"jeff" wrote in message
...
just returned from a week in graham county...posted a few pics on abpf.
not as much fishing this trip as i had some stuff to attend to that
interrupted fishing, and i was lazy - enjoying the sounds of birds and the
creeks.

in may, i visited penns creek for the 10th annual gathering. good to see
the penns folks, though i didn't fish with as many of them as i had hoped.
caught fish every day, and hiked some of the old well-worn paths by the
stream. mike makela, joe, and i found the "spot" near weikert one day,
lots of sulphurs and then the green drakes. caught fish all day long on
dry flies...and it didn't get crowded until about 5 pm. that was fun...

graham county roads were much more crowded than i recall during any other
june visit, which doesn't bode well for october. the county is obviously
increasing its tourist trade, esp. motorcyclists desiring to ride the tail
of the dragon and cherohala skyway. still, i fished my favorite creeks
without ever seeing another fisherman...though i did see two as i was
leaving each time, but they were in areas behind my starting points and
seen only on the walk out, so i didn't begrudge them their presence in my
universe of the moment.

unlike penns creek and the other pennsylvania streams i have visited, our
nc mountain trout waters...at least the unstocked or "wild" fish areas of
nc...are not easy fishing and don't yield the bounty available in fertile
limestone streams of pa. however, stalking trout here gives me a special
appreciation for our unspoiled fish. nc wild trout don't have the bounty
of bugs bursting from and spiraling back into the waters like those
boastful browns of penns; nc trout remain small, a consequence of having
to scrap and work hard to make a living from sterile freestone streams and
a habitat contaminated by acidity gathered from the rains and rocks. even
the few bugs we have are smaller, also struggling for their brief moments
of survival in a harsh environment. still, the fish and bugs are there,
fewer in numbers and size, fish unwilling to rise except in a scared
scurry hoping for a rare sip or splash focused on that infrequent buggy
treat floating by. ...they remain a rare and special treasure for those of
us who know how and where to prospect. ...and, the places they live are
among the most soul-deep enriching spots i know on this earth.

i love seeing a fertile water like penns...it makes me appreciate and
value our wild nc trout that much more...and the gift of being able to
participate in the great mystery i know will never be answered...

jeff

Yeah, it's nice going to a stream and five minutes later catching the
biggest rainbow of you life...but hiking those mountains, having a subway
sandwich you've been saving for two days and catching those beautiful - if
somewhat smallish fish...well...you can't beat it.

John