Trout fishing reliance 2/15

[ranman]

I didn't feel like hooking up the boat so I decided to go to reliance and throw some corn for a couple of hours yesterday.
I started at the 411 bridge and worked my way up the river at every pull-off where I've caught fish before without any luckemoConfused So I decided to drive up to the powerhouse boat ramp to my "never fail to catch at least one" fishing hole.Well as you can guess I didn't even get a bite! After about three thousand and seventy two casts I decided today is just not my day(or that sm7mag had caught them all this weekend)so as I was walking back to my jeep a guy pulls in the parking lot with a drift boat.Now I'm not the most talkative guy in the world and I'm sure not one to strike-up a conversation with someone out of the blue but I had thought about buying a drift boat at one time and thought I'd talk to this gentleman about his.Well it turns out he was up there alone as his fishing buddy couldn't make it for some reason.So he invited me to go with him for a few hours!Now I can't explain to you how excited I was to be able to drift that river!I have stood on those banks for years just dreaming of fishing some of those holes that you can't get to even when the water is down.
I'm not gonna lie and say we set the world on fire, but we did catch ten trout (nine rainbows 1 brown) within just a few hours.My new friend Jim Gatlin caught his on a black roostertail and a small rapala,while I got mine on berkley earthworm and corn fished along the bottom.
It was an unexpected surprise and a blessing to meet such a cool guy and make a new fishing buddy!(He told me he would check out the forum soon)so be sure to welcome him!And if you're shy like me,break out of your shell sometime and talk to people cuz you never know,You just might get to fish places you've only dreamed of! Thanks again Jim!

 

[Fishheadspin]

i know Jim , very nice guy and a good trout fisherman.

 

[polo-dog]

ranman, that is great! I've got a couple of buddies that have boats that go up to the Hiwassee about once or twice a week and say that they just love it. I meet some of the best guys fishing too. I just can't tell you how many wonderful people that I have met on the water or at ramps, etc. I'm always a little reluctant to have new guys in my boat but I need to get over that. Sometimes I have been tempted to pick up guys that are fishing at Wolftever Bridge as I go by there frequently when I'm out and most of the fishing that I do is by myself because I go when I can and when an hour or two pops up free, I go. It's hard to find buddies that flexible and I always have a better time fishing when there is someone with me. If there is anyone in the Harrison area that can be free on the spur of the moment let me know. I have called 2jigs and Biofisher a couple of times and they have called me but it hasn't worked out 50% of the time but it is fun to get out there and go for it. Cell phones are a fisherman's dream I think, I have been out, gotten a call and picked up fishermen at the dock more than once and Jmax picked me up once like that too once. Send me a PM if you might be available to go at the last minute sometime. If you are a neat freak, you may want to reconsider as sometimes the buckets, fish slime, cast nets, dip net, poles, tackleboxes, camera, etc, etc, etc, sort of get in the way but I'm working on it.

 

[ranman]

I'm the same way Polo! My work is so feast or famine I usually can't find anyone to go with me on such short notice .But really I enjoy being by myself alot of the time also.Sometimes it's nice to just get out there and be alone in God's country and just enjoy the peace and quiet.My mother always told me that I was my own best company and most of the time it's true.I remember being a little kid in my room just playing alone and being perfectly happy!Some of us are strange that way.But I do enjoy a buddy to talk to every now and then,also I seem to fish harder and learn more.

 

[fisherpal2k]

ranman sounds like you had a really good time!. Glad you got to drift the Hiawassee. It is really a great river. I live just a couple a miles on up 411 from the river. Haven't got to fish much there this year. I usually fish it pretty hard this time of year. Seems like it is better without the snakes. Last year I got on a couple of really big snakes on the north side going up past the campgrounds. Just be careful and wear a life jacket. The water looks good but it can take ya fer a bad ride too.

 

[ranman]

would you believe I even had my SOSpenders in my jeep that day!I love those things!