Smoky Mountains Recap

[Andy B]

Well let me just say the The Smoky Mountains in Tenn is simply just God's Country. The People were all down to earth and friendly and welcomed the little lady and I with open arms. One of my favorite things that I loved best about this area was I was able to stop and eat raodside BBQ and listen to live Blue grass music being performed for free. The little town of Townsend where we stayed in Black Bear Hollow was as close to home (Pampa Texas) that I have been in years. I had the pleasure of being able to fish in the Smoky Mountain National park. I caught around 12 trout and they were all wild rainbows. A size eight Greenwells Glory Wet Fly using a cortland $$$ SL Intermedaite sink line was the way to go. In the very deep pockets that was over six feet I would swich over to a copper black woolly bugger that was weighted and would bring those bottom dwellers to the surface. The show was awsome and I only had one 15 minute quiet spell in the 5 hours that I tyed. The pictures of the show were taken in the AM about 30 minutes before the show had opened. The wife and I went to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and truly was blown away by such a great park that was gigantic. ou could not see the park in one day. We also went to Tuccaleechee Caverns and had a great one hour tour of cave and cavern exploration. We are planning to go back next year to the smoky's for two weeks next year. This is way to much to see and do and experience. One of our favorite part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was seeing Cades Cove where we were able to see Black Bears, Turkeys and deer in the wild and also had the pleasure of seeing historic building along the way. Here are just a few pictures of this beautiful land.


I think you can see why they call it the smoky's

This is were we parked are car and started our fishing

Fighting a Rainbow

My First Smoky Mountains Trout, a Pretty Wild Rainbow that put up a good fight

The Show Before Opening

 

[Andy B]

Where the Proceeds of the show goes

Never had a break for the Five hours I tyed.

A picture of me 30 minutes before the show opens taken by my wife

More of the show grounds 30 minutes before opening

Lastly one of the many Black Bears that had a chance to see and picture from the safety of my car

Lastly the only vise that I now tye on and will ever tye on again.

 

[tomk6251]

Looks like you had a really good time. Welcome back. Tying under the tents? Hmmmmm I wonder if this could work for an RRTU tying night?

 

[Andy B]

Troutfest was heavily attended on Saturday and had a good crowd for Sunday. This event was worth the effort and time. I am invited back next year and plan to tye in it again. Like I said before the Wife and I want to spend a two week vacation in the smoky's. I have fished some beautiful places in my life, buty the smoky's for me has been the best of all. Now in may the weather was great, a high of 83 degree's no humidity and the waters stayed at 55 degree's in the the Smoky National Park. Only advise for all who want to go and explore is watch were you walk and climb out of the water on banks. There are Copper heads and once in a blue moon cotton Mouths. I was told Rattlesnakes as well and of course good sized water snakes. The funny part with the copper heads is if you smell an oder like fresh cut cucumbers then there is a copper head in the area. I had this experience the copper heads are non aggressive and you really have to bother them to get them to strike. The moot for fishing and having a snake encounter is to just back away. If your to close, use your wading staff to move them away. Our cabin in Black Bear Hollow was awesome and beautifull. We were so tucked away in the Mountins in this cabin, that we had NO cell reception If you needed. to call for help, you had to drive a mile out of the mountain to get a cell connection. The Little Rivers outfitters is an excellent all around fly shop. Just love them. Tying materials, vises, rods (all brands), waders, vests, books, wading stasffs and yes flies and vaious clothing for Men, Women and children.

 

[Andy B]

Looks like you had a really good time. Welcome back. Tying under the tents? Hmmmmm I wonder if this could work for an RRTU tying night?

Well Tom, I do not see why not. We all have been known on this site to sometimes look like a circus act and don't forget the clowns which I have been known to be too once in awile :rofl:.

 

[CTobias]

Andy,

Glad you had fun! I can't wait to get back and do some fishing in the park and surrounding areas. I just got the 2012 Troutfest Journal in the mail today from James Marsh, they totally put the wrong latin names for the fish species on the cover.

The place is definitely something special and probably my favorite place to fish that I have been to.

 

[AKSkim]

That is the problem with the GSMNP.

Once you go there...

You have to go back!

Great report Andy.

 

[CTobias]

I CAN'T WAIT!!

John Denver Take Me Home, Country Roads 1983 - YouTube

 

[30Cal]

I highly recommend catching a show at Stecoah on the NC side. It's worth a 15hr drive.