This was truly one occasion where beauty outweighs size. I got the opportunity recently to spend some time in Tennessee fishing the rivers that rise in the Smoky Mountains with Mark and Eric owners of the Syndicate Rod Company.
We (I brought the wife) headed over in late October, as at this time of the year the climate is manageable for us fair skinned Irish folk. The summer temperatures can be extremely high and unbearable even for the locals. A plus side to this time of year is the foliage on the trees appear to be blazing with flames from the colour transformations of autumn, making it quite a spectacle from the viewing points.
As for the fishing end of the trip we began in the lower regions of the Mountains on the Stoney Creek and the Watauga River which means "beautiful river" when translated. This river certainly lived up to its name, as it made its way through the foot hills of the range. It had a large stock of mixed sized rainbows and some larger browns that move into it this time of year to spawn. Here you have two options to fish this river, either from drifting boat with a guide or as my preferred choice was wading it from the banks and was quite pleasant to wade at that. We spent a full day on the Watauga River catching countless rainbow trout averaging around the 10 inch mark with some larger fish to be found occasions. The river was stuffed with fresh water shrimp and using a gammuras style nymph you were in the business straight away.
However, my first experience of fishing this region was on Stoney Creek which is a tributary to the Watauga and joins the larger river just outside the city of Elizabethon. A stunning little river that boasts a nice stock if sporting rainbows and browns with rewarding 20 inch fish in there also for the angler that fishes the runs and pools with caution. We had a large number of fish from the first two days and our approach of nymph fishing was the very same as that of our home waters here in Ireland. For me simple pheasant tails and hares ears worked a treat for the Tennessean trout.
For the rest of the week we headed further into the National Park where the natural beauty was second to none. With the leaves putting on a spectacle for the eyes, I was brought to a creek for a real treat and one I won't forget for a while. Through out this region in the Roan Mountians, brookies or brook trout can be found in many rivers and creeks. During the Autumn months these fish begin to adapt an array of colours that has to be seen to believed, from pinks, purples, reds, and oranges making up the markings on the skin. The river was a small wild creek that had man made or natural dams, waterfalls at certain locations so as to protect the strain of fish and preserve it's purity from being mixed with other trout. These little beauties have been here for thousands of years and makes an angler feel pretty special to hold one in your hands if only for a moment to admire.
They are a very spookie fish and you must approach each pool with extreme caution, best option was using a single fly. Only a few casts in each pool or behind a boulder and hopefully it would provide a fish or a take at the least. If you are lucky enough to land one them more than likely that pool is finished and you move quietly to the next. Before long when moving from pool to pool you will find yourself lost in the woods creeping among the history of its floor and forgetful to all the insignificant crap we fill our lives with. This for me is what fishing is truly all about and a lesson I have to keep teaching myself from time to time.
Our final location for the trip was just outside the holiday town of Gatlinburg, we spent an hour or two talking to the guys in the Smokey Mountain Angler tackle shop, where we pick up some cool souvenirs and information on the hot spots to fish in this area. After which we spent an evening session on a near by creek which was good sport for small brown before returning to our log cabin in the wood and the resident raccoon for the night. The next morning we set of for the Cherokee Indian Reservation and the river know as the Little River, with an amazing drive over the mountains.
In this area of the park a close encounter with Elk or wild Turkeys is a common occurrence and to be standing in the river with a large female elk cross twenty yards below you surely makes you feel appreciative of where you are, a moment you just stand a watch never mind taking a picture.
I traveled to this place for several reasons one for the fishing and also to meet up with the syndicate boys, with some of the guys that are involved with its emergence as one of the top rod brands in the States. Personally I cant recommend the rods highly enough and as for the guys who are responsible for them, well we had one hell of a trip and I look forward to returning back soon. Over the week we met some great people and shared some of the local brew over an open fire with a banjo playing. But for me the highlight of the trip was to hold that small wild beauty of an Appalachian brook trout and understanding the history I was among, this beats size hands down every time.
Thanks to all the people that took time to say hello over the trip it was great to meet you all and fish your waters. For me traveling and experiencing fly fishing is more important than expensive gear, I am glad to share these experiences with you all and hope it encourages every one to go and see it for them selves. You wont be disappointed I promise.
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy the blog, my website link is to the right if you are looking for Dohiku Hooks, Tungsten beads, or the amazing Syndicate rods check it out. If you would like any more information in traveling to this location please feel free to give me a shout.
