Michaux State Forest Trout Fishing

[chrisdetweiler]

My wife had to work today, so I spent the morning with my 21 month old daughter. Ran some errands, went to the playground, even took a walk along the Yellow Breeches Creek. My wife got home around noon, so I decided to sneak out for a few hours and fish a stream in Michaux State Forest. I used my newest fly rod, a 6 foot, 4 weight bamboo rod. Just a great rod for these little mountain streams. It weighs next to nothing and casts like a dream. I hit the water at 130 PM. Used two flies all day, both #14 elk hair caddis; one black, one yellow. Caught 6 wild brown trout and one brookie. Hooked and lost two nice browns. The second was on my last cast of the day. I went to a pool where I missed a very nice fish last year. As soon as I hooked this fish, I knew it was the biggest fish of the day. After fighting it for a few seconds, it shot out of the water and threw the hook. Probably a 12+ inch fish, which is big for this little stream. Weather was perfect; sunny, mid 80s, nice breeze. Called it a day at 330 PM. Made it home in time to mow the lawn before going out to dinner with my wife. It was a good day.

[Bonefish79]

Good looking rig, love the Flyweight reel. Who built the rod?

[chrisdetweiler]

Good looking rig, love the Flyweight reel. Who built the rod?

Bill Taylor in Boiling Springs. I've know him for a number of years and had always wanted one of his rods. Our local TU chapter auctioned off a custom built rod a few years back and I won. Got it at a good price too. Bill built me a 7.5 foot 4 weight, but I took the rod before he had a chance to make me the second tip. Long story short, we were never able to get together to have that second tip built. I called him this Spring to coordinate dropping off the rod and he offered me this little 6 foot rod (w/ 2 tips) in lie of a second rod tip for the 7.5 foot rod! Oh, and I kept the 7.5 rod as well. He knows I love these tiny little mountain streams and thought the 6 foot rod would be perfect. It was in mint condition. Not a bad deal, huh?

[Marcel_Karssies]

What happened to the brookies ? none of them in that stream.

I can see why you got that 6 ft. rod.
Have been pondering about getting a bamboo rod in that range but
still not ready for it.

Saw that Orvis had a trout bum 6'6" on sale so I bought that one.
Also a 4-weight as I believe it is the most versatile lineweight to have.
You can toss anything from dries to small streamers with it.

[chrisdetweiler]

What happened to the brookies ? none of them in that stream.

I can see why you got that 6 ft. rod.
Have been pondering about getting a bamboo rod in that range but
still not ready for it.

Saw that Orvis had a trout bum 6'6" on sale so I bought that one.
Also a 4-weight as I believe it is the most versatile lineweight to have.
You can toss anything from dries to small streamers with it.

I catch mostly browns in this stretch. Closer to the headwaters, brookies become more and more prominent. I like fishing streams that have wild brookies and browns. The biggest wild brook trout I've ever caught in Michaux was 11 inches and most are probably 5-7 inches. Browns 10-12 inches are fairly common, with some bigger fish on occcasion.

I have a 7' 4 weight orvis trout bum. Great rod.

[Bonefish79]

I love the little rods, definitely a niche item with so many people buying 9' light line rods now. I've got an ancient 5'/ 5wt Mitey Mite paired with one of the upside down CFO's that I fish as often as I can, pure pleasure on tight streams. So, where'd you get the Flyweight? That's a keeper too.

[chrisdetweiler]

I love the little rods, definitely a niche item with so many people buying 9' light line rods now. I've got an ancient 5'/ 5wt Mitey Mite paired with one of the upside down CFO's that I fish as often as I can, pure pleasure on tight streams. So, where'd you get the Flyweight? That's a keeper too.

Is the mitey mite a glass rod? My buddy just a bought a hardy 6' glass rod. Great on these streams. My wife's uncle gave me the flyweight rod. He bought it in the 60's and sat it on a shelf, I was the first one to ever use it.

[Bonefish79]

Family heirlooms are neat, I've got a few and I think about the person I got them from every time I fish them. The Mitey Mite is bamboo, got it from Orvis back in the early 70's, weighs in at all of 1 1/2 ounces. Yeah, glass is nice, I've gone back to it for most of my fresh water fishing, just a nice feel to it. Your buddy has a nice treasure there.

[CGCHRIS]

Nice report and pics. Thank you!

[Hillbilly Boater]

Chris, Sweet report. Those brookies and brown are a lot of fun on a light rod. I've gone one step further with an Orvis 2 wt 7'9'' Ultra Fine with a Hardy reel to match. It actually allows a 5" trout to fight, but that bamboo rod sure looks really fine.