This week the Tuckasegee River (the Tuck) rewarded our angling efforts with a couple of humongous brown trout, each measuring 23 inches! We caught the first fish on a frigid early-morning float in Bryson City where evening lows left frost-covered banks. Upstream in Dillsboro, another brown with a 12-inch girth struck later that afternoon. The only item on the menu was Girdle Bugs which also tempted scores of rainbows over 13 inches. Trout thrive in gelid water, so we’ve got to face the wintery weather and meet these fish in their abode!
Fallen leaves made the squirrels much easier to spot in the barren woods. While roaming U. S. Forest Service game lands, Thunder, our reserve world champion Mountain Cur, treed 9 of these critters, and we bagged 5 hearty ones. Better visibility improved our shooting, and Thunder—always the affable host—seemed proud to accompany us!
This weekend pack a rain jacket if you plan to hit the water or woods. We’re expecting afternoon highs in the low- to mid-sixties, and for trout fishing, we’d suggest sticking with Girdle Bugs, eggs and streamers.
Have wonderful Thanksgivings!
