On the second annual classic trails-to-trout trip. Matt Sloan and I were equally unsuccessful at "slayin' 'em." Late last July we ventured into the bowels of Pisgah Forrest to find unpressured trout heaven. We wound up with a great memory, good times by a camp fire, and a few puny trout. Late July and August may be one of the toughest times to trout fish in the south, even above 3,000 feet in elevation. Low, warm water inevitably leads to stressed, spooky fish. With all the rain this summer, water levels are up and water temps are down. I hoped our late July trip would fish more like early June.
We didn't venture as far off the beaten path this time, but the conditions seemed perfect. Good flows, water temps below 60, and we never saw another fisherman on the river or walking by our campsite. Results... dink city. We caught a few tiny rainbows. I hooked and didn't land one MONSTER of a 12 incher. He did have a super wide red strip on his side though. Beautiful.
I've officially blamed the poor fishing on the full moon. "Dem fishes had full bellies from the nocturnal night light of Mr. MoonFace and the Stone Fly Buffet," I told myself and Matt. Speculation (However, let it be known, if I ever have a bluegrass band, we will be called Mr. MoonFace and the Stonfely Buffet). It was pretty scenery, better company, and a great time in the woods. The fishing was marginal. North Carolina dog days just seem tough on trout.
However, the fishing is about to be on fire out West (no morbid wildfire pun intended). Hopper time.
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| August Rainbow on the Fraser River in Colorado |
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