tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15892249582005225032024-03-13T14:23:05.342-07:00The Waterborn JournalJermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-90820182649098430702012-03-10T12:08:00.002-08:002012-03-10T12:17:21.966-08:00<a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/lowrez.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 639px; height: 426px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/lowrez.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well its been all quiet on the east tn front it seems. I know for me its tough to get out anywhere for any length of time. Judging by the frostbite fallout, it seems its been a rough go for all. Unfortunately, I was among those who just couldn't make it this time.<br />I have however, been chomping the bit to get to what sounds like and epic early quill gordon hatch in the park. Its killing me to see and hear reports from other boards of nice browns taken on dries. But alas, all my attempts have been thus far thwarted to seek the post spawn reverie. So desperate times call for desperate measures - my nearest fishable water is the lil' pig. But since the sewage spill tragedy, I've been leery of finding more than just a smallie. EColi is not something I want to catch and release. But the over whelming urges of spring-bin fever is itchin' me like something fierce and I had to scratch it - and at this point, no matter the cost.<br />So I trucked it down to one of my favorite bronzeback holes in search of something to stretch my line. I only had an hour and I know that the water still would be quite chilly despite our early spring weather. So with atropine/ 2pamcloride auto-injectors in hand, I plied the waters of refuse and waste in search of something brown... but...uhhh, preferably with fins and gills. Anyhow, as the second cast skimmed though the riffles and swung in to the pool with a slow retrieve, there it was... that ol familiar thump. Like a beat from a favorite tune, the rhythmic notation telegraphed up the line, through my cheaply build home made beater rod, and pulsed through my arm...I like this song.<br />At any rate, it was a respectable fight and my itch was scratched...for the moment anyways...<br /><a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/lorezwonka.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 639px; height: 426px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/lorezwonka.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-50449093509411092782012-03-10T11:55:00.004-08:002012-03-12T08:39:08.212-07:00BoomerangAin't it always the way? You kinda get something started, ya figure your got it figured out and then life gets in the way and you go way off the reservation....only to come back. And so it has been with this blog. Funny how when I started, there wasn't much in the way of east tn blogs. Since making a departure then returning - there are tons of postings around. It's a good thing because one can get a great sampling of whats going on about the area. Sort of like viewing the varying temps in the region on the late night weather cast. At any rate, I'm trying to bring this thing back online, and I'll post a few outing from the last couple outings to get things rolling. Its been far and few between jaunts. Like I mentioned, life gets in the way. TVA hasn't been very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">accommodating</span> too. Our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tail waters</span> for the most part have been generating around the clock and except for a few couple hour windows - the mountains have been the only real escape . Our oddly warm winter and way early spring have given us an out for the overly generated <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tail waters</span> as hatches are already popping.<br />We are rapidly approaching our golden opportunities for fly fisherman in our area - Spring. Quill <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gordons</span> are kicking everything off in the park . Large browns are showing up, at except for the occasional disruption of a front passing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">through</span>, the park has been fishing very well.Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-80251519899790319502008-07-01T20:55:00.000-07:002008-07-01T21:29:03.743-07:00July JumpAfter spending the weekend in GA and dropping of the kids with the grandparents, my wife and I came home to a quiet house and a week off...well, she still had to go to class so I just had to occupy my time somehow. So I ventured out the the Smokies and while I just wanted to see how the brookies were faring up high in my favorite haunt, i decided to see if a slam was in order.<br />It was rather chilly out as I headed out. By the time I got above the Chimneys, it was down right cold for July 1st. The water was freezing, but with no thermometer on hand I could only guesstimate, but it hurt to keep my hands in for any length of time. My theory is that it shut down the fish. Even though the water was spooky low, usually you could raise plenty of fish in known slots and pockets. There were the few risers, but the specs were tiny... I did see a nice one rise in a dark pocket at a base of a "fall" but most of the brookies were tiny -<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" com="" albums="" j150="" waterbornjournal="" action="view&current=Picture005.jpg"" target="_blank"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/Picture005.jpg" alt="WC Spec" border="0" /></a> The funny thing was that I came onto a 'bow that was of decent size for such small water. It was finning in a slanting current that was being washed back from a large rock - so the fish was facing away from me to the opposite bank. I saw it follow my yellow EHC with no take and so began a mini pursuit to take the fish. I tried several different flies that resulted in looks but no takes. There was a a quick mouth on a ant pattern but no hook up. Finally after watching this thing feed, it looked like to me that it was midging... so i tied a small black tailwater style midge with a zlon wing dropped off the ant pattern and after the first cast - boom! that fish rose and took the midge with out hesitation...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" com="" albums="" j150="" waterbornjournal="" action="view&current=Picture008.jpg"" target="_blank"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/Picture008.jpg" alt="WC bow" border="0" /></a>It was only about 6" but it was the challenge and figuring out the problem that made that fish so rewarding...and as the saying goes, never pass up a feeding fish.<br />Since I had 2/3 of a slam, I decided to head on over to LR to look for a brown. This proved to be most dificult. Though I had some great looks from some sizable fish on a yellow stimi, there was no takes...I high stuck a bunch of small bows, but now browns. I hooked a huge horny head - but again no brown....finally I did hook a small guy high sticking a SMBSH, but lost the fish as I was digging for the camera...so in sense I did complete the summer slam, just no pic to back it up. At any rate - it was fun to get out and managed to find solitude streamside in the middle of summer. Though there tons of people about, the cold, low water must of kept most of em out of the water...anyhow, anytimes a good time to get out and fish...and it was a bonus to see the rhodos in bloom.<br /><br /><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/Picture011.jpg" alt="rhodo on LR" border="0" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" com="" albums="" j150="" waterbornjournal="" action="view&current=Picture014.jpg"" target="_blank"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/Picture014.jpg" alt="LR rodo bloom" border="0" /></a>Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-38943384717655293832008-06-24T19:35:00.000-07:002008-06-24T20:29:52.803-07:00Summer Catchup....I finally had a chance to sloooww down a bit from work as I finally get a bit of a hiatus. Since then I've been able to get out a couple of times to do some fishing in the mountains with my buddy Mark and we ended up high stickn' some average size fish on the main stem of Little River and above Tremont. The water is low and clear, the best bet is start of with something yellow in a dry with a dropper of a pt or smbsh...the fish will tell you what they want then clip the other off and go with it. Didn't have a camera for the evening pursuits with Mark, though I wish I did. Those are the magic hours - the setting summer sun when the air starts the cool, and any hatch to that may happen commences...fishing may or may not pick up briefly but it doesn't really matter - its just a magical time of day to be in the mountains as the shadows grow longer and the silence gets louder...<br />I do have a confession though, I've been indulging in a little bit of warm water debauchery...and as some "purists" may destest, I've had a little affair with the rough fish...namely carp. Actually, it's always been in the back of my mind to tag one with a fly, just never had the gumption to go out there and do it with all the trout water explore. But I found myself in a situation where I only had a few hours free each morning last week and with decent smallie water and excellent carpn' water only 15 min away - it was a no brainer to make a go of it.<br />So I would try top water for bronzebacks and should I see a carp within range, I would switch over to a jointed hellgrammite. I did manage severa small bass over the course of the week<br /><img style="width: 390px; height: 292px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/carpadyem.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /> But the carp really made an impression on me. These things are brute on a fly rod and a must do if you've never done it. The sheer power of these fish are nothing I've ever experience but hope to some day in the salt, an I hear this is a great primer. All I do is look for a feeding fish, position parallel or just up stream. If you don't spook 'em cast above them to where your fly lands not to far above the fish and then skip the fly by the "visual cone". More often than not the carp with scoot over and intercept. Set the hook when you see the mouth over the fly and give a couple good tugs to seat the hook, then hang on!... make sure you preset your drag and get these guys on the reel quickly and play em "down n' dirty" and I believe Stu Apt puts it for Tarpon. As you watch the line rip from your reel and possibly the backing you haven't seen in awhile, play the fish as even pressured as you can, they have soft mouths and hook pull is all but too easy and I've had the hook actually straighted out on a 1/0 saltwater due to my careless over pulling.<br />Eventually, I'll beach the fish and after a quick pic, a pair of pliers removes the hook and the fish is no worse for the wear.<img style="width: 403px; height: 302px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/carpadyem-2.jpg" alt="First Carp Landed" border="0" /><br />There is another target I'm after and though I've had some follows, just no takes, but a gar is next on my list. I did some research and think a rope fly is the best way to do, but I'm still perfecting that tactic as it seems to be a whole different realm to fly fishing as well... again, just another reason why I love this sport - multi faceted.<br />I was able to add a warm water species unexpectedly...I misidentified a smallmouth buffalo, I managed one thinking it was a carp. I pursued it and caught it as previously mentioned for carp, but was told they don't normally act that way - someone should tell the fish that. At any rate, a little research shows that they are primarily algae eaters, but will eat snail and other small aquatic insects....uhh, can you say snail fly??? More on that research and applied tactics later...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" com="" albums="" j150="" waterbornjournal="" action="view&current=jmitecarp.jpg"" target="_blank"><img style="width: 344px; height: 228px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/jmitecarp.jpg" alt="2nd one landed" border="0" /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> Tatanka!!!</span></a><br />Sooo, thats pretty much it for now and more or less caught up...hope to take to the water more as I do have the summer off, though I have my kids all day - I may have to drag 'em along my tie a dropper on 'em and let them go swimming in a hole somewhere in the Smokies while I high stick a run nearby...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" com="" albums="" j150="" waterbornjournal="" action="view&current=jmitecarp.jpg"" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span></a>Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-61261158341027998762008-05-02T07:29:00.000-07:002008-05-02T08:26:07.157-07:00May Day on the Lil PigWhile wanting to try out some smallie patterns that I tied up for an upcoming fly swap, I decided to steal away a couple hours and head out to the Little Pigeon to get them wet. Since my son was born (6 years ago mind ya), I have not been out during the week to flick a line... With my oldest in kindergarten, the youngest in a 2 day a week pre k program and the weather finally cooperating with my work schedule - I decided to venture out and wet a line.<br />My buddy Rusty came along and brought his raft as we were prepared to do a short float to cover more water for my little time, but of course Murphy decided to pay a visit and put the kibash on those plans. While parking my truck at the take out, I noticed it was acting up more that usual (I was already running on expired time with the starter) and sure enough, the mechanical gremlin reared its ugly head - the car wouldn't start. SOOO, what to do....I only had a few hours before I had to get back, teach my photography class, pick up my kids from school, and then go to work...but I wasn't about to pack it in either...well I'm already here, lets go fish.<br />We had to wade of course and the water was cooler thanks to a deluging front earlier that weekend. As a result, the smallie bite was off but I was just happy to be out, but its tough to fish effectively when you have issues looming - my eye was constantly on the clock.<br />Working my way down stream, the water was pushing fairly swift and was slightly stained. I was startled to hook a nice smallie in a soft side of a tail out not more that 3 feet in front of me. The surprise hookup didn't afford a good connect and in a couple of nice jumps and that bronze ship sailed away...it was a very decent fish, a porker too...<br />And it wasn't on the pattern I tied, I ended up switching over to a clouser because of the currents. But you gotta adapt to the situtation and the clouser seemed close enough for government for what the bass were looking for.<br /><a href="http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/?action=view&current=mayday-3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 416px; height: 270px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/mayday-3.jpg" alt="Minnow Match" border="0" /></a><br />The funny thing was that here we were looking for smallmouth and Rusty tagged a one of the bigger 'bows I've seen in a while (course I haven't got out much lately)<br />It's a washover - a washed down holdover from the "trout rodeo" that is in Pigeon Forge every spring. We reasoned that if it can make it to the tailwater and find a spring, it could theoretically live a long, healthy life. There is definatly enough food in the French Broad.<br /><a href="http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/?action=view&current=lilpigwashdown.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 423px; height: 281px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/lilpigwashdown.jpg" alt="Lil Pig Holdover" border="0" /></a><br />Seeing as how the bite was off and the looming issues of me having to deal with my car and get back in time to deal with life's responsibilities - we cut the jaunt short and headed back up stream. 'Course you have to have that last cast and on the way out I managed to get this small guy to hand which makes it all worth it. In the end, the tow truck came, the starter <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> the culprit, and I made it back on time to take care of business. What a day...<br /><a href="http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/?action=view&current=lilpigsmallsmallie.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 424px; height: 318px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/lilpigsmallsmallie.jpg" alt="Smallie on Clouser" border="0" /></a>Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-88288184873686522442008-04-21T09:02:00.001-07:002008-05-02T08:09:37.973-07:00Early Spring Slam"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">While out on a weekend getaway with the family in Gatlinburg, I was finally able to get out for a few hours and wet a line. Knowing that I may not be able to get out for a while, I decided on the trifecta, the "have my cake and eat it too", and go for one of each - a brookie, 'bow, and a brown and thus frequent the waters I love to hang out in and consider "home waters". It would have been nice to get out somewhere and explore new water because in spring you see the best the any watershed has to offer with usually willing fish and bug activity, but limited on time and happy to be out, old familiar haunts make it well with the soul.<br />Rain had moved in that Friday night and I knew that water would be pushing harder that I'd like.</span></span><img style="width: 332px; height: 248px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/springslam-5.jpg" alt="After rain flow" border="0" />" border="0" alt="" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Though we need the rain desperately around these parts, when you finally get to fish - a less that ideal situation is frustrating, but again, I was free and standing in trout water no matter the cfs.<br />There are some watersheds where you can find all three species in the same river, but I did not have the luxury of that pursuit so to make the best of it, I started my brookie hunt in the upper West Prong of the Litte Pigeon River - the map will day Walker Camp Prong, but its all the Li'l Pig to me. Over the years, 'bows have established a foothold and have been getting larger there and it disheartens me greatly to know that an easy access brookie spot will eventually go to the dogs...rainbow striped ones that is, but I know that the second part of the slam will be fairly easy to complete because of this invasion.<br />Passing the mist enshrouded Chimneys (should've stopped and got that picture!) the rain was not heavy, but enough to be annoying. Seeing patches of the river through the trees confirmed that the water was really pushing through the gorge and I hoped the stretch I was going to fish was a little bit slower due to is more "subtle" slope.<br />Upon arrival, it wasn't whitewater, but it was definatly pushing....<br />It was tough going inititally, and it didn't help that somehow I managed to leave my waders at home - that water was freezing. But after finding some soft spots around rocks a couple of brookies rose to a foam posted para adams and also managed a couple of bows. Part one and two of the slam complete.<br /></span></span><img style="width: 209px; height: 156px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/springslam-2.jpg" alt="Early Spring Speck" border="0" /><img style="width: 209px; height: 156px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/springslam-8.jpg" alt="Small stream 'bow" border="0" /><br />For the the completion of the slam, the Little River is brownie nervana and so I headed below Elkmont in hopes of better water conditions, a hatch, and more willing fish. The rain began to lift and the sun was making a showing by time I got to the parking area where I knew I'd find at least one willing brown. There were already a few anglers about, but non where I was going to put in, so with the para adams still on I plied the currents in a likely run. The water was at least warmer here 56 degrees or so and saw some sporatic hatches of gordons, caddis, and midges. Hopefully the fish would be looking up. A few casts in and a nice fish shot up from the depths and took that fly with authority. It was a great tussle, the rod was bent, the pull was refreshing - this was a nice brownie or so I thought...<br />A family watching with small kids joined in the fight, cheering me on as I brought the fish in closer. Only to discover it was a very nice, pot bellied rainbow and the brown it fought like - the largest I've ever caught on Little River to be sure (granted, it may have been about a foot long, but this is the Park). However, due to the show and tell for the young ones, there wasn't time for a picture as the fish needed to be released.<br />As I moved up to the next section of the stretch of water I was hoping to complete before having to go back to the condo, I began searching the dark, slower edges of the river where we've caught some nice browns holding in the past. Sure enough, one did come out to play and from a spot that seems to always hold at least one decent fish. Playing the fish to the waters edge and taking a snapshot completed the slam.<img style="width: 278px; height: 174px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/springslam-10-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /> It was the only brown to hand, but it was brilliantly colored and the red edged fins signified all that is wild and what I love about the mountains.<br /><br />After a few more casts, I decided to head out to catch up with family. On the way out I ended up meeting Ray Ball and his crew. Ray's been fishing the Smokies probably longer than anyone out there as he grew up in these hills. Calling him a fishing legend may be a shiny label he wouldn't think of himself as, but his name does come up in various anglers' discussions of storied anglers in context with the history of this park. He is a carasmatic guy that i hope i have half the zest and zeal he does at his age when talking about fly fishing. Ray couldn't stop grinnin' about the stories of the good ol' days, fishing holes on Little River he's named, and tying his beloved calftail parachute flies.<br />Meeting Ray was icing on the smokey slam cake. Its one fo the reasons I love fishing in the Park. There is such rich, diverse history to the Southern Appalacians and fishing is a part of it. The fact that I can meet someone such as Ray that brings the history of these waters to life makes me that more appreciative and fortunate to haunt the same waters as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" com="" albums="" j150="" waterbornjournal="" action="view&current=springslam-3.jpg"" target="_blank"><img style="width: 233px; height: 174px;" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Waterbornjournal/springslam-3.jpg" alt="Weaon of Choice" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span>Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-87105100995693393812007-12-09T18:16:00.000-08:002007-12-09T19:53:23.215-08:00The Fishless River<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R1yn-r7VQHI/AAAAAAAAAAc/Ff4i-koQxKk/s1600-h/Photo-0085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 191px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R1yn-r7VQHI/AAAAAAAAAAc/Ff4i-koQxKk/s320/Photo-0085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142169569935573106" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I know I have trips to log in that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">preceed</span></span> today's timeline, but I've got to go ahead and get this one in before this one passes me up and details get fuzzy...<br /><br />I took a new friend Chad out to fish this afternoon. He's never fly fished before and it's been a while since I've been out...so it was a time to get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">aquainted</span></span>, hit the basics with the long rod, and hopefully put him on a trout. We were sort of limited on time and with the rain around we were in need of some compliant fish...I figured the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fishless</span></span> river" was the place to go. The water was dubbed so by my buddy Mark "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Varmit</span></span>" as kind of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cheezy</span></span> code for the river that's not really a secret, but most don't realize it as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">seasonal</span></span> put and take fishery full of eager (okay, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">rediculously</span></span> stupid and easy) fish. It's an ace up the sleeve, a secret stash sort of place that you really don't want to publicize. Sometimes there's some holdovers that can surprise you, but mostly the water gets too warm to maintain the trout population year round - but man, if it could, you'd have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">tailwater</span></span> that would rival the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">SoHo</span></span>. This water is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">caddis</span></span> soup. The hatches in the spring will be the best you'll find anywhere around here.<br />Anyhow, it was a drizzly morning that we were sure was going to blow off soon so we left the raincoats in the truck ...big mistake - don't you know- it'll only rained harder for the next hour or so when you're out there knee deep in the river. In the mean time, there were fish rising all over sporadically to some small olives, #22 or so and and figuring the action was on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">untill</span></span> that rain hit harder and the fishing shut down for a while. So we worked on casting and mending and discussed the finer points of "if I were a trout, this is where I'd sit to eat" and so on. Chad was a quick learner and after getting the rain gear and the the weather subsided, he managed to stick a couple of fish on a PT. While they weren't brought to hand, he was able to feel the take and it was his first taste if of what very well be a new addiction.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R1yzOL7VQNI/AAAAAAAAABk/azoB5Nl4q2A/s1600-h/fishless+river-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 184px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R1yzOL7VQNI/AAAAAAAAABk/azoB5Nl4q2A/s200/fishless+river-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142181930851451090" border="0" /></a>Things were slow, couple of other guys on the water were not having the hand over fist action we all expect out of this section - it was beginning to live up to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">cheezy</span> codeword. But we then realized Marc and been out here the week before when they actually stocked as he quickly educated them to a sore lip degree. Thanks man, '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">precciate</span> ya...<br />But as the rain did move off, the fish began to rise again. Going with the "throw anything as long as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">it's</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">caddis"</span> mantra, we switched over to an olive X <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">caddis</span>....within a few casts, Chad had on his first fly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">caugt</span> fish. I had my back turned at the time, but the unmistakable <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">ziiip</span> sound of a dry fly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">hookset</span> and flopping of a broadside landing fish is music to my ears...it was a decent fish of about 10" and Chad's grin was just as wide. I was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">pysched</span>, I was glad for him and it broke a- take- a- buddy- out- and- fish- but- they- don't- catch- but- I- do curse. After a several <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">dustings</span> later of the X <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">caddis</span>, Chad hooked into another nice fish and I think he was hooked as well - pun intended. I was content. By this time all was quiet on the river front people wise, the rain had lifted, the trout were active again and my buddy was catching fish - very few times you get that fleeting moment when you feel a though everything is centered in your universe.<br />We cleared out after a while longer and headed out to find a burger. It was a great time this afternoon. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">fishless</span> river, though not up to it's usual compliment - did live up to its name in more than one way...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R1y34r7VQOI/AAAAAAAAABs/4NJ6V2ZfbeM/s1600-h/fishless+river+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R1y34r7VQOI/AAAAAAAAABs/4NJ6V2ZfbeM/s200/fishless+river+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142187059042402530" border="0" /></a>Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-26654186672271585512007-11-28T06:19:00.000-08:002007-11-30T07:01:12.988-08:00First Time Smallie HuntWell, as you can tell - I'm a slogger - a slacker of a blogger that is ... and remember, if that word should catch online - you heard it here first. But as I have stated, my life is infinately complicated and while I have a few moments here and there- I'll jot down a plug about trips past...<br />Late summer this year (the time stamp on the pic says mid Sept. )I manage to target smallies for the first time in my life with a fly rod...pretty sad me thinks - been a fisherman all my life who will fish for anything by any method, but the last 10 years have been solely been with a fly rod only after trout. I've always heard about the bronzebacks' trout like qualities and there's no shortage of smallie water around here - I can be on prime stretches within 20 min in either direction, but I've always found myself hoofin' it to trout water. Guess I'm just a bad creature of habit or is that a creature of bad habits?<br />'Course<span style="font-style: italic;"> it</span> is that familiarity which breeds content when dyed in the wool trouters begin to sample the warm riverine appetizers on the piscatorial menu - smallmouth bass can become the main course. If you've never done it , I suggest it whole heartedly. I can remember catching them by "accident" on the Little River when fishing as a beginner for stockers below the Y. Got so mad at those stinkin' smallies 'cause here I thought I had a monster trout pulling me all over the river, and it turned out to be this little smallmouth bass. Boy, If I had only known then....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R02CfjJk9wI/AAAAAAAAAAM/j11ox_-USfg/s1600-h/Photo-0082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R02CfjJk9wI/AAAAAAAAAAM/j11ox_-USfg/s200/Photo-0082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137906228422571778" border="0" /></a><br />Anyhow, I managed a trip to a water I can't really say where exactly other that its in Tenn....I can't even really tell you what we used to catch 'em other that its a wooly booger variation...my buddy Rusty is basically out scouting for prospective places to take clients so, mums the word....<br />Anyow, I was amazed how hard these fish smacked that streamer. The small ones hit like a ton of bricks...the bigger ones made your heart pound. I had a couple of break offs and who knows what kind of shoulders those brutes had. I managed a half a dozen or so when the fishing kinda slowed down toward mid afternoon. I was at the head at a really deep, swift run and decided to high stick to get my fly under that surging current - lot like hitting pocket water in the Park - I had lost my got to fly on a larger unseen fish earlier and so tied on a weighted black wooly booger. I pitched it in the seam left of the heavy current and the fly drifted only a second or so before the the line twitched and it was fish on...it was a <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R02FETJk9xI/AAAAAAAAAAU/9Mjs_p5qViE/s1600-h/nice+pigeon+smallie+15SEP07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UdSnKhiQUIA/R02FETJk9xI/AAAAAAAAAAU/9Mjs_p5qViE/s200/nice+pigeon+smallie+15SEP07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137909058806019858" border="0" /></a>good one. I wrestled as hard as my pulse was racin' as fast as that fish had me all over that pool...I finally beached that bronze bullet (shaped more like a howitzer round) as it was my best smallie to date and my biggest of the trip. The picture really doesn't do it justice, being a camera phone snapshot and all, but its still documentation.<br />Later on that week I noticed post on other boards how smallmouth fishing was at a standstill on area waters - the late summer blues...not on this water- and there was a reason for it that I can't divulge...but rest assure I ended up with plenty of action, a dozen fish of to hand, and a few more which I never got to see...I was told that this wasn't even considered a good day for these guys and just wait and see when it's primetime....man,...stinkin' smallies....Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-64694653180482838692007-08-26T16:18:00.000-07:002007-08-26T17:11:43.007-07:00The HolstonWell, kinda embarassing...my little speil about keeping up a blog...I have't really managed to get out much since then. Oh, there was a couple of on the spur moments to Metcalf Bottoms and high stuck a few nice fish - but on a whole, no real adventures to speak of.<br /><br />I did however, manage to hit the Holston below Cherokee Dam with a buddy of mine who had borrowed a little Native Drifter from a fellow guide. A few weeks ago (obviously past due for a true blogger) we tried to float from the dam to a take out called Nances Ferry. Getting up at the crack of dawn and drive the hour to get there (after dropping off a car at the take out - no shuttle service here) we arrive to a locked gate to the boat launch. Irritating to say the least. So we plodded on down to Nances Ferry and waded some. Our target was smallies seeing as how the Cherokee is primarily a winter/early spring fishery. Temps get to warm downstream because Cherokee Lake is not as deep as some of our TVA impoundments and so the generations aren't as cold year around. In the fall as temps cool, TWRA puts in a ton of fingerlings in a 14 mile stretch that by spring are a chunky footlong trout and fun to catch. They don't seem to be particularly choosy about thier fly, but it tough not to fish anything other than a caddis.<br />The general consenses is that if this water would maintain a decent temp, some of these fish will survive the over harvesters and this tailwater, with all is bug biomass, would rival even the South Holston - our current blue water gem...<br />Mid summer reports from local guides said that there were some actually some holdovers - and they looked healthy. Then we were hit with a drought. But the irony is that it has cause more generations and the water has been more favorable.<br />So we decided to take the boat to a little unknown ramp at Indian Cave and salvage a float. He was after smallies, but after catching a few healthy trout at Nances - trout was on my mind.<br />Even as we put in, I notice rises in the slack water below us. I tried for a few, but the gin slow water and boat put them down...<br />We did find some nice shoals that had feeding fish and there were other waders about, and the trout were there. I was astonished to say the least.<br />As we drifted down, we hit pockets of trout here and there...our guess was maybe they have gravitated to the various springs that dot the river. Some areas were void of trout, but carp were everywhere and a few smallies.<br />It was a hot day, 95 plus if I recall correctly - man those currentless stretches were brutal as heat exhaustion on the oars was imminent threat. I don't know how many bottles of water I drank that day, but I was still thirsty several hours after making it home late that evening.<br />towards the take out, we anchored at a nice set of shoals...not more that 10 ft from the boat I picked up some nice 'bows and a beauty of a brown that I actually saw leap moments earlier. Seems there were some caddis coming off and there was no hesitation to thier takes of my EHC.<br />The smallmouth seem tight lipped and none came to any streamer pattern tossed their way.<br /><br />It was a great day, though hot and humid. It's amazing how you forget those things when you're catching fish. I hope that these fish will hang on through the continuing drought. Next spring this stretch will be slab city.Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589224958200522503.post-4319685969181052382007-01-08T09:18:00.000-08:002007-08-26T17:14:13.912-07:00A new years resolution...<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">H</span></span>ere it is another new year. A resolution I have made besides the obligatory get-in-shape or contribute to world peace, is to keep a better record my fly fishing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">pursuits</span>. I wish I had kept a better detailed log of my past 9 years of fly fishing various east Tennessee waters and other states (not too exotic of locales mind you). From my very first little rainbow caught above <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Tremont</span> (Great Smokey Mountains) on my hand tied flies to seeing monster browns rising to a blanket sulphur hatch from a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Clacka</span> on a one generation flow on the South <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Holston</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">tail water. T</span>he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">back country</span> camping trips in search of specs with a buddy into the Smokies and the visits to my folks in NW Montana and catching westslope cutts and greyling in Glacier Nat'l Park and "guiding" my dad to his first fly rod trout...time flies (no pun intended) and everything seems to blend together. Every now and again , I wish I could reference or even relive a particular moment from a past outing. Not just the critical info of weather,water temps, flies and tactics used, nor just a brag board of fish I've caught - but mostly reliving a good time with the people I've been fortunate to catch fish with or the various introspective observations of life and fishing and everything in between (epiphanies if you will) that I swore to remember but have all but forgotten...<br />And so, this is my grand attempt to start a new journal. After seeing a few blogs, I've decided to try my own. Maybe seeing it "published" can spur me to keep up with it. Though the sad part is as the saying goes: no man ever fishes as much as he wants too - I really don't have the time like I used to to get out and explore a stream. Which is another reason why I wished I kept better track of my past <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">endeavors</span>. My life (as I'm sure I'm not the only one) is infinitely complicated. I have a wife who has just started grad school, a 5 year old son learning and participating in seasonal sports , a 4 year old daughter starting in cheer leading, a job of raising 40 teenage boys that litterally has be busy 60 - 80 hrs a week all the while being a Mr. Mom to my own kids and 3 days a week teaching a basic black and white photography class... the combined chaos kinda keeps me off the water. I'm lucky to get out once or twice a month. In addition, the next two years , 2/3 of our income will be gone and that really hurts the water seeking budget. Can't help but long for "the good ol' days" of which now I have trouble remembering, hence all of this...<br />Documenting those glorious fleeting moments of freedom when I actually do get out to wet a line, surrounding myself with like minded friends and maybe even catch fish or two might help me back row a little against the swift currents of life, casting to the past a little bit more before drifting downstream into the final take out.Jermzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07878145845412653868noreply@blogger.com0