Post by Varmit on Jun 25, 2006 12:43:43 GMT -5
6:10 a.m.
After a night full of localized showers, I stepped into the high, stained waters of Metcalf Bottoms. The sun was high enough to offer a little light and to start burning the cloud cover away. No other cars in the parking lot, no bikes, no hikers....nothing. It was hard to believe, especially since this place is so popular, but I was alone. Just me and the river.
The water was stained to the point that I knew the fishing would probably be difficult, and it had risen. Day upon day with no rain and then this? No doubt the fishing would be slow. One good thing was water temperature. I don't know the exact degree, but it was cold which was good news for the trout.
I decided to fish just as deep as I could so I tied on a Tellico Nymph for the color, and just as a test, I used my very poor attempt at tying a Smoky Mountain Blackbird (I humbly refer you to Hugh's website and encourage you to visit it often...a lot can be learned from him) as a dropper. My rod of choice was a Fathers day gift from my girls; 6'3" 3wt with about as much backbone as a well cooked piece of spaghetti.
Several casts to get the feel of the rod, and then the yarn dove quickly. I set the hook and brought a small bow to hand. Several more casts and I had either the same fish or one of its siblings.
It was then that I stopped and looked up river. Alone standing in that water, with the first light of day dancing off the higher tree tops, I had to stop and take it in. Feeling the stress of life outside the river wash away, I thanked God for blessing me with this moment and continued dredging the bottom. It was as if the fish had left.....Nothing.
8:30(ish)
A noise behind me. A bear? A deer? Two tourists from Idaho with their 5 obnoxious children with inner tubes? No....it was a friend. Though I didn't know it at the time, Jermz had PM'd me to say he was coming. I hadn't seen him since the last ETFFF get together and quickly made my way to shore for a firm handshake and a welcome visit. After a quick catchup on events in our lives, he went to get his equipment and we worked the water. He didn't notice (I don't think), but at one point I stopped fishing just to watch him, a member of the unique brotherhood. We (all of us) are a very solitary lot.
Using a skill I learned from he and Robb, I leapfrogged him and moved upstream. Across from us in water we really couldn't effectively reach, a large brown trout was gorging himself on something. His feeding so reckless that he churned the water like a carp rolling the bank. I watched the swirls in the water and in my mind I imagined the pull of a big fish and laughed to myself at the thought of hooking him on the small setup I had in hand.
It was then that I hooked my next one. This one had pretty good size to it and the ultralight setup got a workout as he dove away from me in the swift current. As I brought him to hand, I saw Jermz behind me. Though our sport is primarily a solitary endeavor, it is always nice to share a moment of triumph with a friend.
10:30
One more brought to hand and it was time to take my leave. We walked back to our rides. He to move on into the park and me to my duties.
Jermz, it was great to see you again. Hope you had a banner day and left refreshed. The entire adventure was cleansing, and I hope that all of you find your way to the peace that can be found in the solitude of our craft.
After a night full of localized showers, I stepped into the high, stained waters of Metcalf Bottoms. The sun was high enough to offer a little light and to start burning the cloud cover away. No other cars in the parking lot, no bikes, no hikers....nothing. It was hard to believe, especially since this place is so popular, but I was alone. Just me and the river.
The water was stained to the point that I knew the fishing would probably be difficult, and it had risen. Day upon day with no rain and then this? No doubt the fishing would be slow. One good thing was water temperature. I don't know the exact degree, but it was cold which was good news for the trout.
I decided to fish just as deep as I could so I tied on a Tellico Nymph for the color, and just as a test, I used my very poor attempt at tying a Smoky Mountain Blackbird (I humbly refer you to Hugh's website and encourage you to visit it often...a lot can be learned from him) as a dropper. My rod of choice was a Fathers day gift from my girls; 6'3" 3wt with about as much backbone as a well cooked piece of spaghetti.
Several casts to get the feel of the rod, and then the yarn dove quickly. I set the hook and brought a small bow to hand. Several more casts and I had either the same fish or one of its siblings.
It was then that I stopped and looked up river. Alone standing in that water, with the first light of day dancing off the higher tree tops, I had to stop and take it in. Feeling the stress of life outside the river wash away, I thanked God for blessing me with this moment and continued dredging the bottom. It was as if the fish had left.....Nothing.
8:30(ish)
A noise behind me. A bear? A deer? Two tourists from Idaho with their 5 obnoxious children with inner tubes? No....it was a friend. Though I didn't know it at the time, Jermz had PM'd me to say he was coming. I hadn't seen him since the last ETFFF get together and quickly made my way to shore for a firm handshake and a welcome visit. After a quick catchup on events in our lives, he went to get his equipment and we worked the water. He didn't notice (I don't think), but at one point I stopped fishing just to watch him, a member of the unique brotherhood. We (all of us) are a very solitary lot.
Using a skill I learned from he and Robb, I leapfrogged him and moved upstream. Across from us in water we really couldn't effectively reach, a large brown trout was gorging himself on something. His feeding so reckless that he churned the water like a carp rolling the bank. I watched the swirls in the water and in my mind I imagined the pull of a big fish and laughed to myself at the thought of hooking him on the small setup I had in hand.
It was then that I hooked my next one. This one had pretty good size to it and the ultralight setup got a workout as he dove away from me in the swift current. As I brought him to hand, I saw Jermz behind me. Though our sport is primarily a solitary endeavor, it is always nice to share a moment of triumph with a friend.
10:30
One more brought to hand and it was time to take my leave. We walked back to our rides. He to move on into the park and me to my duties.
Jermz, it was great to see you again. Hope you had a banner day and left refreshed. The entire adventure was cleansing, and I hope that all of you find your way to the peace that can be found in the solitude of our craft.
