Backpacking Fishing Adventure

[Curran]

My son and I are thinking about doing something a little different this year and heading out for a backpacking fishing adventure. The general idea is to pick a spot that has the opportunity to hike in, fly fish, and camp within a 4 to 5 hour drive. Parts of the Monongahela National Forest are looking pretty good as are parts of the Allegheny. Anybody put together a trip like this before?

I've been up to the Boundary Waters a few times before and love it. Those trips were more canoeing than hiking, but the camping and fishing are tough to beat. Now that my son is able to pull his own weight and has an interest in doing a trip like this we're going to go for it. Maybe there will be a return to the Boundary waters in a couple years.

 

[MoonLab]

Awesome! Will be following along this thread. I’m wanting to do same. To take my boat out and go find a spot to camp out. Will be bringing my dog with me.

 

[giles]

Boone national? I'm sure you could find a small lake somewhere to hike in to. Ohio is a bit overpopulated for this. I know a few places in Alaska and Idaho

 

[Curran]

I’m with ya on Ohio being too overpopulated. I wish Alaska and Idaho were within a short drive!

 

[5Cent]

I grew up hunting and fishing in the ANF, uncle's cabin is in Cherry Grove. I think you could easily find what you are looking for around the Chapman Dam area, which is the blue body of water just north of Cherry Grove. That would put you in the middle of Tionesta,Tidioute, Warren, and Marienville, with the Allegheny river and reservoir close by.

 

[giles]

I’m with ya on Ohio being too overpopulated. I wish Alaska and Idaho were within a short drive!

Yeah, you aren't alone. Probably why those places are so majestic, hard to get to. It is really hard to "get away" right here.

 

[Fletch]

How about New York state??? Catskill Mountains have some famous trout streams... Do a search for "trout streams in Roscoe, NY" also search "Pepacton Reservoir" located in same area... It's a large body of crystal clear water reaching depts of 180 ft and stretching for miles.... Loaded with brown trout and smallies... Many trout are over 10 lbs... We fished it years ago and it was a blast, caught many trout 8+ lbs..... One day caught a smallie that was over 8 lbs. I was pissed as I thought I had on a 15+ lb. trout... Fish fought like hell... I released it, then someone said it could have been a state record... Fishing is very pristine, row boats only... If interested, PM me and I'll give you more info as along with a NY fishing license you'll need to pick up special permit to fish the reservoir....

 

["J"]

How about New York state??? Catskill Mountains have some famous trout streams... Do a search for "trout streams in Roscoe, NY" also search "Pepacton Reservoir" located in same area... It's a large body of crystal clear water reaching depts of 180 ft and stretching for miles.... Loaded with brown trout and smallies... Many trout are over 10 lbs... We fished it years ago and it was a blast, caught many trout 8+ lbs..... One day caught a smallie that was over 8 lbs. I was pissed as I thought I had on a 15+ lb. trout... Fish fought like hell... I released it, then someone said it could have been a state record... Fishing is very pristine, row boats only... If interested, PM me and I'll give you more info as along with a NY fishing license you'll need to pick up special permit to fish the reservoir....

Little farther than 4-5 hours

WV, Va and Tenn would be my go too spots for such an adventure.... Plus the weather would probably be more stable with a son in tow....

 

[Fletch]

Little farther than 4-5 hours

WV, Va and Tenn would be my go too spots for such an adventure.... Plus the weather would probably be more stable with a son in tow....

Yeh.... A little farther... But I would rather drive a little farther and have a trip to remember than drive 2 hrs. and just drown worms.... Hey I could could walk out my door and hunt, BUT, I drive 18 hrs. to hunt... I remember someone on here that thought driving from Ohio to Illinois was far... But he did it and had a hunt he'll always remember... I know nothing about WV or Virginia so I just made a suggestion on my knowledge...

 

[Curran]

@Fletch Thank you for the info! Much appreciated. I’ll look into that area. I don’t mind driving a bit farther since my son will be able to help do a portion of the driving by the time we go.

@5Cent I love that part of PA. Our family used to have a cabin in Hallton, which is just a little bit east of the area you grew up playing in. Part of me wants to go back there for a hike down memory lane. Plus there’s good smallie and trout fishing too.

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

Lots of good places in the upper lower and UP of Michigan.

 

[Big Weff]

Dale hollow lake in Tennessee is one of my favorite fishing lakes, not sure how good it would be for a fly fishing set up but it’s a massive lake and not peppered with homes like most lakes of that size.

 

[Fletch]

Pepacton Reservoir

 

[Curran]

So far we have a couple places that are looking attractive, but the front runner right now is the Dolly Sods Wilderness in WV. We've been watching some youtube videos and looking up information online about various areas on our list and this place just looks awesome to explore. Fishing is definitely on the activities list, but so is hiking, photography, and experiencing a different terrain from that of the flatlands of Central Ohio. The cool thing about looking into so many different options is now we can start building a wish list for future trips.

 

[Big_Holla]

So far we have a couple places that are looking attractive, but the front runner right now is the Dolly Sods Wilderness in WV. We've been watching some youtube videos and looking up information online about various areas on our list and this place just looks awesome to explore. Fishing is definitely on the activities list, but so is hiking, photography, and experiencing a different terrain from that of the flatlands of Central Ohio. The cool thing about looking into so many different options is now we can start building a wish list for future trips.

I want to say Kinzy has been there before doing just this. Might want to pick his brain on it Sean.

 

[Curran]

I want to say Kinzy has been there before doing just this. Might want to pick his brain on it Sean.

Great idea. I haven't talked to that knucklehead in a while anyway! Lol