On Topic: The Smokies in late March (plus SWMBO gloat)

Howdy,

SWMBO and I celebrated Valentine's Day last night as she'll be out
of town next week. One of her gifts to me (get yer mind out of the
gutter) is a trip to Nashville in late March to attend a gallery
opening featuring some of her work. The best part is that she wants to
go to the GSMNP for a couple of days after the opening. She has heard
me go on and on about how gorgeous the area was, so she wants me to
take her to some of my favorite spots. She'll take photos while I try
to fool some naive (native?) fish into impaling themselves on my flies.


So it won't be a long trip, but I'll probably get 2+ days fishing in
starting on March 26. So, at that time of year, what should I expect
to find in the way of water levels, weather and dry fly activity? I
understand that it's variable, but I'd appreciate it if some of our NC
gang could give me some of their observations.

We haven't picked out a place to stay yet, so it's possible we might
even be on the Tennessee side of the park, but I'm definitely planning
to hit the NC side for some of the fishing. Also, if you have any
suggestions about lodging on the Tennessee side of the park, I'd be
happy to hear them. (I know how awful Gatlinburg is; we used to drive
to the park almost every fall, and it was horrible back then (in the
sixties/seventies). But I'm not sure it's any more depressing than
Cherokee.)


Chuck Vance

"Conan The Librarian" wrote in message
oups.com...

We haven't picked out a place to stay yet, so it's possible we might
even be on the Tennessee side of the park, but I'm definitely planning
to hit the NC side for some of the fishing. Also, if you have any
suggestions about lodging on the Tennessee side of the park, I'd be
happy to hear them. (I know how awful Gatlinburg is; we used to drive
to the park almost every fall, and it was horrible back then (in the
sixties/seventies). But I'm not sure it's any more depressing than
Cherokee.)

The North Carolina side of the park gets all the press on ROFF, and Hazel is
a special place but the fishing is not neccesarily better on the NC side,
there is just more streams with wild fish in the national forests outside
the park then there is in TN.

As to the starting point for everything on this trip, think Townsend TN at
the southern TN entrance to the park. There was a great little country Inn
my wife and I used to stay at when we lived in Atlanta. It's grown up a
little in the past decade but nothing like Gatlinburg or Cherokee. Plus
there's probably the best fly shop in the south not located in Morganton,
Asheville, or Atlanta right on the Little River before you go into the park.

Conan The Librarian wrote:

Howdy,

SWMBO and I celebrated Valentine's Day last night as she'll be out
of town next week. One of her gifts to me (get yer mind out of the
gutter) is a trip to Nashville in late March to attend a gallery
opening featuring some of her work. The best part is that she wants to
go to the GSMNP for a couple of days after the opening. She has heard
me go on and on about how gorgeous the area was, so she wants me to
take her to some of my favorite spots. She'll take photos while I try
to fool some naive (native?) fish into impaling themselves on my flies.


So it won't be a long trip, but I'll probably get 2+ days fishing in
starting on March 26. So, at that time of year, what should I expect
to find in the way of water levels, weather and dry fly activity? I
understand that it's variable, but I'd appreciate it if some of our NC
gang could give me some of their observations.

We haven't picked out a place to stay yet, so it's possible we might
even be on the Tennessee side of the park, but I'm definitely planning
to hit the NC side for some of the fishing. Also, if you have any
suggestions about lodging on the Tennessee side of the park, I'd be
happy to hear them. (I know how awful Gatlinburg is; we used to drive
to the park almost every fall, and it was horrible back then (in the
sixties/seventies). But I'm not sure it's any more depressing than
Cherokee.)


Chuck Vance


same flies, same tactics as your last visit...our trout ain't as
fin-icky as most other fish - southern hospitality and all that,
donchaknow. you still haven't been to hazel as i recall. take your wife
along...i'm sure she'd find lots of photo opportunities. easy walking.
the old logging ruins offer interesting views for someone with a good
camera's eye. pay the guys at fontana marina to run you over there and
pick you up at a set time. they'll do the same for eagle creek if you wish.

jeff

"Conan The Librarian" wrote

I'll probably get 2+ days fishing in
starting on March 26. So, at that time of year, what should I expect
to find in the way of water levels, weather and dry fly activity?

i've only been on a couple trips in the early spring, and those were
around easter. if you get a few days of sun and reasonable air temps, it is
possible to have some *very* good dry fly fishing. small (for nc) bwo's,
blue quills, quill gordons, thunderheads (adams with white hair wing) worked
best for me.
but if things are normal, which means cold, wet, no sun anywhere, you
*must* go to nymphs or san juan worms. i have only found the need for two
or three nymph patterns, all in sizes 10-14: prince (often tied as a
"secret weapon", locally), montana, and bitch creek).
don't neglect to try eagle creek. walk up to where eekaneetlee comes in
from the right--a mile or so--hitting the obvious runs on the way. it's
smaller by far than hazel, but carries a real sense of wilderness, and is
closer to the fontana marina by twenty minutes.
for details, give me a call--i'm in the greensboro phone book, under the
"functional alchoholic" listing.

yfitons
wayno

"Wayne Harrison" wrote

don't neglect to try eagle creek. walk up to where eekaneetlee comes
in from the right--a mile or so--

sorry, that should have been "from the left".

Wayne Harrison wrote:
"Wayne Harrison" wrote


don't neglect to try eagle creek. walk up to where eekaneetlee comes
in from the right--a mile or so--


sorry, that should have been "from the left".

Are you deliberately confusing the Yankees?

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"rw" wrote in message
ink.net...
Wayne Harrison wrote:
"Wayne Harrison" wrote


don't neglect to try eagle creek. walk up to where eekaneetlee comes
in from the right--a mile or so--


sorry, that should have been "from the left".

Are you deliberately confusing the Yankees?

just trying to do what i can to prevent the wanton pillage of pinnacle
creek, the jewel of the north side.... hehhehhe..

yfitons
wayno

rw wrote:

Wayne Harrison wrote:

"Wayne Harrison" wrote


don't neglect to try eagle creek. walk up to where eekaneetlee
comes in from the right--a mile or so--



sorry, that should have been "from the left".


Are you deliberately confusing the Yankees?

texas yankees? that explains many, many things about my experiences
with the loneback...uh...the brokestar... um, with that place.

"Jeff Miller" wrote

texas yankees? that explains many, many things about my experiences with
the loneback...uh...the brokestar... um, with that place.

****, tejas, during the war of the rebellion, stood up as the equal of
any. didn't know conan was a texan. my apologies.\

yfitons
wayno (the 1st texas, at antietam, lost more than 80% of the regiment.
highest casualtie rate of the war. they weren't yankees.)

"Conan The Librarian" wrote in message
oups.com...
Howdy,

SWMBO and I celebrated Valentine's Day last night as she'll be out
of town next week. One of her gifts to me (get yer mind out of the
gutter) is a trip to Nashville in late March to attend a gallery
opening featuring some of her work. The best part is that she wants to
go to the GSMNP for a couple of days after the opening. She has heard
me go on and on about how gorgeous the area was, so she wants me to
take her to some of my favorite spots. She'll take photos while I try
to fool some naive (native?) fish into impaling themselves on my flies.


So it won't be a long trip, but I'll probably get 2+ days fishing in
starting on March 26. So, at that time of year, what should I expect
to find in the way of water levels, weather and dry fly activity? I
understand that it's variable, but I'd appreciate it if some of our NC
gang could give me some of their observations.

We haven't picked out a place to stay yet, so it's possible we might
even be on the Tennessee side of the park, but I'm definitely planning
to hit the NC side for some of the fishing. Also, if you have any
suggestions about lodging on the Tennessee side of the park, I'd be
happy to hear them. (I know how awful Gatlinburg is; we used to drive
to the park almost every fall, and it was horrible back then (in the
sixties/seventies). But I'm not sure it's any more depressing than
Cherokee.)


Chuck Vance


I'm sure you know this link... http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm Cherokee
is depressing in the sense that it is poorly maintained, many area roads
throughout the reservation are well, trashy.

Actually, in Pigeon forge at this time of year you may get a deal on
lodging, don't be afraid to bargain. The intersection at 441 and 19 on the
south side (NC side) is exploding, plenty of hotels there, with busses to
the casino.

It's not the best fishing or the biggest fish, but I have always enjoyed the
West Prong of the Little Pigeon River that runs along 441 as it goes across
the park. I go up to the Chimney Tops Trailhead, turn around and drive down
north to a likely looking pull off, about a half mile or so, then hike down
in to the river. Fish my way up and get out at the bridge, then walk the
roadway down to my car. It's absolutely delightful if the water is not too
high and one of the best low water spots around.

The boulders are gigantic, you can rock hop and not get wet and it's pocket
water all the way. Plenty of small fish and I did nail a 13 inch brookie
once.

Not too long ago an estranged wife was killed by a bear along that stretch,
here husband let her carry the day pack (filled with...?) while they hiked
separately so that may not be a good place for you to go after all. However,
it is very pretty. Photo plus.

You can go on into Bryson City...(is the train running?) and take the road
to Nowhere that dead ends at Nolan Creek. I've had plenty of good fishing
there, plenty of bear sign. There are some monstrous fish in there but they
have seen every fly made.

One of the most picturesque streams, if the light is right is straight
creek, before it enters the reservation. Very Jurassic looking if the ferns
and moss are green.

One of the things I like about the park streams is that there are no
patterns. It seems to me the fish key in on color and size so about half of
my day is the hit or miss of changing colors and sizes. Big yellow and
bushy? Small green and fine? Really fun in my opinion.

Hey, have a good time.

john