Month: August 2022

Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing

Posted on | by Bandera Admin

Whether you’re an avid fly fisher or a beginner, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the summer’s ultimate destination for fly fishing – and it’s only a short drive away. With beautiful streams that are plentiful with trout and other exciting catches, you can take your next fishing trip a bit closer to home. Below, we’re sharing some information to help your Great Smoky Mountains fly fishing experience be both a successful and fun one.

The Catches  

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, and especially trout. Its native Appalachian book trout is merely one popular species that attracts fly fishers. This is the only native species of trout in the park, as well as in the Southeast, and is often considered the symbol of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s fish.

Wild, stream-bred rainbow and brown trout are another thriving species in the park’s streams and are often the most sought after. The rainbow trout specifically is the most common fish in the park, and can be found in cool, fast-flowing water of almost all the area’s mountain freestone streams. On the other hand, brown trout are said to be the toughest to catch and are typically the largest.  

Speaking of big catches, you won’t find many trophy trout in the Great Smoky Mountain waters. While there are some large brown trout swimming around, your chances of reeling one in aren’t all that high. This is because small trout are typical of any eastern headwater mountain stream where wild fish run the waters.  

The Best Times to Fish  

Fly fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a year-round activity. There isn’t any time that’s been deemed as the “best.” This means that you can fly fish all summer long and even beyond this season’s end. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is at an advantage in this sense because when other fishing hotspots close for the season, you can usually continue to catch trout in the Smokies. Although, different techniques and strategies are still required depending on the season.  

The Sweet Spots  

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is over 521,000 acres with over 700 miles of streams. With that much land to cover, it can be difficult to know where to start. It’s first important to know that the park’s waters have been divided into 19 major streams or watersheds, along with several minor streams. Each spot is different, and while we won’t cover all of them, here’s some information about a few of the streams you might want to visit.

 

Abrams Creek 

Abrams Creek is often considered to be one of the greatest streams in the park. It’s home to quality fish and has a better water chemistry than other streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Given its location and flow of passage, Abrams Creek’s waters have a higher-than-normal PH level, which means there is more food for the trout, and thus, larger fish. In fact, the rainbow trout in Abrams Creek are as large or larger than any found in the park. You’ll also find the waters to be very clear, making even its higher waters fishable.  

Tremont  

Tremont refers to the Middle Prong of the Little River, which is a small to medium size stream formed by the confluence of two small tributary streams, Thunderhead Prong, and Lynn Camp Prong. This stream is a popular spot because of its easy accessibility. It’s also not especially difficult to fish in Tremont but fly fishing can be tough given overhanging tree limbs. Nonetheless, there are plenty of rainbow trout swimming around the Tremont waters, and you may even be met with a surprise brown trout if you choose to fish in the lower part of the stream.  

Little River 

The East Prong of the Little River is one of the largest streams in the park. It’s a popular and heavily fished location because of its accessibility, but also because it’s known to have some of the largest brown trout in its waters. Rainbow trout are also in abundance at Little River, and brook trout can be found in its uppermost part. Depending on where you are, the difficulty of fishing at Little River ranges from easy to hard, but visitors usually have success.  

 

Little Pigeon River 

The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River is one of the best trout streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You’ll find rainbow trout in its lower and middle sections, as well as brook trout in its uppermost part and some of its tributary streams. This population at Little Pigeon River makes it a prime fishing spot and probably the second most popular in the park.  

 

No matter when or where you choose to fish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can use resources like flyfishingsmokymountains.com to find all the details you need, as well as tips and techniques to help you fly fish like a pro.  

The Garden That Keeps On Growing

Posted on | by Bandera Admin

This summer, we’ve been experiencing some record-breaking heat here in Knoxville. While the high temperatures aren’t unfamiliar to us, they can be a shock to your garden – and as we head deeper into the season, Knoxvillians know the heat won’t be letting up anytime soon. Chances are, you put a lot of work into your garden, and the sweltering climate shouldn’t be a reason to give up on it. To keep your spirits (and plants) from wilting, the following tips will help to make sure your garden thrives through the summer and beyond.

 

Water Wisely 

There are small strategies for watering your garden that can make a world of difference. First, you want to make sure you water your plants early in the morning. Examine them first thing when it’s cooler, and if you noticed any wilting, water those plants deeply. This will encourage roots to grow deeper and get away from the surface of the hot soil.

You should also avoid wetting your plants’ leaves when possible because wet leaves increase the chances of disease. If you use a sprinkler system to water your garden, leaves will obviously get wet, but running your sprinklers in the early morning will give the foliage plenty of time to dry before the sun starts beating. 

Watching your garden for an “indicator” plant throughout the day is another way to ensure you’re watering wisely. Your indicator plant is the first plan to wilt as the soil becomes dry. When its leaves begin to droop, that’s when you’ll know it’s time to water. Healthy plants will recover from wilting once the evening’s cooler air rolls in.

Weed Often

Weeding isn’t a particularly loved part of gardening, but it’s a process of high importance if you want to keep your plants growing strong. Just like your garden’s beauties, weeds drink water, and they will fight with domestic plants for hydration. To ensure they don’t steal any water away, make a habit of checking your garden for weeds while you’re watering in the early morning hours. Doing so will allow you to throw weeds out on a rolling basis before they can begin to spread and cause trouble.

Don’t Skip Mulch

Mulch is a sort of protector for your garden. It provides a barrier between the hot sun and the soil, keeping it cooler and preventing it from rapid drying. Mulch around your garden with grass cuttings, straw, or shredded leaves, but be careful to keep it loose. Laying it on too thick or allowing it to become compacted will get in the way of water reaching the underlying soil. 

Fertilize & Feed

Water isn’t the only component of a healthy plant diet. Actively growing plants need a steady supply of nutrients, which makes fertilizer a key factor too. Soil, water, and air provide plenty of nutrients on their own, but you’ll need to provide the rest. And since not all plants should be fed the same, it’s important to understand the necessary nutrients and amounts of each. Here’s some basic information to start.

Macronutrients

Macronutrients include nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, all which plants need in large amounts. Nitrogen helps to synthesize proteins, chlorophyll, and enzymes, but is often likely to be inadequate in garden soils. Phosphorus promotes flowering and fruiting, strong root growth, and the transfer of energy within the plant. Phosphorus deficiency is rare, and an overdose can be bad news. Finally, potassium helps to regulate the synthesis of proteins and starches that make plants sturdy. It also increases resistance to disease, heat, and cold. 

Secondary Nutrients

Secondary nutrients are less likely to be deficient in most soils, but they’re needed in nearly the same amount as macronutrients. Calcium is one nutrient in this group that’s critical in cell formation and growth. Magnesium is another and is responsible for forming the core of the chlorophyll molecules in the cells of green leaves. The final secondary nutrient is sulfur, which acts with nitrogen in the manufacture of protoplasm for plant cells. 

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are needed in small amounts with excess quantities being potentially toxic. They include zinc, manganese, iron, and for some plants, boron. 

Choosing the right fertilizer for your garden may be easier with the help of a local professional here in Knoxville. There are various plant nurseries and garden centers around who can offer their advice and expertise. Equip them with knowledge of what type of plants and soil you have, as well as any amendments you might currently be using, to allow them to steer you in the right direction.