We backpacked up the Grassy Gap Fire Road to where Cove Creek and Basin Creek converge. This area is a large, flat, wooded spot adjacent to where Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail and Basin Creek Trail join Grassy Gap Fire road. Primitive campsites are provided here, the only camping area allowed in the park. Recently added amenities at each camp site include metal lantern hanger poles, fire pit rings with cooking grates and metal bear proof food boxes.
Chip brought his usual collection of delicious, healthy, homemade dried foods. I brought a wood fired cooking stove that I invented several years ago. It includes a firebox with a strong draft, a chimney and a wind screen for the pot. It works astoundingly well, burning only a handful of finger sized wood chips and heating a pint of water to boiling in a couple minutes.
The main task was fly fishing for trout. To accommodate that schedule, we stayed in the same camp site for two nights and fished up and down Basin Creek Saturday morning and afternoon. Both Chip and Robbie brought Japanese Tenkara fly fishing equipment. This outfit is a design based on the Oriental traditions of simplicity and efficiency. The rod is about as light as a soda straw and when stored is as long as chop sticks. Then it extends out to 8 feet. There is no reel or eye loops. The thin fly line ties to the end of the rod, like old fashioned southern can pole fishing. The fly line and tippet are shorter than standard fly fishing. The tiny flies are specific Tenkara flies, based on a few classical designs, not attempting to match the hatch.
I did not take my fishing gear, since the regulations there limit tackle to barbless single hook flies, which I do not own. Both Chip and Robbie kindly insisted that I take turns borrowing their equipment. We all caught one or two 4 inch to 6 inch rainbow trout. It was a great, relaxing outdoor trip with a lot of fresh air and friendly camaraderie.
