What stream would you pick?

Assume for a moment that you don't get to go fishing nearly often enough. A day off is unheard of and when you do get those days off, the honey-do list is way to long to consider going fishing. And then one day as if by magic, the day is here and you can go fishing. There is of course no dilema at all, you are definitely going fishing. However there is one question that you wonder about. Where to go? there are a few choices to chose from, but which one would you choose?

1st, A 2 hour drive to a world class trophy trout stream, where you'll stand a chance to catch a really nice brown or bow. The only drawback is the number of anglers that will be there. You may have to wait on the perfect spot for someone else to finish fishing that spot.

2nd, A small trout stream where you are practically guaranteed complete solitude. The fish are small and perhaps not real plentiful. It's about an hour drive from your home.

3rd, A warm water creek, less than 10 minutes away. It's not a great fishery, and you'll probably see at least one other person fishing or a group of people swimming and normally drunk.

So there are your choices. Which would you choose?

just curious,
hNt

PS, I prefer the second one, though due to time restraints spend more time at the third. :p

The second one. If I have to wait on someone to move, it isn't a perfect spot.
Bear in mind I live in a place where I can fish a #1 stream with #2 crowding, tho, so I may be spoiled.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DG

The second one. If I have to wait on someone to move, it isn't a perfect spot.
Bear in mind I live in a place where I can fish a #1 stream with #2 crowding, tho, so I may be spoiled.

---

Yes you are! :cool:

hNt,

Yes!
Mark

The way my trips go, I would:
Drive like hell to number one, fish until I got totally pissed at my lack of skill and the number of jerks crowding me, then

Hit number two on the way home, just to flush the stink of impolite people and poor skills...probably more likely to pick up a few fish there once I settled down, too.

Once I get home, if time still remained in the day, I would get the kids and head over to the warmwater with some bait and enjoy my 5 year old daughter catching little dinky bluegills you can't eat because of all the crap in the water...but they are still fun to catch.

#2, that's why I fish.

I'm pretty much with Maodiver. I would get up extremely early to get to #1 and get my perfect spot or spend the night IF possible, Then as stated #2 then #3 with my Granddaughter

I gotta agree with dub, must be nice to be so spoiled dg. ;)

If those were the only choices, I might go take a golf lesson or something. Maybe sporting clays.

Hung, I would like to point out that Dub and I fish some of the same waters, so he is just as spoiled as me, possibly more so.

I still, in all honesty, prefer the second situation. I can always find a place to dredge up a "trophy" trout with a little work, but fishing my way up a mountain stream with a short rod and a dry fly is hard to beat.

If it's a trophy stream where I had to pay, I wouldn't. I would take the second for sure. Remember it's fishin and enjoying the outdoors.

I would call my self spoiled, 15 minutes from the White River and 20 minutes from the Norfork river here in Mountain Home Arkansas.
I dislike driving to the state park because it's about 40 minutes to drive, put on the waders and walk down the stairs to fish.
A little over a week ago I fished the Norfork for 1 hour using a size 16 soft hackle. Caught nine Rainbow and came home because it got a little windy.

I'm so stupid. I left off the best choice :( at least it's my best choice. I can get up early, drive a couple of hours, (fighting traffic the whole way) and go fish with Jack and Warren. Which is a trip wa y over due in my book :)

#2 without a doubt!

TT.

"Assume for a moment that you don't get to go fishing nearly often enough. A day off is unheard of and when you do get those days off, the honey-do list is way to long to consider going fishing. "

Without totally abandoning our responsibilities I think a lot of us have to re-evaluate our priorities (it takes some health issues to bring this home). My newfie neighbour puts it very succinctly- Your a long time dead boy- or - Your a long time staring at the lid- Not wanting to put a downer on the thread but grab your rod and your kids and go to number 2 to make some memories.

You can always put headlights on the lawnmower and cut the grass at night. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hungNtree

I'm so stupid. I left off the best choice :( at least it's my best choice. I can get up early, drive a couple of hours, (fighting traffic the whole way) and go fish with Jack and Warren. Which is a trip wa y over due in my book :)

---

HNT, be aware that fishing the Duck and Elk isn't much of an option until the quit spilling so much water.

Ed

Number two, hands down.

#2....absolutely!

For years I've had a real-life combination of the worst traits of 1 & 2; a small stream with mostly small fish (although there are a few decent trout in there) that's very crowded on weekends and holidays. I was lucky in being able to modify my work schedule to fish it mid-week and avoid the zoo. Best thing about it is that, except for the depths of winter, I can usually find a fish or two looking up; don't think I've fished anything except dries and maybe the odd soft-hackle in 15 years.

Regards,
Scott

I hate to say it, but too many home projects with too little leisure time, along with the # 1 stream dilemma, are some of the major reasons that a lot of folks give up on fly fishing. Just something to think about. (I think about it....)

Anyway, I'd also pick # 2.

On a side note, maybe explore # 1 to see if there is any water that is reasonably accessible that might be overlooked by the big crowds for one reason or another. Maybe outside the "trophy" area. Sometimes the fish are smaller, but still possibly better fishing than average, with the occasional big fish perhaps?

I agree that #2 sounds like the clear choice among those. #1 sounds like the Davidson in NC.

#2 Knowing that in there is a trophy fish somewhere, if not by standards but the size of the water. that to me is the challenge... and where I live, there is alot of water that folks walk around saying, "yep thats been fished out", I'v learned also those words make me wanna go see... He's in there...;-)

I choose what is behind door two

#2 is a destination trip for me. I like small streams a lot. I target brookies more often than not that are in flows that you can sometimes jump across. Never see another person. Does it get better? I avoid people at all costs. Though you may want to give that warmwater stream a shot early in the day as time permits before the drunk hatch picks up

If that's my only choices, then #2.

But I actually have another choice....#4

#4: Go out behind the house, step in the stream and start fishing....

Jason;
The Duck has been stocked every month since Oct. When it becomes wadeable again it should be great fishing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack Hise

Jason;
The Duck has been stocked every month since Oct. When it becomes wadeable again it should be great fishing.

---

Jack,
Let me know as soon as it's wadeable, I'll see if I can get a day off and we'll go chase some trout. I hope everyone notices that I said "chase " not catch :p

Jason

Jason,
Remember that Jack doesn't chase trout(s) on the Duck, he herds them.

Ed

VP, Middle Tennessee Chapter of the CCU

#2 with the possibility of a big trout sprinkled in.

#2 for me,I like quiet