We were a 6-man group doing a 3-day trip, though 1 ended up not going due to work.
Upon visiting, there were some things that stood out that we didn't get out of the previous reviews we read:
1. The magnificent panorama of picturesque space & depth you see when you pull up to the house. To take in the backdrop of the open plot of land, geese, lengthy flowing river, distant trees, hammocks, stone fire pit area, and quaint downward path of wooden steps, all while having an elevated view & an impressive cabin behind you, was an amazing thing. We all stopped for a while and just stared, saying nothing. Neither picture nor words will give you that "wow" moment of being there in person. Very cool.
2. Taking the steps down toward the river from the cabin isn't as bad as some reviews made us believe. Granted, going up & down a lot (if you forgot something, need to use the bathroom, or just looking for one of your friends) will of course give your legs a workout. The steps are nicely done though, and anyone that has difficulty can easily take them at a slower pace. Being outdoorsy people, we saw it as a luxury by having steps that take you from a cabin on a hill down to a river. Maybe some expect an escalator.
3. The river was deeper & closer than we thought. We threw a stone into it from the front porch, though it took our hardest throw. We were pleased to find it was the perfect depth to wade in (range of 1 to 4ft, avg of 2½ft), good flow for moving fish around, and clean & clear water (we had no rain).
4. The fishing was better than we expected. We went mid-spring when the water was at the right temperature for the bite to be "on". First cast landed a 14" trout. Bottom fishing with Gulp trout bait worked, but even better was light-tackle lure fishing with beetle spinners. I'm guessing some visitors aren't used to river fishing. It's not like fishing a lake or pond. Wading through the water is best so you can keep on the move and cast a lot to find the holes & rocks the fish are hiding by. We waded hundreds of feet in both directions. Mainly, 3 of us fished. We caught 17 fish in 2 days, consisting of brown trout, horny head chub, and smallmouth bass. Tasty!
It's been close to a year since our visit, and we all can't wait to go back. This place immediately transcends time, in that you feel you have known & made fond memories there your whole life. The custom details inside the cabin seem limitless, and the back lawn is perfect to use your own cornhole boards!
