Smokey Mountain Getaway. . . . Day 2

Day 2 breakfast was another hot bowl of oat meat and a hot cup of tea. I decided to break camp that morning so I wouldn't have to come back later. I decided to hit a river that ran along the main road through the park. One in particular runs off the main road and toward a small university building. I decided to drive along this road and fish the pull outs. I didn't even have to dawn waders. I didn't find much action to speak of in most places. I did however have one spot in particular where the water ran between two large boulders and into a large pool. There was even a tree growing along the bank that had a root system that opened into the river. I tied on the same pheasant tail and a hairs ear that worked the day before. The first drift through yielded a strike but the rainbow got off shortly after. I drifted a few more through and didn't have any more strikes. I thought maybe that first strike scared off the rest. I decided to try a streamer. I tied on a yellow and brown clauser minnow. I threw it in right under the over hanging roots. I stripped it in slowly and a large brown trout zipped out and grabbed it. I couldn't believe this thing was under there! It was tearing through the pool desperately trying to free itself. I had him on for about a minute before it just threw the hook. I was very very bummed. I would bet that it was 18 inches at least. . . . a monster for the area. I decided to try another spot and come back for this one a little later. I tried a few spots with no luck. I came back two hours later to try my luck at this brown again. I threw everything in my fly box at him but couldn't get him to come out again. Oh well, I half expected this. These wild fish haven't survived in these small rivers by making mistakes twice.

I drove out of the park and stopped at Little Pigeon River Fly Shop to ask some questions. They thought my fishing experience was a great one, especially since I saw one of the few large browns in the park. This made my happy. The owner told me about a few places outside the park that I could try. I bought a green weenie and some other local flies to try. I had no luck but enjoyed every minute of it. I decided to leave so I could get home at a decent hour. I stopped by bass pro shop to look around. I talked to the guy in the fly shop and he said all the action in Tennessee was on the Holston River right below the dam. I have heard this more than once. I definitely need to look into this place in the future. I got home around 10:30 in time to visit with my wife before bed.