36 Hours in North Carolina

Context: Mrs. RCS was in NYC for the weekend with friends, and the boys were at the in-laws for the weekend.  I had a free weekend.

Action: I called Ringo and said ‘Let’s fish’.  Specifically – let’s do something ‘off the grid’.  We talked the Thursday before and he suggested a couple of options that would ‘push me’ beyond what we’ve done before.  I said bring it.  He said ‘be at the shop by 8 AM’.

Here we go…

SATURDAY

~4:45AM: Truck packed, full tank of gas.  Two Tervis of coffee, a banana and a granola bar.

North of Walhalla, SC…nothing like a South Carolina sunrise.

Heading up the mountain.  Sun is peeking.

You know exactly where I am…

7:35: Pull into Headwaters Outfitters. Wader up and throw my stuff into Ringo’s truck.

We made our way to REDACTED.  Not an easy hike in.  The weather is perfect – chilly, but not a cloud in the sky.  The water is slightly stained, but we can clearly see the bottom.  Which means the wild trout can see us.  We tread lightly.

It didn’t take long to hook the first wild rainbow.  Egg > Duracel set up.  Both got action.  Glad I brought the 4wt H4…these wild fish fight a little differently.  They are mean.

Continuing up the REDACTED.

No cell phone coverage.  At all.

Pure.

This has to be what Heaven looks like.

Switched over to the Emerger pack.  Absolutely love it.  All of the weight is on my shoulders vs. my back.  Makes a big difference.  I beat it up pretty good…I can already tell the patina is going to be outstanding.

Ringo knows what’s up.

We took a 45-minute lunch break and headed to a creek.  Very technical fishing.  Switched to the 3wt H3.  Short flips.  Quick hits.  Mean, picky fish…

…but we found ’em.

There’s a lot of Heaven up here.

We got off the water at 5:30.  That’s 10.5 hours of fishing with a 45-minute break.  Everything hurt.  Knees, back, shoulders, hands…but I didn’t feel anything.

My starvation was real.  I stopped into Mica’s in Sapphire for something hearty…  This is after a big wedge salad and Heineken #1.  Big ‘ole ribeye, loaded mashed potatoes, and broccoli.  And a second Heineken.

Checked into the Brook Trout Inn at 7:30, unloaded, hung up my waders, and took the hottest shower I could muster.  I don’t think I moved for 10 minutes.  Drank a big bottle of water, took two extra-strength Tylenol, and turned on Masters highlights.  I don’t remember seeing any golf.

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SUNDAY:

Up at 6, felt like a new man.

Got dressed, waders on, boots on, re-tied the flies, packed up, and headed over to the East Fork.  I was the first truck there…

Got in and quickly went through my spots…the water was up a bit, but still found a few.

Including this bad brookie.

Fished until ~10, stopped by Headwaters to change and say hello / goodbye to the crew.

Back to Atlanta to get the boys and a Sunday afternoon full of Masters.