive browns a few stunted smallmouth and catfish. During my visit early in fall or late in summer if you like, the fish were looking up and use of an indicator rig to dredge was really not looking like wise use of my time on the stream.

Expectation setting is key on these sometimes bug lacking freestone streams in the park. It is possible to catch the smallest trout you will ever see striking a #10 dry in these ver waters. Really small fish here, 4-6” can still be picky due to the pressure making some wonder what the fuss is about. Fit, trim, acrobatic fish that make a 3wt come alive with pulsing jumps. An 8” wild rainbow or brown is reason to rejoice. Anything over 10-12” and you can feel accomplished for the trip. Good times in my book and worth the physical strain usually needed when you hike in and manage to have a noteworthy time. Bring your high sticking skills and learn to keep a low profile, mang.

Unlike more productive spring fed creeks where fish have a somewhat consistent ability to feed all year and ice never really accumulates these streams lie dormant all winter. With the seasonal procession looming the fish look to feed with desperation knowing what will ensue in the coming months.

Random photos:

Up in the ditch

Indiana “steelhead” are the skanks of the migratory laker rainbow world. Elusive but present, they can require a zen-like approach as fish and no-fish balance in a world of corrosion and beauty. More hot beads, bucktails and more walking?! But I'm in no hurry. Weir>> 

Ninjas...

Life can be funny leaving little time for blog updates… Abducted by ninjas? On tour? Low water browns? More to come from stroke…

Lake Effect

Made it out in the little boat a few weeks back, headed up north for one last bit of mushroom hunting and to hit a lake that gets a few fish dumped in every year for the locals to catch. I found some fungus and trolled around the main channel with a DC line fishing streamers of all sorts on a level fluro leader for a while to see what action I could drum up. Managed a few trout and some crappie mixed in as well and had a nice time out in the park. Ended the day with a good brown ale.

Just had a few pics this day.

Holla,

Stroke

Indiana Opener

Well, it was opening weekend for trout season here in the Hoosier state so I made my way with the masses to one of the supported locations on Sunday after opening day to see I could harass some stockers. While the streams was small and ditch-like it did have some holding water but only a little over a mile is stocked making options a little limited. It was overcast and breezy in the low 60s which helped the bite. Over the 3 hours I fished I landed a number of feisty stocker rainbows who mostly had all fins and aside from bland coloration seemed fit and fairing ok plus a rogue bass. I did see some yellow drakes come off but just a couple and there were enough random caddis and midges on the water before I departed for me to take a few on top much to the disapproval from the chunkers. Most fish came on neutral colored tungsten-bead nymphs on an Indy rig or under a buoyant dry. Snuck beer into the FWA for a mid-day snack while stopping to re-rig.

A few pics from the day.

All the best,

Stroker

Spinners

Stroker here- The final stage of the mayfly lifecycle, the spinner is an often overlooked but glorious gift to the dry fly angler. In summer when the big hatches come in the evenings, fish can begin to remember the gluttonous meal of a spinner fall. I have found you can often actively take fish on the flies if a fall is on or in mid-day as heavy feeders become selective for the spent treats. Foam, hair, feathers, easy.

Coffin, hex and brown drakes.

Holla,

Stroke 

April update- mushrooms and more

Well, lots going on as of late leaving me not enough time to update the blog here. A few shots of some time out this month. Mushrooms for the plate and carp moving to the shallows. More to come...

All the best,

Stroke.

4yr old son about to release his first bass caught on a fixed line on a fly tied by his old man. Good stuff.



Hot beads

Hot beads, spawning fish, you know the rest.

So Hawt.

Rasta and Rubber-legs

I like Rasta music and rubber-legs.

Legs and movement on nymphs can be a real trigger for feeding fish. This ginger variation catches when other flies have failed me. Good in low / clear water. No flashy rib or bead to put off pressured fish. Eat it up...

Warm it up

Feeling motivated by the sunshine this afternoon, I stopped in on the way home to check out the creek. Managed to get a few bass and crappies to chase down the streamer. Nothing huge hooked but still time well spent.

Cheers,

Stroke

Booth Love

Some weekend tunes to kick back with. Have seen these guys live a few times and they are solid.

Stroke

Winter Stone

Went to the pond and noticed several winter stones struggling to take off from the surface as they skittered to the bankside rocks. While I have targeted early season trout in the east with dark winter stones, this is my first experience with this hatch locally. After some minimal research I believe these flies to be of the family Taeniopterygidae but you never can be sure.


I love bugs,

Stroke

Tailwater

Well, it was tough going at the local tailwater, here a few days back. Stiff winds blowing up the river and a high of 20 made casting and getting a good drift dicey. De-icing took up a good 1/3 of my time on the water and I lost one nice fish when my reel seized up as it had frozen. I opted to head out after that to get warmed up. Locating fish and what they wanted to eat was tough and I by no means had it dialed. Found a few in slimmer water looking for current seams that may hold fish. No takes on streamers or bigger nymphs in obvious places. Once the clouds broke for a few I found some very small black midges mixed with an odd winter stonefly. Small and dark did the trick with a micro mayfly emerger and glass bead midge doing the work. Camera and equipment did not like the cold so I don't have many photos to share this trip out. Caught a nice rainbow that jumped a few times after the hook set with plenty of spunk on the release.

Stroke