Trek Dirty to Me: 60 days until I walk up the East Coast and I've been thinking about fishing along the Appalachian Trail.

As I’m sure I have mentioned before, I spent the first half of my life camping, hiking and backpacking either with the Scouts or with my family. Our family camping was by no means typical. Our time in the wild of the mountains near the Continental Divide increased from days to weeks to months as I grew older. There were many side trips. Car camping as a child. Many wonderful memories until shortly before I headed off to University.

One thing that was always synonymous with our outdoor family adventures and months in the mountains and canyons of Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California was fishing. Sure I learned to fish before I can quite literally remember, but fishing for trout was something I remember vividly. First with worms, then spinners, then a little bit of fly fishing, and finally with my bare hands when I was bored. For real.

One thing that I have toyed with in this three trail adventure over the next three years, is taking up fishing again. Starting with the Appalachian Trail will be a unique challenge because it represents a completely new area for me in which to fish. I have done some research on the fishing opportunities along the way as well as equipment that works with my lighter and more minimalist version of backpacking.

I would love comments and feedback on where and when to start fishing along the AT. I have heard mixed messages on these points, but typically it is suggested that fishing improves as you head north, once you clear the Smokies (though others have said to not even bother until you reach the halfway point of Harper’s Ferry.

The rig that I am considering is a very simple, minimalist system that has been in use in Japan for hundreds of years, but is still fairly new in the United States - Tenkara fishing. Essentially, it is a form of fly fishing with a fixed line and a collapsible pole. I’ve had my eye on this fishing method for almost a year, and the whole system weighs a few ounces. If anybody has experience with or suggestions regarding this form of fishing, please let me know! Curious about Tenkara? I posted a little video from YouTube at the end of this post.

As a responsible outdoorsman, I fully intend to procure licenses wherever I decide to drop a line, but any hints or suggestions on that process would be welcome as well.

-AJ

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