Southern Appalachia Trip

[WestCentralFisher]

It looks like you found some beautiful places, some adventure, and beautiful, wild fish. I'd call that a success.

Compared to fishing equivalent mountain creeks in the Rocky Mountain West, I find back east there is a much, much higher amount of exploration and frustration/failure required to find the gems. Between warmer summer water temps, higher pressure, etc, there is just a lot more water that looks fishy than what actually fishes well. And a lot of places that are only good for a few months out of the year. But when you find those rare creeks that defy gravity so to speak, it's all worth it. 

[Devan S.]

You guys are right. I think it was just one of those trips I was a bit too aggressive on mentally. I did have fun and saw some cool spots, some waterfalls, put some miles on my feet and caught some fish. 

What's next happened today @Johnsfolly. Mississippi stocked lake Lamar Bruce Tuesday. Would have worked perfectly if I hadn't bailed early to swing back through on my way home.  

We conned Mimi into babysitting overnight and the wife and I drove over last night and fished this morning and drove back home today. She got BBQ x2 and I got to fish and we got about 14 hours in the car together without kids. 

Mississippi Facebook post announcing they stocked had some negativity about stocking trout vs. other species and lakes. However Lake Lamar Bruce sets up really nicely for this. Its a nice little park, nice docks, and great bank access like you can see behind me. They actually heavily stock a very small pond just off the main lake about 2 acres with 1,075 fish. Its littered up pretty good now, you can see the line all over the dock in the picture, hooks, and power bait containers left behind. Really a shame for no longer than its been stocked it sure shows some use but it has potential for something that isn't readily prevalent in this area Sipsey Fork is a couple hours further East and you saw my access issues plus the fish size. 

We got there early. Fish were actively jumping and splashing. I threw a white zig jig and caught 7 or 8 in about 20 minutes and we headed back west. 

It looks like Louisiana doesn't stock the ponds in the northern part of the state along I-20 until late in January. Pending the weather, cows, and family that will be my next trip outside of the 4 state area and will likely swing through Broken Bow to check off Oklahoma in the same trip. 

 

[Ham]

Man, I joust with a LOT of windmills so I won’t nit pick your thing. Keep on keeping on. I never bothered to fish the trout in Louisiana nor Mississippi. You’re way ahead of me there.

i did get some in North Carolina though. 

[Johnsfolly]

@Devan S. Congrats on the MS trout!

I will likely be in OK a couple of times early next year. I will be in Stillwater. At least one of those trips I will try for an OK stocker.