What more could you ask for–beautiful weather, hardly any wind, lake full of eager–and I mean jumping, cavorting eager–fish, a light 7ft rod, 2wt line, rubber spider, Tellico nymph. It was the first time out for my newest reel, a gorgeous little Hardy Tealweight II, and it did just what it was supposed to do–hold extra line and look great hanging on the rod. I lost count of the fat, sassy bluegills I caught, and I didn’t even raid the beds. Now I have to go mow the lawn before it rains–boohoo!
Great post, Cross Creek. It’s hard to beat bluegills when they are really on. Glad you had a good morning.
Hi cross creek,
Glad to hear of a good day of fishing.
Have you ever fished Lake Julia in the middle of DuPont State Forest near Brevard? The lake is full of large bluegills and LM bass up to about 14". No one fishes this lake because it is about 1 1/2 miles from the trailhead. lake is about 100 acres in size, so a boat makes it easier to fish, but there is still plenty of water reachable from the shore.
I made a dolly for my canoe so I could roll it in there. Even on a Saturday in the spring, summer or fall you can be the only one on the lake.
Bryan
I got back out today and had similar luck. Eventually, I was unable to keep a baby bluegill from hooking himself, and a cruising trash fish (bass) tried to eat the little feller. I was able to snatch the purty little thing out of the jaws of death at the last instant–might just as well let the bass eat brookies! Seriously, that would have been one hell of a fight on the little 2wt I was fishing–I almost considered trying to feed my fish to him, but it is technically illegal, and unhooking my fish with his head lodged in a bass’ craw would be problematic.
Bryan, thanks for the tip on Lake Julia. It sounds great for some time when I can sneak away during the week (few others in the park, wife at work. I don’t have a canoe (ought to get one). That sounds like a long portage–what’s the trail like?
-Art
Hey Cross Creek,
That Asheville area reminds me of some great fishing times at Lake Lure a “few” years ago. Sounds like you appreciate where you live.
Mark
I’d rather be in Wyoming!
Art,
The easiest way to get to Lake Julia is from the south side of the forest at the parking area on Reasonover Road. From there you take Conservation Road, a gated forest road, to the old landing strip. This about a mile of a very good, rolling, gravel road. At the landing strip you turn right on Camp Summit Road going about a half mile downhill to the lake.
You can download a map of the forest at [url=http://www.dupontforest.com:b2a20]www.dupontforest.com[/url:b2a20] or pick up a nice waterproof edition at Backcountry Outdoors or another outdoor outfitter.
Next time I make a trip there I will drop you a line to see if you want to go.
Bryan