The first day of fishing we got a late start and didn't catch anything, there didn't seem to be any hatches coming off the water with the overcast so we switched from dries to nymphs, which I kept snapping off the light tippets while casting.
I did manage to get these Hippy type shots the first day
As well as this Fishboy "action" shot
The next morning we got up early and returned to a different section of the river we had scouted the evening before. As the sun came up there was a hatch of light colored flies coming off the river as well as thousands of small crane flies on the rocks. I didn't have anything to match the mayflies so after a while I switched to a size 14 dry that I had tied which was dark gray and brown similar to the crane flies. I started getting rises and strikes, finally after about 30 minutes I managed to set the hook on this little Rainbow. I know its not much of a fish but its the first one on a dry fly that I tied, for me it was great. I made sure my hands were wet and he was only out of the water for a few seconds. I was able to watch him swim away in the clear water
Shortly after that the hatch died off and the fish quit feeding, nymphs didn't produce either but neither of us have much experience fishing them. Fishboy did however come across a "greenback" hatch. He thought he saw some trash in the water. Thinking he would do his good deed and thus aquire good fishing karma, he went to pick it up and realized it looked like a dollar bill, when he picked it up it was a $50. We both spent some time checking the river for more "trash" but that was all we found.
The third day was looking a little rainy so we went over to Cataloochee and played tag with some small trout in the creeks there but didn't manage any hook-ups. For anyone who has not been there Cataloochee is gorgeous. I like Cades Cove but Cataloochee is my favorite. Part of it is the remoteness. There is no paved road into it so it doesn't see nearly the traffic Cades does, you don't need four wheel drive but new shocks and brakes are a good idea. Once you are in the Cove there is a nice paved road, several small creeks, some old homes, barns, a school and a church, a campground and restrooms. This where the elk have been re-introduced (didn't see any this time but saw several last trip).
Afterward we checked out the Bass Pro Shop built at Sevierville since our last trip
The morning after our last fishing day looking West from where we stayed, still beautiful even when its misty
A final Hippy shot on the way home, Mingo Falls in Cherokee
All in all it was a great time. No work, spent time fishing with my son and time just walking around with my wife while she takes pictures. We are planning a return trip in June, already working on flies to take for the hatches then
