Trophy Fishing TN Forum - Caney Fork Trout Fly Fishing - Caney Fork Trout Guide
Warm Water Fishing Reports => The TN Muskie Addiction => Topic started by: MikeA on April 15, 2012, 07:59:13 PM
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Those were the words that caused me to question exactly what we were getting into.
The put in was a pain to get to. An unimproved road down into the gorge that will test your shocks and springs and seemed to go on forever. Finally we get there and are rewarded nicely with the sound of running cool clear water.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0171.jpg)
Here's Dave in his element on his SUP. The first mile or so was shallow and we had to rock hop quite a bit.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0173.jpg)
I think this was big Springs but not 100% on that. It was one of those places that's just super cool to be in. I forgot the neat Pano feature on my new waterproof camera... That would have been awesome.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0177.jpg)
That is big spring coming in on the left. I think this section could support Rainbows....
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0178.jpg)
Looking up from the last of the rock hopping places, or so we thought...
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0192.jpg)
Rocks the size of houses litter this waterway.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0180.jpg)
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0181.jpg)
The typical whiterwater here. Nothing more then a class one that I remember.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0190.jpg)
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0209.jpg)
I brought a spinning rod this trip (new water) and a Rebel Craw. Here are a few samples of the fish I encountered.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0188.jpg)
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0186.jpg)
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0183.jpg)
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0199.jpg)
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0196.jpg)
A few miles down the water started to flatten out. We were in awe at the size of these sycamore trees. Pics do it no justice.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0214.jpg)
Dave got excited and was probing for Musky with his 10wt. I was a bit skeptical yet so I kept on with the rebel Craw. Then we hit a section that just smelled musky.
Sure enough after several fish rushed Daves fly one finally ate! (I have some video of the catch I'll get out later)
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0207.jpg)
Love scars.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0208.jpg)
Sweet! Musky at last. I rigged my 10 and was getting into the game from here on out.
Next Hole we come to I'm sure I'll have my chance to stick one of these headwater fish that have surely not seen many flies if ever...
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0217.jpg)
Then it happened. We were several miles in and the river just disappeared. There was nothing for us to do but drag the boats and hope it wasn't far till the river reemerges. You can't imagine the torture it is to walk on snot covered bowling balls in Keens pulling a 75 pound Kayak plus 25 pounds of gear. If I posted all the curse words I thought about I would have to ban myself. Ok it can't be that bad,, just right around the corner the river will welcome my already tired arms and legs with a cold welcoming liquid that will float us home. Just around the next bend....
WRONG.
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0219%7E0.jpg)
Ok no big deal. This sucks but I think I can hear water ahead. This has got to be the end of the dry bed.
HOLY SHIT!!
(http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/DSCN0220%7E0.jpg)
We drug our boats for about 2 miles over bowling ball and beach ball size rocks. Some times they were ankle deep and covered in the slickest shit known to man and sometimes they were dry as if not so much as a drop of water had ever touched them, ever. The battey died on my camera trying to get a gps fix so I didn't get to film us finally finding the river again and paddling out IN THE DARK! We got to our truck at 9pm and had to haul the boats 60 feet up a 45 degree sandy bank. Then we had to take the road from hell back down to Dave's Xterra and drive the road from hell back up the gorge to the hwy.
I would put up a food pic except,, oh yeah there wasn't any food!!!
My feet are blistered and bruised but I'm in pretty good shape today considering the hellish trip yesterday. The monthly trainer and gym fees finally are paying for themselves I guess.
As bad as it was I'm glad I did it. I'm betting not many folks have seen that part of the river and very few if any have caught a musky on the fly in those sections. It's pretty safe to say I never will either. ;D
All in all, I wouldn't undo for anything.
The Jackson Cosa isn't hurt at all. The bottom is scratched some but nothing deep enough to be concerned about. I'm amazed the keel isn't completely missing. I wasn't exactly babying it after about the first 100 yards. The more I fish this boat the more I'm loving it.
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GREAT story and pics!
Two miles of dragging over rocks...ughh. >:(
But the worst is paddling out in the dark on a stretch of river you've never navigated before. Certainly heightens the senses.
Nice Muskie Dave. You guys certainly earned it.
Fred
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WOW! Awesome report. That is a remote place. Looks like all the hard work paid off!
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Mike,
You and Dave are the Lewis and Clark of the muskie frontier. Glad you guys found a neat spot. Maybe the next stretch on down holds the flat water and easy cruising out.
A great workout that sure beats a gym.
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Awesome trip report.
Man, that is some gnarly stuff you guys dragged through. Sounds like a good time no less.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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"Excuse me, were rost where Disneyrand?" Solid fish Dave!!!
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You guys found my favorite spot in Tennessee! That is Big Springs in the beginning of your post and a great place to camp. TWRA used to stock that area back in the 80,s with trout, but then the road got too rough. Dave, you may be the first person to catch a muskie on a fly in that area. I have been fishing that area for years and have not heard about any one managing that! Glad you two made it out that way.
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Looks like you two had a real adventure! Great photos and report.
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Great report guys. Nice water flow for this time of year since we have had no rain lately. After a few showers, I bet it goes class 3 or 4 whitewater :o
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It's incredible water (where there's water!). I'd go back in a heartbeat, but I'd want an inflatable, or something that you could break down and hike out with, or a light canoe that you could shoulder easily. I didn't see anything that would have been higher than a III at higher water -- the danger would be in the sycamores that grow across the channel in the "dry" reach. Strainer city!
Also, after a bit of cipherin' with Google Earth, I think my distance estimates might have to be revised upward a bit...
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How long did it turn out to be?
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How long did it turn out to be?
The total reach was 11.7 miles. If the dry reach started where I think it did, it was around 3.7 miles (including those shallow pools that we waded through).
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Wow. I went bass fishing yesterday and walked out 2.5 miles in the dark on a paved road and I was complaining. I guess I didn't have it so bad after all.
bd
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If it is the river/creek that I think it is, I too have had do the march out on several rivers to the west and southwest. Neat adventures, but hard on the ole body.
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You guys found my favorite spot in Tennessee! That is Big Springs in the beginning of your post and a great place to camp. TWRA used to stock that area back in the 80,s with trout, but then the road got too rough. Dave, you may be the first person to catch a muskie on a fly in that area. I have been fishing that area for years and have not heard about any one managing that! Glad you two made it out that way.
Yep - recognized that spot, Brady! Looks like a great float!!!
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That road is marked ;D What time did you put in?
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We put in around 9:30. It's a sweet float but be forewarned the haul over land is nothing short of risky. That both of us got out without an ankle injury or worse is pure luck.
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Here's a crappy video I put together. I didn't try hard on this one while shooting or processing it. It still captures Dave's excitement.
http://michaelanderson.smugmug.com/Family/Video/22344013_nwSH3r#!i=1798473419&k=xWJgbkS&lb=1&s=A
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Cool video. That scenery is awesome!
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Imagine if you'd hit the dry part when it still had some flow. You would have had a much easier paddle out, but you'd be pretty confused about why the fish completely stopped biting for 4 miles.
bd
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Nice tail splash towards the camera man.
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Glad the microphone was so far away in that first part... my follow-induced Tourette's kicked in pretty good on that one.
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Cool video and nice work Dave!
Scenery is incredible.
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Glad the microphone was so far away in that first part... my follow-induced Tourette's kicked in pretty good on that one.
I laugh about that every time I watch it.
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I put on my headphones when I got back to my desk. Just a little bit of cussing going on. :D
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Now that I think about it, 11 miles was a pretty long float trip for one day even if you had water the whole way.
Sent from my SPH-M580 using Tapatalk
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Nice fish and epic adventure! I think I might need a kayak now. I've been wanting to explore some of the streams on the east side of the Plateau but will have to get a boat to cover much water. Looks like you guys have the perfect setup. Do you ever feel nervous standing on those or are they really stable?
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There are a few things I am figuring out about Dave. One the man knows how to fish for them toothy critters Two if you fish with him expect to cover some miles and 3 he has tree trunks for legs. Great looking fish Dave
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Nice fish and epic adventure! I think I might need a kayak now. I've been wanting to explore some of the streams on the east side of the Plateau but will have to get a boat to cover much water. Looks like you guys have the perfect setup. Do you ever feel nervous standing on those or are they really stable?
The only time I feel nervous is when I can he hear the next set of rapids from a mile away. Standing is the easy part.
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I am sooo ready to do this float again. I think we've got a way to bypass the drag this time. I'm thinking an overnight stay in the gorge is in order so we can take all the time we want fishing.
Dave lets get on this as soon as it becomes navigable again.
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I left Smugmug so I moved the video to Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCGme0kRb_s
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Looks like a real bone-crusher of a portage!