Tellico River Run
We made a last minute call to join our neighbors and another couple for a run to Tellico this weekend. It was billed as a camping trip with trout fishing included, so I was obviously for that. We packed last minute Thursday night to leave after work on Friday which found us on the road sometime after 6pm. Drizzling rain and fading daylight made setup a little more urgent and interesting, but it was all good. For sure there were almost no empty campsites as word has spread on the heavy stocking and decent fishing conditions up there right now.
I noticed lots of insect hatches and critters that eat insects scurrying about, so the river seems to be doing well in the summer heat. The fish were all 10 inches or more which was nice to see, in fact, we didn't catch a single small trout at all. I packed UL spinning gear and my fly gear, since I wasn't sure what to expect from the other two guys. I opted to leave my breathable waders at home and take my felt-bottomed sandals instead. It was the right play as my fishing companions ended up being more towards casual fisherman and less trout-professionals.
I suspected as much, thinking they might be the "corn and power bait" types. So I pretty much went with them and never broke out the flies. It was still fun, and we managed to take a dozen or so trout home. I met a guy who was of a more serious fishing mindset and enjoyed some conservation chat by the campfire. He'd moved his truck so we could squeeze in earlier and ended up being a pleasure to visit with. Heavy stocking can attract some less desirable crowds sometimes, so it was nice to see some real outdoorsmen in the mix. Of course the area is beautiful and made it easy to relax in the 10 degree cooler temps with water running in the background at all times. Good trip, and I recommend going after them as soon as you can before the sun heats the streams up too much.
I'd also like to add that I invented a new way to cook hot dogs on open fire. Make a foil pouch and put a few dogs inside. Lay it near or in coals for a fabulous dog cooked evenly through. I felt stupid for not having done that already in life.
