Backpack Fly Fishing with Hunter

I took my little sidekick on a backpack fly fishing adventure up through our favorite canyon in Virginia.   It doesn’t matter what it is, Hunter is absolutely game for anything I want to do.  I love it.  And it’s so nice when we can get the opportunity to spend time with each of the kids one-on-one.  Strapping him to my back and going on a fly fishing getaway was a blast.  He just never stops talking.   And having him a foot away from my ears and commentating my fishing was just hilarious.  There is nothing like having a witty 3 year old busting your chops for missing a fish.  And the system we had going when I did hook one was great…I’d hook em and then hand the rod back to him to hold.  Then I would strip the fly line in with the little wild rainbow in while he squealed with delight.  It’s a memory that I will have forever. 

It was also a great workout for me as I continue to get into hardcore shape for my Colorado backcountry elk hunt in September.  I had him on my back for a few hours and I am guessing the total all-in pack weighed about 40 pounds.  It was definitely work carrying him up through the stream and over boulders and good training for carrying a pack that hopefully weighs 3 times that much in Colorado.  We stopped midday on a huge rock in the middle of the stream and enjoyed lunch before catching a few more trout and hiking back out.  Great day with my little buddio.

10 Great Smoky Years

For our ten-year anniversary, we were fortunate enough to have the time and backup team (thanks Grandparents!) to take a week long trip sans kids.  This was our first trip longer than 1-2 nights since the twins were born 4.5 years ago.   For everything we considered, we landed on Asheville, NC as the perfect location under the following criteria.

-          Neither of us had ever been to Asheville / the Smoky mountains.

-          The craft beer scene is amazing.

-          The wild trout fishing is world renown.

Our first part of the trip was spent in Asheville, NC.  We’d heard great things, but overall the (small/quaint) city way exceeded expectations (that were already somewhat high).  We hit a few restaurants and the food was amazing.  The music was awesome and the beer was as advertised.  Disc golf was totally rad, but the highlight was our Penguins won the Stanley Cup Sunday night.  Back-to-Back baby!  The celebration was so much fun and the shots of Jameson with random strangers were flowing.  The trip started well.

We moved to Franklin, NC for an amazing 5 days and got into some real peace and serenity.  These were the mountains of the true Cherokee Indian tribe, which I have lineage to (and explains a lot).  They were powerful, stoic, and you could really feel the ancient energy of these mountains.  The mountains were deep and on most nights, the fog would roll in to completely consume them in a cloud of mist.  It was so cool to watch and felt so mystical.  And each morning, we’d sit on a rocking chair with a cup of coffee and watch the fog lift back off the range and return to the nothingness that they came from.    We hiked, did some gemstone mining (hit it big with some Rubies and Sapphires!), read, relaxed and ate some good food. 

19 weeks...

and still zipping around!

The trout fishing was our thing though.  It always has been since even before we were married.  Just getting back up to the mountains and disappearing on some small trout stream taking turns casting and working the small pools was so much fun.  It’s been years since we could do this.  I did the research and we explored a decent amount of the under the radar mountain trout waters.  Overall, I found the fishing to be a bit tougher than I expected.  With wild mountain trout, I thought every fish in the stream would be fighting to be the first to eat my Royal PMX or terrestrial pattern, while elk bugled in the background.  But, what I quickly learned was that by mid-June these fish can get highly educated and become pretty selective.  Nonetheless, I was wet wading and in a dry fly state of mind for the week, so opted to net less fish for simplicity.  Spence did her usual thing, which is fish a fraction of the time I do, but still manage to land the biggest fish of the week.  It’s beyond a coincidence at this point….she just always catches the biggest fish on our trips.  I love it. 

She also took her camera and was able to get back into photography, which hasn’t been pursued in the last 5 years either.  We were at the perfect rhythm and it was fun enjoying the time to ourselves.  But, with Spence pregnant with our 19 week baby, it was a constant reminder that much has changed in the past 10 years for us.  And though the vacation was so nice and much needed, by the end of the week we missed all our kiddos and looked forward to getting home to see them.

Chasing wild rainbows with the twins

In PA we have an abundance of wild brookies, but not as many wild rainbows (those spots will remain very secretive)!  In the mountains of Virginia though wild rainbows can be found. 

The Cascades Creek, in Hot Springs Virginia is one of the most unique fly fishing experiences due to the amazing Cascades that plunge through the gorge AND the man-made bridges and walk ways. 

I’m not spot burning here….if you want to pay to fish this Gorge section it’s about $50.  A little known fact is with a Trout Unlimited membership, it’s like $25.  I am not the kind that likes the pay-to-play on streams, but I can make exceptions (oh, sweet DePuys...)   In this case I feel the money goes to the upkeep of the stream and it honestly keeps the traffic down.  And ‘most’ of the fisherman from the resort are fishing the stocked waters down below.  I’ve heard they put big ones in there, but we always go upstream and fish for the little wild ones on dries.  So, the only people we usually see are hikers on the ‘gorge tour’. 

I took Jack along with my sis-in-law, Meg, one day and then came back and took Clara the next day.  they were wonderful days and I really love spending time in this gorge.  It' so beautiful.  Of all the kids Clara shows the most interest, as she can just actually focus on what you are telling her and teaching.  She is a very good student for a young age of 4.5. Jack was a bit more interested playing in the dirt with stick figures.  Boy will be boys. 

Jackson River Wild

I got out to fish one of my favorite sections on the Jackson River tailwater.   Its one of my favorites because I know it holds wild browns.  And I know it holds wild browns because we missed a few good ones here during the cicada hatch last year and on some streamers.  The river itself is known for its wild rainbows and even the standard 9-10" wild bow is never a disappointment.  Those little wild bows shoot straight out of the water when they are caught.  I actually don't think they stock the lower tailwater, so every fish is wild.  But, its always the browns that I chase so I target water that holds them.

The water was lower, but it was a cloudy day, so I started with a fatty streamer.  I didn't move a fish this time, so I switched over to some nymphs and started picking a few up.  I caught a good looking brown on a stonefly, so that made my day.  

On my way out, I fished a secondary channel back up to my truck.  There is one hole I've always believed held a good fish.  At the tail out of this hole I hooked into a nice bow and my biggest on the Jackson.  She had the prettiest pink rainbow on her side.  After a good fish like that, it easy to just call it a day.

Virginia Fly Fishing Report

Our family spent the long extended Easter weekend in Hot Springs, Virginia. And with a few extra sets of hands, I was able to do more fishing in four days than I did most of last summer. With the windows down in the mini van, music rocking and a mini-cooler of iced down beer, these Virginia trout were in trouble.

Lower Jackson River below Lake Moomaw - Tailwater

I've fished this tailwater more than a few times now and every time I wade out, I think "I should be in my drift boat".  Not that I am not happy to just be fishing,...but its a big, strong river more easily covered with a boat.  More importantly, there isn't many places to actually even fish this river with the Posted waters and that 'King's Grant / Crown Grant' access law which basically says the landowner owns the bottom of the river.  I've seen some landowners go as far as getting custom designed POSTED signs to state 'no wading or anchoring on their stream bed.  It's so ridiculous, I get angry typing about it.  The wild rainbows are plentiful and tailwater strong and the big browns are just plain elusive (as usual).  I saw a few blue quills emerging in the afternoon, but nothing working the surface.  All I can say is, I cant wait to bring my boat.

Upper Jackson River above Lake MooMaw - freestone

I've fished the Upper Jackson before in the special regulations areas and have done OK.  This time I explore the open waters in Hidden Valley and surrounded by the bait / hardware crowd.  It was a pretty section of stream, but  I dint see one fish caught (including myself) and I was convinced it was 'fished out'.  At least, that is what I will tell myself.   

Back Creek

Back Creek is tailwater absolutely loaded with 13-16" rainbows.  Before getting too excited, this is a man made stream and the rainbows were stocked.  Whereas the Lower Jackson was a tailwater, all the fish - both rainbows and browns - are wild.  These Back Creek trout were squishy pellet heads and an 8" wild Jackson trout would pull it around the stream. The one thing it had going for it was it was relatively remote and had plenty of casting room.  So, if I want to take the kids one day and get them on fish, I may return.

Wild rainbow stream

On Easter Sunday, I went hiking with Hunter in the backpack, my 3 wt and a parachute Adams.  We found a little stream full of wild rainbows.  if you can stream bust me from the pictures, more power to you.  We caught a handful of 5-9" wild rainbows and Hunter just squealed with joy each fish we caught that he wanted to touch (including the minnows).  It was such as nice afternoon Easter hike.

Wild Virginia Rainbows

Spence and I took the afternoon to spend together the best way we know how - which is hiking up through a mountain stream fishing dry flies to wild rainbows.  There is not many other places I know of with wild rainbows, so this stream is very special.  In addition, it has one of the coolest, most picturesque streams I've fished.  

I knew the trip was going to be special when we walked to the first big plunge pool and scared a bear from taking an afternoon drink right out of the place I wanted to fish!   

Wild rainbow fishing (think brookies) is exactly what you want when you dont fish as much as you want.  The fish were not selective and happily ate a decently presented dry fly.  No match the hatch, techinical Euro nymphing, micro drag, etc, etc.  Just happy hungry trout in a beautiful setting.  Stealth and an accurate cast was all you needed.  We only took one little 3 wt and I found it more fun watching Spence fish then I did myself.  Plus its loads of fun busting on each other after missing a fish, which happens often when the little 4" fish tried eating a bug that is bigger then his mouth.  

Later the at evening, my father-in-law and I took Jack back to the bottom of this creek that held some stocked trout. I had a more difficult time catching a trout that clearly had no idea what I was trying to pass off as food, but alas I triumphed.  And a happy 3 year old was the winner!