I just finished reading Little River Outfitter's Fishing Report written daily by Byron Begley. Byron began discussing about the new Brook Trout restoration project on Lynn Camp Prong in the Smokies. This definitely got my attention. He says fish biologists and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Commission will all work together to release thousands of wild Brook Trout into Lynn Camp. Biologists will use electroshocking equipment to catch the Brookies out of adjacent park streams. A hatchery truck will then take them to Lynn Camp Prong, where they will be released. Byron mentioned that even though Lynn Camp is a very small stream, 3,000 fish per mile is a real possibility. Of course, the trout being put into the stream are small, so more room is available.

There aren't any strongholds of Specs here in NC. As a matter of fact, the only strongholds of the Brook Trout are way up in the upstate of New York and up into Maine. Here in the Tar Heel State, there are a few streams that have a moderate to healthy population of Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, but again, strongholds are not immanent.

All and all this is a great project for anglers in the park. As long as the overly competitive Rainbow Trout and/or the Cannibalistic Brown Trout are absent from the stream, the Brook Trout will likely survive. All other fish were taken out of the stream above the falls on Lynn Camp last Fall. Hopefully the stream will be posted as Catch and Release Fly Fish Only, as to where the fishery will last. Lynn Camp Prong should be open again for anglers in a few years (as much as 5).

Click here to read the full post at Little River Outfitters.com