The ETFFF Spring Fling experience...

[Jermz]

Things that I learned from the ETF3 spring fling:

That in future gatherings, I’ll remember to bring my own cooler of refreshements…sorry Petey and Robb, I obviously don’t get out much – but I’ll get ya next time…

That ear plugs are optional, but if you want to be serenaded by the nightly performance of dueling chainsaws then forget to bring them…

That Varmit can play some string. Pickin and Grinnin’ on that mandolin was a treat for me and yes, he does know some Mellencamp…he just prefers to hear “Gin and Juice” is all…

That Riverman will sell you a boo rod (with a wrong sided reel) for one low special price of only $1500.00 …

That there are NO fish on the Holston…

That if you so choose to wade fish the deep dark waters of KNOB CREEK – be prepared to suffer a LDR of you senses…KNNNOOOOOOOB CREEEEK!!!!

That the foundation shaking, wall trembling, window rattling sound wasn’t thunder you heard at 4am – it was gravity taking its toll on the last surviving members of the night…

That we all know now why Stretch calls himself so and that it’s tough to trust a skinny chief…

That Flicker has a wicked cast that anyone would envy…

That no matter where you choose to fish, you owe it to yourself to fight the tourons and the dark of night to hit Abrams…

Chuckwagon cooks a mean bird (Trey, that Pheasant was unbelievable) and Riverman would make anyone from the low country envious with his cultural culinary classic – you guys that couldn’t make it missed out on some seriously fine grub…I’d say sorry to ya, but it just meant more for us!

That it’s all about the pressure!!!...

Petey loves him some stupid fish…

That Marmot is an elusive, rock crawling creature that on Saturday as we all went our separate ways to fish; he took the Little River trail to fish Rock Creek in Montana and was back by dinner…

That Tentwing is the man when it comes to feathers and fur – have ya ever seen the Hummin’ Bird? Do your self a favor and check one out, they’ll make you want to re-think about your tying abilities on so many different levels… by the way, when he’s sleeping, he dreams of Snow White AND the seven dwarfs…

That pocket pairs don’t win you squat…

That the lid WILL stay on that Jacuzzi…

That an 8 ought cone head brassie is to be dropped off the 8 ought Condor fly and it’ll take at least a 2 wt to kill yourself when trying to cast it…and should you actually manage to chuck and duck this rig – it’ll only end up as the center piece of the Smoky Mountain Tree Fly…

But the single greatest thing I took away from this weekend is that no matter how good the fishing was supposed to be (d**n pressure!), its still couldn’t have been better than the fine company kept on the water and for this weekend. It was great time and I’m glad to have met all ya’ll (though I might have trouble with names, I’ll remember ya when I see ya out there) and hope to do it again soon…

Jermz

[stretch]

Well I believe Jermz summed it all up. Thanks to all the parties involved in getting such a great setup. Thanks to chuckwagon and riverman for preparing all the fantastic food! Guys I had a blast, looking forward to fishing with you again. Here is a small view of the goings on that happened

TW behind the vise


Jay explaining how to use a camera after KNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOBBBBBB CRRREEEEKK


Jermz working the Little River


Riverman's serious spread


Flicker's MONSTER bow

[stuart]

See guys told ya no fish in Holston. Listen to the man. By the way I am going tuesday so if ya wanna hook up let me know.

STU

[Fly Flicker]

Great summary Jermz. I figured it would come from someone who could remember most of it .

Thanks to the chefs, Rman and Chuckwagon, it was delicious.

Thanks to Varmit and Jay too. Had a good time listening to you play.

I had a good time fishing with you on Saturday Stretch. Too bad the rest of them missed that crazy hatch and the 25" browns we caught on dry flies. ;D

It was good meeting yall again and meeting some new folks too. When are we going again??

Here are a few pictures-
Stretch Highstickin' the Middle Prong (blurry for some reason??)


Finally striking gold on Sunday-

[Varmit]

What a weekend!!!! It is really amazing that so many guys from so many different backgrounds can come together, get along, and have such an awesome time. Quite an eclectic "band of brothers".

It was good to see a lot of ya'll again and hope that we can hook up on water somewhere before the next throwdown.

Stretch, as always it was great to hit water with you. As always, if you want to go where no fish dwell. Call me!

Mr. Flicker....after watching you cast, Mister is entirely deserved. Good to see you again.

Jermz and Robb (aka the leapfrog brothers), once we hit water I didn't see much of ya'll but what time we did spend talking was cool. It is always good to make new friends and I hope that we can hook up on some water again very soon.

Jay...Gin and Juice never sounded so good . What happens when you mix Bill Monroe with Snoop Dog? If you weren't there you just wouldn't understand.

Marmot....always good to touch base with ya. Hope your trip to thunder.....thunder.....somethin was good.

C.W. and Riverman. great food. Sorry I couldn't partake Marshall.

T-dub....It was great talking with you. I always walk away from our conversations with more info to fill my head than I could ever get on my own. You my friend are one of the often unsung treasures of this board. Hope your cruise was fun. Hope to see you on the water soon.

Petey.....KKKKKNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBBBBBBB CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!
You Rock dude! Hope you find lots of stupid fish.

To everyone.....thanks for making an old, out of shape, greenhorn once again feel like he belongs and is a part of something very very cool.

If ya'll took any of those high tech digital photos, shoot them my way at my email address here at the office.

[Petey]

What a weekend.... I don't think it could have possibly went any better.

We had great food, great times and great fly tying. I will post later just how creative things got, when I get the time to get all of the photo's made.

Here is to Quill Gordons, March Browns, Soft Hackles, BWO's, Zebra Midges and Parachute Adams

Here is to Lynn Camp Prong, Thunderhead Prong, The Middle Prong, The Small creek at a Metcalf Bottoms and the Horseshoe at Abrams

Here is to deep fried Pheasant, Livers and Fries on a Friday night. Riverman's Low Country Boil on Saturday night.

Here is to Knob Creek, JD, Bottle from the purple bag and George Dickel.

Here is to 4wd's, a winters worth of wood and a gas fire place.

Here is to Big Flies, Big Feathers and Big Dreams

Here is to Guitars, mandolins, Cash and the cry for Mellencamp

Here is to Brian (Troutbum77) and his midge and nymph box's. Good to see somebody else has the disease.

Here is to Robb and his connection for the Cabin on the Mountain.

Here is to all of the guys who made the trip and what it was. It was great to see familiar faces and meet new ones.

And here is to stupid fish! They are on Thunderhead Prong.

Marmot working Metcalf Bottoms


Me working the small stuff just above Metcalf Bottoms


Marmot figuring what bug is needed on Lynn Camp Prong


Looking up river on Lynn Camp Prong


Bow from Thunderhead Prong


Weapon of choice


Jay on Thunderhead


Looking up river at Thunderhead Prong


Mr. Big Stonefly from Thunderhead (He was bigger than some of the fish I caught)


Jay and Riverman sharing water on the Middle Prong to end the weekend


Can't wait till we do it again boys!

Petey

[kyle]

Glad you guys had fun and boy am I sorry I couldn't make it.Pickin,fishin,drinkin,and eatin well that's right up my alley.

Kyle

[Marmot]

What da ya say... Great weekend guys....


Petey as always great fishin with ya bro.

Too bad ya couldnt make it up Rock.. Hope the guidin went well for ya this weekend...

Thanks to Chuckwagon and Riverman for the feasts... Cant say enough about how great those were..

Varmit was good to see ya again.. Hard to believe that ya have only been tying for such a short time.. Bugs are lookin great... Thx for entertaining us with your mad pickin skills.. Will haft to hit Nances with ya soon..

T-Dub glad ya got to make it over for a night anyways.. Always a pleasure talkin to ya.. Def need to get that Ark trip in the works... Hope the cruise goes well..

Jay it was a blast as usual.. Mr. Cash would of been proud.. If the fish wont eat a Green Hackle Corn Fly might as well head to the house..

Jermz nice meetin ya man.. That tree fly was funny as heck.. Let me know when and I'll show ya that east west trail connection to Rock Creek.. Just haft to get there before the tourons..

Good to see ya again Richard.. Haft to hit Slick Rock soon..

Nice meetin ya Stretch.. Think that Condor Fly's will be a staple in everyone's box before long..

Flicker was good to see ya again.. Gonna haft to hit the water with ya sometime and check out those casting skills everyone is talkin about..

Sorry ya had to leave mitroutbum77... Hope the Clinch went well for ya on Sun..

Nice to meet ya Robb.. Thanks for the hookup on the cabin.. Sweet place..


Was great to meet/see all of ya again.. Fine group of fishermen.. Lookin forward to the next one.. Alot of imaginative flies came off the vice at night.. From Condors to Corn flies.. Think a good time was had by all.. Look forward to hittin the water with you guys sometime..



You're My Boy Blue..!!




Got into a few fish on Fri and Sat.. Kinda slow action.. Had alot of fun hittin some water I had never been on before though.. Fishin really picked up on Sunday.. Sun made up for the slow weekend for sure.. Headed out to Thunder .. uh.. Thunder.. hmm what was the name of that stream again.. Ahh yes, THUNDERHEAD!!! With Petey Riverman and Jay... Riverman was brave enough to let me take out one of his fine pieces of cane .. First boo experience and a 30+ day.. Im hooked although I think that boo is possessed... Great fishin with you guys..

Marmot

[Jay]

Guys, sorry it took me so long to reply to this, I wanted to make a long detailed report also, but just haven't had the time. All I will say is that I had a blast! It was great meeting new folks and great getting to see the others again. We most certainly need to get this group together more often. The music was good, the food was good, the poker was good (for some) the KNOOOOOOOOOB CREEEEEEEEEEK was good, the fishing was so ,so but the company was spectacular! Oh, and the 8/0 flies were hilarious ;D Although they were all great, I think my personal favorite was the "Smokey mountain stick fly" Thanks, Jermz!
Again, thanks to everybody for making this weekend a blast!

[rbaileydav]

sound like you guys had a wonderful time i am sorry i had to miss it.......... next time i will make it for sure..........

petey was that cane you were slingin ...........

gotta watch riverman he is trying to get converts for his church of classic cane

Glad ya'll had fun

DD

[Petey]

DD, it is cane. A few years ago, Mr. Tentwing rebuilt a ole Heddon rod. Wrapped in beautiful orange wraps, put a nice glaze on it and presented it as a gift. Well I was a tad bit apprehensive to fishing it. I finally started tossing it around and started liking it again. Well one day I took it on a trip up to Big South Fork for some smallie fishing. Took my 100 lb chocolate lab too. Well Bamboo, me, a lab and a tree got into it on a trail. Mr. Bamboo came out on the wrong end. Well Mr. Tentwing did all he could to revive that ole Bamboo. In the process the rod stiffened, especially in the butt section where the main fracture was. But when he made it he also made a handle that fit the top two sections of the rod to make it a nice small stream rod. And that is what you see there. The top 2/3's of a Heddon Model 17, I think. Tentwing knows. With the handle piece it makes a sweet little 6'10" 4wt Bamboo rod for small streams.

Glad you guys had a blast with Fly Fish South guys. They are a fun group. I would love to do Hazel sometime. I will need to pick your brain when that time comes.

Petey

[Riverman]

Sorry boy`s,,draggin my arse..
Good to see all my friends again and good to put names and a few new faces together. Trey,,thanks for joining us and for the fine supper you cooked up Friday night,,,But , you can`t hang with the Big Boy`s ;D.



Jay "The Bread Burner" Easter,,special thanks for showing an Old Newbie arround the park ;D.



Oh,,and the Corn and Shrimp Fly`s






And then there`s ole Varmit..If you ain`t never heard that boy pick a Mandolin,, well,, your missin out big time ;D.Good to see you again,, brother..



And then there`s Stretch.That boy can put away some Grub for a skinny man .




Marmot,,Glad you enjoyed you day with the "Cane" and to think that some people call them "Tomato Stake`s" .

[Rockyraccoon]

Man, I'm so glad you guys had made another group outing into a huge success. I wish I could have come and hung out with you guys.....but this is the time of year that I gotta make a buck when I can!

Love the pictures guys!

[Tentwing]

Corn and Shrimp Flies??.........Hmmmmmmm

Looks like you boys might-uh turned into bait chunkers after I left

Man I wish I could have stayed. Looks like a great time was had by all.

Petey was casting boo ,and it sounds like Marmot might have too. .....Gotta watch out for ole Riverman . He'll let that Bamboo Fever sneak up on ya I think Varmit might be near as bad off too.

Looks like the weather was co-operative from some of the pictures

Also looks like from some of the pictures that a few of might have drowned or pert near it in KNOOOOOOBB CREEEEEEEK. ;D

I agree with ya Varmit. Ole Flicker's casting looks like Tiger Woods with a fly rod

Trey , them field chickens you fixed up were great. And I hate that I missed that fire breathing stuff that Riverman fixes

As always the "Tailwater Brothers" (Jay and Varmit) provided a great show ( Mellencamp free)

Marmot not to worry we're gonna get that Ozark Trip off the ground.

Rocky wish you had been there, Heck wish I had been there.

The..... "Good"
The ...... "Bad"
& The .."Ugly" ;D Heck I thought me and Jay were gonna have to fight our way outta that IGA food store

Hope it happens again soon,.................Tentwing

[mitroutbum77]

Guys,
First I have to give a big thanks to Jay a.k.a. Mr. Snoop Doggy Cash for the invite. Had a blast to say the least with everyone!! Glad to finally meet a lot of you so I can put names to faces.
Looks like I missed a little action from Sat night. Next time I'll stick it out even if the majority of the fish had lock jaw!
This transplant learned a couple things from this trip:

1. I thought the Gin & Juice rendition was something you all came up with at one of these get togethers. I was suprisidly proven wrong the next day driving around when Richard played if from his IPod in the truck!! I HAVE to get a copy of that song!

2. The largest "brown trout" I saw all weekend was from Richard along side the river at Tremont. And I quote "I just can't wait until we get back to the cabin". Apollogies to the Mom and kids that walked down by the river...mommy mommy what's he doing? ;D

3. I now know what it must feel like sitting on the launch pad in the space shuttle after going up that "driveway" to the cabin!

4. I never knew it was possible to tie an 8/0 beadhead zebra midge with medium sized wire!!!

5. Jay & Petey had the world's problems solved at 4am from mine & Flicker's view from the basement.

Hat's off to CW for the excellent cookin Fri night and the pickin by Varmit & Jay.

Thanks again everyone! Had a helluva time and can't wait for the next one!
mt77