Smokemont Campground GSMNP (Sept. 8-11)

Monday - It was a pleasant 89 mile trip here and we arrived and got set up around noon. We had lunch and talked to our neighbors Bill & Jean from Westminister, SC. Joan watched John fish the river right behind our MH for about an hour. He caught a small trout and lost another. We were excited to discover there are at least a few fish here in the campground. John used a hopper with a greenie weenie dropper. Joan spotted a huge hornets nest hanging from a tree. We were glad we didn't disturb it, since it was very active. We reported it to the rangers. 
Tuesday - It cooled off nicely in the night, making sleeping pleasant. We made our coffee, then took our walk along the river, checking out places to fish. After breakfast we donned our wading boots and walked down to where Bradley Fork (the river here in the campground) empties into the Oconalooftee. However, there was already someone fishing there, so we moved upstream a few hundred feet. We each caught one and lost 2 (John) and 3 (Joan). As long as we have action, we're happy. It rained in the afternoon. Supper consisted of chicken and rice that Joan mixes up and John cooks on the cast iron Dutch oven. Delicious!!!! In the evening, we were treated by our neighbors, Bill & Jean, to watermelon and a nice chat. We were joined by other neighbors Harry and Barbara. Harry kept us entertained with his many stories.  
Wednesday - We took our coffee and checked out some places to fish upstream. We found the best places to get to promising holes. Later, when we actually fished them, we were disappointed that we struck out. Joan used the 4wt. while John stuck with the Tenkara. We also tried heavier nymphs and John tried a dry fly, but still nothing. 
Thursday - The weather forecast was for rain all afternoon, through the night, and most of the day on Friday, so we decided to pack up while everything is dry and head home a day early. If the fishing was better, we would have stayed. We fished in the morning from the bridge near our campsite up to the group area, but resulted in Joan getting one strike. The water is very low, a little to warm, and very clear. We had a good drive home and got resettled before the rain came at Trackrock.
Added Comment - We got an e-mail Friday from our friends Bill and Jean who were in the neighboring site, and they told us that it was a good thing that we left early, since they said they had a terrific storm Thursday nite and that a large limb came down on our site. It would have hit the motorhome on the back bedroom and done considerable damage.