Post by Petey on Apr 12, 2011 12:13:58 GMT -5
This past weekend I got to spend my time camping with the family and some close family friends. I took the girls over to Cumberland Mountain State Park Thursday night and got camp set up. We found a nice camping spot on the backside of a loop and had it all to ourselves the first night. The girls went down early and by 9:30 me and my lab, Cooper, sat and watched raccoons run around the campground flipping garbage can lids looking for treasure.
The next morning I was up before day break making coffee and getting some gear ready to spend the day on the Hiwassee. I pulled out as the girls were just starting to stir. I sipped a hot cup of jo and drove through the beautiful Cumberland Gap. Some of the prettiest farmland I have ever seen sits tucked away on this little drive.
I met up with a couple of fellas and we floated from the Powerhouse to Reliance. We nymphed in the morning and fished dries in the afternoon. Caddis and Hendrickson’s started to hatch just after lunch and the game was on. We fished all the way to the boat ramp and into the setting sun. We shook hands, said good-byes, and just like that I was kicking back through the Gap as the sun was setting. Amazing how the different lights gives the valley such a different look. Either way, coming or going, it is all good.
I arrive back at camp as the others are returning from dinner to handshakes and hugs. It felt good to be missed. We spent the night roasting marshmallows, toasting to good times and sharing laughter.
The next day brought a day full of adventure. The morning was lazily spent cooking up scrambled eggs and bacon, sipping on coffee waiting on the sun to clear the tree line. The park has a little man made pond with a beautiful bridge that crosses. As the kids were gearing up for the playground, a buddy of mine (Todd) and myself were gearing up for different kind of fun. I stuffed a couple of popping bugs and a handful of streamers in a small box. I then grabbed up my rod, threw on my lanyard and were off for the pond.
We fished the pond for about 1/2 an hour with no success, but the constant roar of the lake spilling over the dam between the bridges pillars was too much to overcome. I couldn't resist the call of running water. So I descended a slippery slope to the bottom of the falls created by the dam. I switched over to a small marabou pattern with a trailing hook and some red flash in it. This was the ticket. My first cast got the attention of a 3-4 pound small mouth that chased my offering all the way to the edge of the pool. My blood was pumping and my nerves were shot. I cast again into the same place. This time his little brother took the bait. He was about a 1/4 of the one before him in size, but I was grateful for the bite. This pool in the time that I fished it provided me with another smallmouth, 3 bluegill, a rainbow and a young perch. I missed more than I caught and caught more than I deserved. Once the pool had gone cold, I turned my attention to the creek below it. My first cast brought a missed opportunity. The second cast once again paid dividends. I hooked into a 12-13" rainbow below an undercut bank. By this time I had on-lookers and it brought an applause from a couple sitting arm and arm from a rock above me. How long they had been sitting there I do not know. The roar of the water cascading over the dam drowned out all sound, and that was a good thing. I caught 3 more bows before calling it a trip. By this time Todd had joined me and began to work the pool, but with our stomachs growling it was time for a little lunch.
After a good lunch and a small cat nap, we were up and at it once again. This time our treasure was hidden amongst the woods around us. Before departing this past Thursday I had logged in my GPS the location of a few Geo-Caches right around our the park. So a handful us trekked out in search of adventure. We took a couple of the older children with us (6 and 4 respectively) to share in the experience of finding something buried in the woods. They had an absolute blast. The expression on their faces and the overall excitement only heightened the experience. We found our Cache's, signed our names, let them take a bounty and returned some in its place. The good thing about little ones, is they are quickly satisfied and made happy by the smallest of wonders. So with that mission accomplished it was time to return to cook up the evening’s meal.
Upon returning I fire up the pit, warmed up the Dutch ovens and made a Chili that could not be beat and whipped up some southern style cornbread to go with it. Once bellies were full and sun was setting we all once again found ourselves drawn to the ring of fire for more laughter and storytelling. All was good.
Petey
Photos to follow if I can get the goof balls at Village Photo straightened out.
The next morning I was up before day break making coffee and getting some gear ready to spend the day on the Hiwassee. I pulled out as the girls were just starting to stir. I sipped a hot cup of jo and drove through the beautiful Cumberland Gap. Some of the prettiest farmland I have ever seen sits tucked away on this little drive.
I met up with a couple of fellas and we floated from the Powerhouse to Reliance. We nymphed in the morning and fished dries in the afternoon. Caddis and Hendrickson’s started to hatch just after lunch and the game was on. We fished all the way to the boat ramp and into the setting sun. We shook hands, said good-byes, and just like that I was kicking back through the Gap as the sun was setting. Amazing how the different lights gives the valley such a different look. Either way, coming or going, it is all good.
I arrive back at camp as the others are returning from dinner to handshakes and hugs. It felt good to be missed. We spent the night roasting marshmallows, toasting to good times and sharing laughter.
The next day brought a day full of adventure. The morning was lazily spent cooking up scrambled eggs and bacon, sipping on coffee waiting on the sun to clear the tree line. The park has a little man made pond with a beautiful bridge that crosses. As the kids were gearing up for the playground, a buddy of mine (Todd) and myself were gearing up for different kind of fun. I stuffed a couple of popping bugs and a handful of streamers in a small box. I then grabbed up my rod, threw on my lanyard and were off for the pond.
We fished the pond for about 1/2 an hour with no success, but the constant roar of the lake spilling over the dam between the bridges pillars was too much to overcome. I couldn't resist the call of running water. So I descended a slippery slope to the bottom of the falls created by the dam. I switched over to a small marabou pattern with a trailing hook and some red flash in it. This was the ticket. My first cast got the attention of a 3-4 pound small mouth that chased my offering all the way to the edge of the pool. My blood was pumping and my nerves were shot. I cast again into the same place. This time his little brother took the bait. He was about a 1/4 of the one before him in size, but I was grateful for the bite. This pool in the time that I fished it provided me with another smallmouth, 3 bluegill, a rainbow and a young perch. I missed more than I caught and caught more than I deserved. Once the pool had gone cold, I turned my attention to the creek below it. My first cast brought a missed opportunity. The second cast once again paid dividends. I hooked into a 12-13" rainbow below an undercut bank. By this time I had on-lookers and it brought an applause from a couple sitting arm and arm from a rock above me. How long they had been sitting there I do not know. The roar of the water cascading over the dam drowned out all sound, and that was a good thing. I caught 3 more bows before calling it a trip. By this time Todd had joined me and began to work the pool, but with our stomachs growling it was time for a little lunch.
After a good lunch and a small cat nap, we were up and at it once again. This time our treasure was hidden amongst the woods around us. Before departing this past Thursday I had logged in my GPS the location of a few Geo-Caches right around our the park. So a handful us trekked out in search of adventure. We took a couple of the older children with us (6 and 4 respectively) to share in the experience of finding something buried in the woods. They had an absolute blast. The expression on their faces and the overall excitement only heightened the experience. We found our Cache's, signed our names, let them take a bounty and returned some in its place. The good thing about little ones, is they are quickly satisfied and made happy by the smallest of wonders. So with that mission accomplished it was time to return to cook up the evening’s meal.
Upon returning I fire up the pit, warmed up the Dutch ovens and made a Chili that could not be beat and whipped up some southern style cornbread to go with it. Once bellies were full and sun was setting we all once again found ourselves drawn to the ring of fire for more laughter and storytelling. All was good.
Petey
Photos to follow if I can get the goof balls at Village Photo straightened out.