Fly fishing the Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

August 18-19, 2012
-by Stephen A. Dubberly

On an early Saturday morning before the sun arose over an early Autumn southern landscape, Jeff Purdy, Stephen Dubberly, Greg Bennett and Jeff Miller set out for an adventure in the storied Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After the quick ride from Atlanta we approached the winding mountain-side dirt road leading into the Valley. We are anxious for what lies over the next ridge or around the next corner for we had never camped or fished in the Cataloochee Valley. Driving over the mountain on the two path road seemed to take even longer than the 200 miles we had just driven from our urban confines. Every turn revealed more and more as we descended into the Valley and seemingly back in time.

As we set up camp, we swap stories about things we had read about the historic valley. From bears to trout to elk, we had much to discuss. All of which proved to be as illusive as the cell phone signals we had left on the other side of the mountain. Once settled in we head off to find these native rainbows and brookies we read and heard so much about. We fish away the afternoon enjoying the awesome environment this natural, mostly untouched, habitat has to offer. We spread out to find the water we think hold the best trout. Alone, I trek through several parts of Cataloochee Creek presenting fly after fly and try all my best skills and tricks to only miss a couple of tiny trout before heading to see what the other guys may have accomplished. It appeared as though they had all had similar luck. These fish are tough, clear, skinny water, hard to find fish, hard to catch fish. These fish are pros, we are not in their league. Perhaps with the exception of our guide and fly fishing mentor Jeff Purdy, who had the most luck (or skill) of the entire weekend.

We head over to the Ranger Station to try the creek running through the meadow. Beautiful pocket water with small tumbling rapids over unique Smoky Mountain boulders transitioning into smooth flats just begging for a dry fly. "This it it!", I think to myself. "This is the spot, time to rid the skunk." No such luck, but I enjoyed every bit of this new water and this challenging leg of the adventure.

We drive back to camp after searching much of  the fishable water in this area of the Valley. Purdy's Special marinated ribs on the grill with all the fixin's for dinner and a few night caps and we are off too dream about the trout to be found in the day to come. That is, until the rain started. There was no rain in forecast, but in this valley, all bets are off. Will the fish bite in this weather? Well, according to the ranger in the campground, "Sometimes they like the rain, sometimes they don't." Words to live by. We give it one more shot in hopes that this is one of the times "they like it".

We drive over a long mountain pass in search of the "Second Bridge". We finally arrive after about 40 minutes on the two path road of endless switch-backs. "Are we there yet's" follow "Whoa! Look at the cliff!" The rain has subsided on this side of the mountain and we are once again excited! We are all anxious to try our hand at the fresh water we see flowing crisply and calling to us like a Siren's song from deep down in the gorge below. We step out into the parking area and decide which way to go. Greg and Jeff Miller head downstream, Jeff Purdy & I head upstream. After finally finding the overgrown stream-side trail we are on our way. The only thing I am thinking is, THIS IS BEAR COUNTRY! I had already read the statistic that this area has the highest concentration of bears in the entire GSMNP! That is a large area, and we are in the"bulls-eye" for bears so to speak. I have accepted the fact that we will walk up on one at any second as we trudge through the so-called "trail" yelling, BEAR! YO BEAR! Alas, we have survived and no bear is to be seen. Now, for the record, I'm not deathly afraid of bears. However I would rather see one from a distance than up close and personal in his/her own habitat!

We make our way down to the stream and it proves to be quite different than some of the slower water we had been fishing the day before. Larger boulders, far more pockets requiring a highly tactical approach. A level of fly fishing skill that I surely have not acquired yet. I make the best of the spot that I am in as Purdy treks on up stream further into bear country. We all reconvene near the bridge after a few hours. It appears I am the only one that has not actually landed a trout, I hooked into a couple of tiny, and I mean TINY, ones but I think my #14 Adams was just too big for them to set the hook. No worries, a great time was had by all and lifelong memories were made. While we may not venture to this exact location again any time soon in search of monster trout (we never thought they were actually there, but we can dream!), the majesty of this incredibly preserved valley beckons the call of anyone wanting to step back in time a little and experience a part of this country the way it was before highways & cell phones. Have a look at the video below and relive this remarkable weekend warrior adventure with us.
-Stephen

Click for more info on the Cataloochee Valley.

Float Tubing Canada 2012

It seems like it was long ago in January the we were planning our trip to the Canadian wilderness to try and be the only fishermen to adventure into lost lakes to find the perfect fishing experience.  We targeted 30 lakes knowing we could not make it into all lakes. The float tubes limit your range to 3/4 to 1 mile radius but the fishing  in the tube is a stealth mode to target shallow fish. 

We did find that the Bears and the Impenetrable forest were our most difficult foes.  We did find a few lost lakes where fish have not seen a lure or fly in a very long long long time.  30-50 fish at each lake was common, not bad for 4-6 hours,  and we fished at least 2 lakes per day.  We were at the post spawn for the smallies and they were in the shallows and on the shallow rocky points.  The weed beds were just starting to emerge but did hold fish at the edges.

All smallies in these lakes were 14"-19" and just very active and hungry.  My best made fly was the frog pattern flies with the tube flies being a big hit for the smallies and the northerns.

The muskies were tough in the lakes but we did have two attacks but no sucess in bring one in.  Imaging a 30-35" muskie coming to your tube then to strike ...  wow what a rush ! The northerns were similar in their attacks but not as exciting as a potential big muskie.

We had a great trip and adventure of a life time but did learn that the forest was diffucult to get through to the lakes that we could see,,(within 100 yards).  The fishing was spectacular on the lakes that we did fish.
We look forward to more Canadian adventures but fly in with our tubes maybe the ticket.
Trip Summary Video

The Northwest Canada Adventure

We have a great trip to Canada, doing a float tube adventure that most do not attempt.  We learn alot aabout the wilderness area of Canada.. The forest is thick and the Bears are everywhere.  We sill posting a video and picture soon but for now here are a couple of photos of the bass and northerns.

Broken Rod in March

March 2012

Some days, random events try to make you insane.  However, these are the times that can be the most rewarding. 

It was a late Sunday afternoon in the middle of March and the black caddis had been making the trout on the Chattahoochee crazy.  So around 3:00 pm on a perfect mid spring day, I quickly gathered my fishing equipment and headed to Cochran shoals for a short late evening fishing adventure, knowing that the fish would be active at that time of the day, feeding on caddis and midges.

I arrived and geared up with the float tube on the back and headed up the trail on the east side of the shoals, around a ¾” mile hike.  I typically do not rig up my bamboo rods until I arrive on the river; safer to transport along the trail.  Once at the river entry, I started to put my rod sections together only to discover I had two sections of two different rods; a 1/16” can be large at that moment.  What to do?  Too late to drive back to Alpharetta.

I thought how this can be.  I then remembered that I had performed repairs on the river before on a broken rod tip and knew that a bamboo rod can perform with a spliced joint.  So I packed up the gear and headed to the car to rummage through my equipment bag, a  ¾” mile hike back to the parking lot.

 I always carry one of the most important must have in the survival gear

  duct tape.

I aligned two of the guides from the top and bottom sections. Using a spiral wrap of the tape, I jointed the tip and butt around the guide alignment. .    A rod just like new only 8” shorter. 

So off to the river again, getting my exercise along the trail.  It turned out to be a banner day of fishing with active fish all evening hitting caddis.  Shorter cast but when fish are feeding it is not a problem to get close to cast your dries. 

So remember the duct tape and don’t let a broken rod stop the fishing.

March 2012 Canada in our Minds

As our warm winter comes to a close, where the blue wing and midge fishing that has been great, we have turned our attention to the big trip of the year.  The second week of June, my friend Bob and I are headed to Kenora, Canada.  We are targeting smallmouth, pike, walleye and of course big Muskie.

In northwest Canada, the winter lake ice out occurs around this time of year, not like in Georgia where the summer is at a big start with temperatures around 90 degrees. 

The ice out is when; we believe the fishing is at its best in Canada.  The fish are spawning or post spawn and are hungry and aggressive.  We plan to fish for a week on various small lakes, taking our float tubes.  We will travel the logging roads and hike in to these lesser known lakes of the 10,000 lakes in this area.  Most of these lakes will connect to some of the most common lakes such as Eagle Lake, Lake of the Woods, Hawk Lake, and Canyon Lake which are the larger boat size lakes with lodges and fly out outfitters.

For the last few weeks, I have been tying flies for smallmouth and larger flies for the Northern Pike and Muskie.  These are some of the flies for the trip based on a patterns developed in our last trips to Canada and Wisconsin.  Also, I have used the intruder style for steelhead and created some muskie type articulated flies along that pattern style.  Some of the smallmouth flies include a Hex pattern , bass poppers and a weedless frog.

I am hoping that these flies will bring a big one to the tube as in the Wisconsin muskie.  With three months to go we are planning our routes and narrowing down our lakes to fish.

A New Years Winter Day start on the DH 'Hooch"

January 6, 2012

It was a great winter day to be fishing on the Hooch Saturday.  The overcast skies and warm temperatures had fishing and boating fever in full swing.  The fish were a little more active throughout the day and the bugs continue to hatch.

Today, the midges were the bug of the day.  Most of us do not like to fish the tiny flies but there are rich rewards to be had if one is patient.  Big fish like to sip midges.

The evening hours provided some great fishing for those who stayed on the river till dark.  From the twilight hours till dark the fish were rising to these smaller than life flies. 

We were using 22-24 small midge emerger trailing our indicator fly, a 20 parachute adams. So as the day starts to end, tie on a midge and enjoy the reward.

This is a shot of the  22 Midge

Look for the fly on the side of the fish jaw

Nice 17"-18" rainbow on the 5wt.- 7'6" cane rod.