This past weekend, I was lucky to find some time to fish with my brother Jay. My best friend Chad joined me for a return trip to explore a new stretch of river this evening. Good times and great waters were found.
The Nolichucky has always been a river that I've missed over the past several seasons, so Jay and I decided to explore it this weekend with a nice morning start. Hiking upstream with the canoe, we entered a steep walled gorge, and found smallies hanging tight to the white water in smaller rapids...Gorgeous scenery all around.
Plenty of theses guys hanging around--vicious strikes on top:
Wade up, paddle down:
After a great morning and a good lunch, we decided to continue trying new waters, and headed for the lower French Broad... a little further down the road:
Jay waded, and I fished the "flats" in the canoe, stalking my first gar on the fly (rope fly with small hook)....Got him!!!
OK, Now how do I get my fly back
??
Caught up with Jay, and we started catching a mixed bag of warm water fish...
Back to the Noli with Chad this evening, and he was able to land his largest smallmouth yet! Beautiful waterfall and an unbelievable buzz bait explosion. Awesome to put a good buddy on some fish
.
Travis
