Tenkara Fishing the Smokies

[whiskey]

I took this week off work and decided to spend my vacation in the Smokies, backpacking and fishing. I am sworn to secrecy on the backcountry fishing spots, but I also fished the middle prong of The Little Pigeon and the Pigeon below Big Creek with some success. The best fun was catching brookies in the head waters of the backcountry streams. I got into Tenkara fishing last year. It's basically a fixed line, ultralight fly fishing that works well with backpacking. I took zero fish pic due to my fear of dropping my phone in the river, but I did take some scenery shots. Weather was great and I had a wonderful 6 days in the mountains.









I spent a few night backcountry and a few front country. All were great in the hammock.

Edited August 7, 2015 by whiskey

[MacGyver]

Nice! I've really been wanting to try a Tenkara setup.

[whiskey]

Nice! I've really been wanting to try a Tenkara setup.

I don't mind sending you mine to try out. It doesn't take much practice to learn to cast. The learning curve for me is in understating trout's feeding behavior and learning the good water from the time wasted water.

The fly fishing shop in West End, across from Hatti B's carries some Tenkara rods and lines. I ordered mine online, then saw them in that shop.

[Clod Stomper]

Tsk tsk. Tent off the tent pad. And apparently off the ground too.

Did you go up Jake's Creek?

[MacGyver]

I don't mind sending you mine to try out. It doesn't take much practice to learn to cast. The learning curve for me is in understating trout's feeding behavior and learning the good water from the time wasted water.

The fly fishing shop in West End, across from Hatti B's carries some Tenkara rods and lines. I ordered mine online, then saw them in that shop.

I'd love to get some of us middle Tennessee guys together for some fishing one day.

As a general rule my enthusiasm far exceeds my expertise. That said it would be fun to get a bunch of us out.

[Erik88]

God I'm glad to be back. TN is so beautiful.

[whiskey]

Tsk tsk. Tent off the tent pad. And apparently off the ground too.

Did you go up Jake's Creek?

Did not make it to Jakes Creek. Maybe next time. It's on my list.

These new floating tents sleep so well . :)

[RED333]

Well call me a Red Neck, a Tenkara setup is a cane pole from my youth.(ya I had to google it to find out LOL)

Great looking fun you had whiskey, I used to fly fish years ago.

[whiskey]

I fished a cane pole as a kid too. Probably why I love Tenkara. :)

[CJDore]

I heard that those Tennkara rods were easy to travel with and were great to fish with.

[JPS]

I just ordered a $7 Tenkara rod from Amazon, and it's the coolest thing!  About a foot long and telescopes out to 8-9 feet.  I have a furled line/leader coming from Ebay, and with a few flies I tied years ago, I'll be set to try out Tenkara for less than $20. 

 

I went ahead and ordered another of these rods - It'll go in my bug-out bag.

Edited August 10, 2015 by JPS

[whiskey]

I just ordered a $7 Tenkara rod from Amazon, and it's the coolest thing! About a foot long and telescopes out to 8-9 feet. I have a furled line/leader coming from Ebay, and with a few flies I tied years ago, I'll be set to try out Tenkara for less than $20.

I went ahead and ordered another of these rods - It'll go in my bug-out bag.

Awesome. Let us know how you like it.

[CJDore]

I met a guy with Tennkara rod and he said with his own flies and light line, he catches something about every cast out. Sounded like a blast.

[Will Carry]

I have kayaked the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon from Ramsey's Cascades down. I have also kayaked Big Creek. I was in an eddy on Big Creek once and a trout jumped out of the water, bounced off my spray skirt and back into the creek. Those are some beautiful places.

[runco]

I have family and use to own a home in Pittman Center, which the entrance of the Greenbrier cove is where the middle prong is located.  Great area, lots of family memories there.