Against the wind. We were casting against the wind.

April 15, 2011, 20-40 mph winds, and a float trip on the HI.  Not a lot of fish, but a good time with Streamer Rob and Doc.  The following photographs show the best techniques for fishing in such conditions (click photographs to get a better image of shooting fly line/crazy loop):

Noontootla April 2011

The Big Easy stalking trout on Noontootla, with the Gubna on a short camping trip.

Heading Home (Day Two)

Before driving up to Flag Pond on Friday I emailed a couple of buddies from high school who still live in the area and are really good fly fisherman. I informed them I was heading in this weekend and would like to get together on the South Holston on Sunday afternoon. Well, Mother Nature and TVA had other ideas.

Heading Home (Day One)

In 1996 I was standing in the Watauga River in Northeast Tennessee holding a fly rod watching trout rise, but having no idea that they were eating insects, much less flies.  I was 19 back then and getting ready to move to Montana. I was drawn to fly fishing, along with millions of others, by a River Runs Through It. I didn't  know anyone who knew anything about fly fishing and I was too impatient to read a book about it. That left me clueless about bugs, knots, dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, and about everything else in between. Fast forward to this past Saturday....I was standing back in the Watauga for the first time since that day in 1996 and this time I caught a couple of fish to boot.

F*** the Tenkara

What a difference a year makes. Almost a year ago to the day I had just been on a successful trip to the GSMNP using my new Tenkara rod. I thought I had found the perfect small/medium stream rod.....especially for in the smokies where wild bows and brookie rise conistantly to dry flies almost year round. Fast forward to yesterday around 2:30 pm where I had managed to find a couple of hours from a business trip to my favorite rainbow creek in the GSMNP. I was in a hurry and was rigging up when I proceeded to break the tip of the Tenkara for the 4th time. Yes, I was in a hurry and yes, the company is very clear about the caution when dealing with the the last section, but this was ridiculous. I am shelving the Tenkara. I am not ordering any more replacement sections. I hope someone researching this rod stumbles upon this post. If you are that person, I cannot stress how easily it is to break the tip of this rod.