Great weekend at Highland Rim Retreats/Long Branch Lakes

[Reel Tune]

Six of us rented the Preserve at Long Branch Lakes this past weekend. It was an awesome time, but the fishing was slow. Ron caught the biggest fish of the weekend at 9lb 15oz, there was one 6lb 8oz fish caught, a couple 4's, and a couple 3's, with 5 or so under 1lb fish caught. The tactic for the weekend was dragging 12" worms slower than snot across the bottom, cranging 20'+ cranks slower than molases, and creeping Senkos.

The resort is really nice. Miles away from anything. Very relaxing, little to no cell service, peaceful, and beautiful scenery. If you want to take an affordable vacation and stay in the state or close to home I highly recommend this place. There is a General Store onsite with all the emenities needed, and they cook food there if you would like, and sell the necessities (beer). This is a very low traffic resort where you feel like you are really intouch with nature. We vacation a lot, in a lot of different places and I have to say this place I will be returing to, and multiple times. It would make a great weekend getaway Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and be able to get back home at a reasonalble time Sunday evening being only 2 hrs from Nashville.

I recommend more trips for forum members to get together and get to really know one another. One of the guys I had never met, and another never spent more than 5 minutes talking with and only 2-3 times. It was a great bonding weekend.

Sunday while on the water we watched a Bald Eagle find food in the water, and that was an amazing sight.

The place is amazing, we stayed in the "Perserve" Craftsman Special
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EEd8UfgXTo

http://www.highlandrimretreats.com/fall-creek-falls-properties.htm

[txnative]

Jeremy was dead-on. This place is incredible. Aside from the stuff Jeremy mentioned, they also have tennis, basketball, badminton, and volleyball courts, a baseball and soccer fields, pavilions on both lakes, kayaks for rent/use courtesy of Hook 1, horseback riding, hunting, and hiking trails. The Preserve is absolutely gorgeous with tons of creature comforts including cable and complimentary WiFi. The cell service isn't great, but I was able to call and text ok (I have Verizon). I will be going again with my family next year. The fishing is almost an afterthought here...almost.


Chris

[spottedbass]

Did you catch any trout?

[txnative]

Did you catch any trout?

No trout in the lakes. Primary species is bass, but there are some bluegill and shellcrackers in the lake. The lake we were fishing gave up an 8 and a 9 lb 15 oz largemouth on Friday.


Chris Bryant

[jad2t]

You said kayaks available to rent via HOOK1...how long will they be for rent? I'm in the works of planning a short vacation there with my wife and she'd love to relax in a kayak while I fish out of mine.

[TroutFiend]

Did you guys catch those fish out of Fall Creek Falls lake?




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[Reel Tune]

You said kayaks available to rent via HOOK1...how long will they be for rent? I'm in the works of planning a short vacation there with my wife and she'd love to relax in a kayak while I fish out of mine.

Kayaks should be there all round all the time. I'm not sure what all models, but I do believe all Wilderness Systems.

Did you guys catch those fish out of Fall Creek Falls lake?

We fished Long Lake at Long Branch Lakes mainly, with a couple guys heading over to Camp Lake on Sunday. I toughed it out on Long Lake.

Trout Hill was planned to be trout water, but it didn't work out so it's going to be panfish water. Each lake will be stocked for a different purpose, and kayaks will be complimentary on several of the lakes provided by Hook1 like Chris said.

Jeremy



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[spottedbass]

Well according to their web site, there are trout in the lakes:

Lakefront Recreation Areas and Pavilions
The main recreation area is located at the edge of the 50-acre Camp Lake, featuring an expansive, open-air pavilion constructed of massive white pine timbers and graced with a stone fireplace and community grill. Boat docks welcome residents to the pleasures of paddling and fishing. This is also where guests can enjoy the outdoor pool, sports courts and the General Store.

A second recreation area is located on 80-acre Long Lake, where the community’s inviting architectural theme continue with massive log construction and stone fireplace. Bathroom facilities, boat docks, lakeside gazebo and children's play gym are also located here.

Both lakes are recognized as Bill Dance Signature Lakes (http://www.billdanceoutdoors.com/signature-lakes.php) and stocked with trout, bluegills and bass. All fishing for visitors is catch and release and requires a Tenneesse State issued fishing license. Want the inside track on the best fishing spots? Call our office 855-878-4455 to schedule a private fishing guide and get ready to catch more fish than you thought possible!

[blink]

i definitely need to get out there

[txnative]

Spottedbass,

I asked about the trout while I was there. The initial plan was to stock trout, but the plans fell through for whatever reason. The area designated for trout will be stocked with panfish (bluegill, shellcrackers, and crappie) to create a "fish-a-cast" type fishery aimed at kids, novice anglers, and people who just want to catch fish in a relaxed scenario. The pond is going to resemble a moat around a condo complex and will have kayaks available to let people paddle around the complex and have a relaxing day catching fish that don't require a lot of work to catch (in relation to the largemouth on other lakes). The smaller of the two bigger lakes is a younger lake and features a "numbers" type fishery for largemouth.

A small trophy lake is also being planned. It will have mature female largemouth only. The goal is to create a fishery that provides everything a bass needs to grow BIG. There are a few other things in the works...but I'm sworn to silence ;)


Chris Bryant

[spottedbass]

Thanks for the info txnative.

[Heiny57]

Thats cool, I never heard of the place. I assume we can bring our own boats.

[txnative]

Thanks for the info txnative.

Sure thing.

Heiny57,

Yes, but no gas motors are allowed, electric or paddle/peddle only. The larger lake is 80 acres and easily manageable in a kayak, so I'm sure a small boat with a trolling motor would work fine. One advisory, however, is that whatever craft you use, be sure to have a way to cope with the wind. I used a drift-sock and it worked well. I also tried an anchor. It held fine, but I got it lodged in submerged brush often and it took a bit if work to get it out. The lakes are FULL of brushpiles, logjams, and other sunken cover. A grapnel-style anchor could easily turn into a lost one. A mushroom-style may be better, but still potentially problematic. The depth on these lakes tips out around 25 ft, and the fish do use the cover at those depths, making a simple stake-out pole all but worthless unless you want to carry a 30 ft long pole around.


Chris Bryant