Lonnie
05-07-2004, 10:37 PM
Well I'm sitting here in North Carolina. I've got a few day off before I start the new job with the state (bye bye surfing UTOF during that daytime...)
Anyway, I know reports are un-cool here but what the hay, I'm 2000 miles away and nobody else from this site but me is going to fish this place. North Harper Creek. Harper creek runs off the eastern slope of Grandfather mountain (elev. 5700). Grandfather is designated as a World Biosphere reserve for the numerous rare and endangered species that live in it's fog shrowded heights. Harper creeks flows about 6 or 7 miles from it's headwaters to where it flows into Wilson's Creek a nationally designated Wild and Scenic River. It's about an hour drive from my parents house the last 7 or 8 miles on 1 lane dirt road. 30-40 minutes of hiking later, you're there.
One phase can be used to describe Harpers, pocket water. Gin clear pocket water. I took my polorized shades off about 1/2 through the day. Didn't need em. I could see the fish dart over an take my fly from 20' away. It was a beautiful day, blue sky, no clouds, perfect temps. The trees here are SOOOO green. The newly sprouted leaves are nice and tender. Not like July and August when they will be tough and leathery. The mountain laurel was budding and the rhododendrons were nice and green.
When we got to the parking area a nice gentleman from Charlotte pulled in behind us. We exchanged plans. We would fish up from where the trail met the stream he would head down.
It had been 4 or 5 years since I've been in here. This is where I learned to fish. It's my favorite stream in the whole world, bar none. I've fish all over and this is the stream that I compare them all to. There aren't many big fish, but I don't really care. 7" rainbows rule the day. About 75% of the fish are rainbows and 25% browns. There are brookies but they are few and far between.
I walked up on some guys backpacking and said hello. One of the guys said he'd be out for about an hour and caught 1 or 2. 1 or 2, curious....
About about 2 minutes, a little 6" brownie comes to the had. 3 pools up, a little rainbow. All told I probably caught 15-20 fish in three hours. Not bad. I missed a ton more. Fly selection isn't really a priority here. I'll be home sick for this palace when I get back to UT.
I managed to drop my camera in the creek right after I took the rainbow pic. I had planned to take a ton, but these two will have to do. I hope everyone likes them...
Anyway, I know reports are un-cool here but what the hay, I'm 2000 miles away and nobody else from this site but me is going to fish this place. North Harper Creek. Harper creek runs off the eastern slope of Grandfather mountain (elev. 5700). Grandfather is designated as a World Biosphere reserve for the numerous rare and endangered species that live in it's fog shrowded heights. Harper creeks flows about 6 or 7 miles from it's headwaters to where it flows into Wilson's Creek a nationally designated Wild and Scenic River. It's about an hour drive from my parents house the last 7 or 8 miles on 1 lane dirt road. 30-40 minutes of hiking later, you're there.
One phase can be used to describe Harpers, pocket water. Gin clear pocket water. I took my polorized shades off about 1/2 through the day. Didn't need em. I could see the fish dart over an take my fly from 20' away. It was a beautiful day, blue sky, no clouds, perfect temps. The trees here are SOOOO green. The newly sprouted leaves are nice and tender. Not like July and August when they will be tough and leathery. The mountain laurel was budding and the rhododendrons were nice and green.
When we got to the parking area a nice gentleman from Charlotte pulled in behind us. We exchanged plans. We would fish up from where the trail met the stream he would head down.
It had been 4 or 5 years since I've been in here. This is where I learned to fish. It's my favorite stream in the whole world, bar none. I've fish all over and this is the stream that I compare them all to. There aren't many big fish, but I don't really care. 7" rainbows rule the day. About 75% of the fish are rainbows and 25% browns. There are brookies but they are few and far between.
I walked up on some guys backpacking and said hello. One of the guys said he'd be out for about an hour and caught 1 or 2. 1 or 2, curious....
About about 2 minutes, a little 6" brownie comes to the had. 3 pools up, a little rainbow. All told I probably caught 15-20 fish in three hours. Not bad. I missed a ton more. Fly selection isn't really a priority here. I'll be home sick for this palace when I get back to UT.
I managed to drop my camera in the creek right after I took the rainbow pic. I had planned to take a ton, but these two will have to do. I hope everyone likes them...