Video: #somestreamerchick tackles the 11-Mile Challenge

By Abbi Bagwell

Have you ever walked 11 miles? Driven 11 miles?

I mean, realistically, it would probably take me a full day (maybe a little longer?) to walk 11 miles, but probably less than seven minutes to drive it. (Shhhh! Don’t tell my mother).

But have you ever attempted to fish 11 miles? I’m not talking about propping your feet up in a nice Towee with a motor. I’m talking about wade-fishing a mountain creek.

Trout Unlimited has proposed a challenge to all anglers across the Southeast: Get out and fish 11 miles of your favorite waters and have some fun.

Of course, being the conservationists that we all are there’s a deeper purpose. Culverts. I seriously had to look up what a culvert was because I was not familiar with the term. Obviously, I gave myself a little slap to the forehead and a “Duh!” when all of the Google images popped up. I’ve seen countless culverts since I was a kid and had no idea the impact they had on our rivers and streams.

I had the opportunity to attempt this venture a few days ago with two noteworthy fellows from Trout Unlimited: Mark Taylor and Damon Hearne. We fished on a little stream near Brevard, N.C. for over three hours and only made it .72 miles.

At that rate, my boss is going to really hate me for taking off so much time to go fishing and complete this challenge. (There is still time to register!). But dang it, TU is giving away some pretty awesome prizes from some great sponsors -- including my awesome company, Flymen Fishing Company! -- and a guy from Winston Salem, N.C., who has already completed the 11-Mile Challenge. So what else can I do?

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Abbi Bagwell and TU's Damon Hearne ready for the day's action on a small native brook trout stream in the Southern Appalachians.

During our voyage I was educated on the importance of culvert restoration and the projects that Trout Unlimited has in store for the Southeast. The Southeast Restoration Program, headed by Damon and based in Asheville, N.C., plans to reconnect 11 miles of native brook trout streams in the Southern Appalachians this year by removing fish passage barriers at bad culverts. Those 11 miles of reconnected water will make the best of our native brookies more resilient, longer-lived, and better to fish.

Check out our video and listen up folks, because unless we all take a solid stand there’s not going to be any of our favorite native fish swimming around waiting to gulp up our favorite flies. 

Abbi Bagwell is the director of operations and special events for Brevard, N.C.-based Flymen Fishing Company, producers of innovative fly-fishing products such as Fish Skulls, Nymph Heads and the Fly Tester. Of her popular #somestreamerchick videos on YouTube, Abbi says, “I’m not here to teach you how to fly fish; I’m her to show you how to have fun.”