Jump to content

Damor

Certifiably Surly
  • Posts

    695
  • Joined

Everything posted by Damor

  1. It Just Means More™... to them.
  2. Damn. Sucks to try to follow that, but I did promise follow-up on our first-time trip to the Smokies. We didn't have a whole lot of luck, but neither of my boys nor I cared. It was phenomenally beautiful and just felt like we were blessed to be wading those streams, whether we caught anything or not (factor in that I suck at fly fishing). Gratuitous photos to follow: The place we stayed was on the Nantahala river, which was beautiful and away from all the tourist garbage. Recommended. They let water out of the dam throughout the day, so the better wade fishing is in the morning or later evening. Only on the way out did we drive by the upstream section of the river below the dam, which looks like it might have been better fishing. Oh well, next time. We did catch a few browns here, not huge but tons of fun, especially since we caught them on some of my earlier (and uglier) attempts at tying some elk hair caddis and brassie nymphs: We spent one morning fishing Noland Creek in the park just outside of Bryson City: Had a great time despite not catching anything. I know there's fish in there, though, because as we were leaving one of our guides from earlier on the trip was pulling up. I told him he was welcome for us leaving him all the fish. I didn't (and honestly still don't) know a ton about the GSMNP, but it's basically bisected by Hwy 441, which runs along a branch of the Pigeon River on the TN side and the Oconaluftee on the NC side. We thought it was weird that we only saw three other fishermen out there the whole time. Found out from our guide later that most people stick to the larger stocked rivers instead of chasing tiny brook trout in little pools with overhanging branches. Don't care, fished it anyway and wouldn't trade it for big fat stockers. This was my best effort, and I was plenty proud of it: My younger son caught this wild brookie as the last fish of the trip (his brother yelled at him for lipping it, but he didn't have his net): So now about our guide. Based on a local recommendation rather than the Google algorithm, we went out with Mac Brown. Holy shit, this guy was phenomenal. At this point we've been out with a good number of guides, and fortunately never had a bad one, but Mac set a new standard. We learned more in one day with him than in all our other instruction combined (and a lot of it quite contrary to previous teaching). The guy is a complete madman genius and a total blast to hang around with, knows everybody in or adjacent to the industry, and is one of those folks who you suspect might be mostly full of shit -- until he starts talking about something more in your wheelhouse, and you realize he actually knows a fuckton about everything (he was describing to my younger one how to do a better hookset in the context of the evolution of the mammalian brain and myelination pathways of the limbic system). We've never had more fun catching so few fish, and this experience will make every day of fishing afterwards better because of what we learned. I cannot say how much I loved this guy. When we met him and were unpacking our gear, I knew we were in for a fun day when he about shit himself that we brought fiberglass rods (we usually fish smaller stuff here at home). My prized rod is a custom Epic 4wt from New Zealand my wife got me for our anniversary, that I know I've mentioned on this site before. When I put it together, he said, "Aw hell, I know the guy who started that company! Let's take a picture of it with us and I'll send it to him!" He proceeded to regale us throughout the day with tales of multiple insane escapades including helping with the manhunt for the 1996 Olympic Bomber. It was like getting fly fishing lessons from Bill Brasky. Anyway, this post has been waaaaaay too long, but suffice it to say it was a fantastic experience despite the few fish we caught. Each one was a treasure. This was a particularly emotional trip for me, as my older one is in college now and my younger is a HS Jr, so this is the age where they are growing into men, and I feel so blessed that we can share these experiences and a common interest in being terrible fly fishermen, both now and over the years to come when they will become competent and I will still suck. It was also particularly meaningful to me since, as I know I've mentioned on other Cormac McCarthy threads, that his book The Road holds a special place for me and my relationship with my boys. I know I've also mentioned that my aforementioned prized rod bears an inscription taken from the book. Part of that story was set in this region, particularly that highway alongside which we caught wild brook trout, and it was in the back of my mind for the entirety of the trip, in particular the closing paragraph, which reads: "Once there were brook trout in the streams in the mountains. You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins wimpled softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and muscular and torsional. On their backs were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery."
  3. Took my boys on a guys trip to the Smokies, had never been. Some selections, more in the fishing thread with inane commentary. This feels worlds away from Hwy 441 despite it being 20 yards uphill. Nantahala River Noland Creek Proprietor of Tommy's Paradise Mixology and Restaurant, featuring the swan song of $0.25 wings that night. Far out, man.
  4. Given CDC's creativity and cleverness, I'm thinking it will be some kind of hybrid co-branding, with the victorious sponsor getting the headlining spot. Howler Bros. when Texas wins, Carhartt if aggy does.
  5. Thanks. The owner of the Airbnb we're renting from is an actual local, and based on his strong recommendation, we're going out with Mac Brown. Scares me to death. Will report back.
  6. OK, I know I've been all over the damn place with questions, but I finally committed to taking the boys to the NC side of GSMNP the first week of August, staying near Bryson City. We've never been to the area. Anybody used a guide there that they love? Bryson City Fly Shop seems to be the big dog. I like the look of either their Backcountry Brookies or Hazel Creek wade trips, as I'd prefer to GTFO for some peace and quiet (inasmuch is possible with two teenage boys). They seem a bit unique in that they do only 2 anglers per guide max. That would substantially increase the cost, but when have I ever made financially sound decisions when it comes to fishing? And that would probably increase the boys' fun factor since they'd each have a guide to work with (I'm a lost cause). Any other tips on the area are quite welcome. I'm usually the type to plan out vacations a year in advance, so flying by the seat of my pants here is a bit new for me.
  7. Thanks, y'all. Didn't pull the trigger this time, but will file away for future use.
  8. If you will it, it is no dream.
  9. Bump, if I missed a more recent thread, then muledick. Considering a last minute trip down there this week with my teenage boys, look for a fly fishing guide for a day or two and let them goof around. It's been so long since I've been that I'm functionally a noob. Recs on a place to stay or look at an Airbnb somewhere in particular? My wife is sitting this one out so it doesn't have to be the elitest of the SPI elite, just room for me and two large teenage humans (I guess I'll get the sofa bed). Proximity to a good beach bar for my sanity is a plus and worth paying for.
  10. Appreciate it. Sounds like that's a better trip for another time. This is why I'm much better overplanning a year out than scattershooting. I'll try to find something else for a spontaneous trip. Any guide recs out of Padre or Port Isabel? I could deal with that. Well, yeah, but it's my Dad job to make them hate all the things I love.
  11. Yeah, that sounds like something I would rather do psycho-level planning on. I probably didn't express well this is more like a day of fishing and a couple days bumming around, and not particularly chasing a target. A quick getaway and decompress from working way too hard kind of thing.
  12. This is way out of character for me as a psychotic vacation pre-planner, but I ended up with some time off and wanted to do something with my yahoo teenagers. I've never been saltwater fly fishing, and have never been to the Keys. Been perusing this thread and the site (BTW, fuck you KKL for making Key Largo search worthless), and looks like Islamorada might be our speed. I saw the rec for Bud N' Marys, is that the go-to? It looks like several of their skiff guides will take three fishermen, but I'm not sure how well that works with fly fishing. Any thoughts on particular trips? I guess it's probably too ambitious for n00bs (and impatient teenagers) to chase bonefish on the flats, although I'd be just as happy standing out there casting all day myself. Any thoughts on places to stay, getting there, etc.? Is this a reasonable last-minute idea (as in next week), or would it be better to push it to my time off in August (and then go psycho planning every detail)?
  13. I'd say don't sweat it. We sent my son off to school in Colorado, and his registration expired last October. We just renewed it a couple weeks ago when he came home for the summer. He even got pulled over for it when he first came back and the cop just laughed when he explained it then shot his dog and murdered us all.
  14. @BearSchlong I'm sure there will be things closer and more convenient to the Springs, but if he ever wants to fish the Arkansas, we've been out with ArkAnglers multiple times. They have offices in Salida and Buena Vista, either of which is probably a little over 2hrs away. My family and I went out for our first time with Stuart, who was a great teacher. If you want to jump in feet first, they offer instructional classes as well as a half-day instruction wade followed by a full-day float the next day. That would make for a great father/son weekend trip to Salida, stay at the Amigo Motor Lodge in one of their Airstreams. Just sayin'. Uggghh... I need to be standing in a cold mountain stream....
  15. Posted in the New Music 2024 thread too, but thanks KUTX for introducing me to Holy Wire. Debut album out today and is great.
  16. Damor

    New Music 2024

    Debut album from Austin band Holy Wire is out today and blowing my mind at work this evening. I'm a musical ignoramus, so not sure what to call it. Very 80s throwback, new wave with some electronica? IDK. I get some Tears for Fears, Echo and the Bunnymen, Nation of Language vibes. The whole album is pretty damn fantastic start to finish.
  17. @patrickdrinksbeer Damn, had tickets and a whole trip planned for that show that fell through. Hopefully this is becoming an annual thing and I can make it next year.
  18. ^^^ The ringer cannot look empty, Dude.
  19. Just got back from taking my boys out to the Llano, now that the older one is home from college. We started out at the James confluence, but it was "crowded" and a little turbid, so we moved down to the next crossing. Good move. Although not anything big, we caught a ton of guads, and the older one kept pulling one after the other out of a hole just down from the bridge. They were absolutely blowing up Llanolopes and hoppers, which was even more fun. And the only other person we saw was the Game Warden.
  20. Back when my boys were little, we had awesome season tickets just behind the on-deck circle. In between innings, the assistants would sneak them extras under a tiny loose corner of the netting next to the dugout. They were in heaven. Then one year Deloss put up a wall in LF and bolted that little corner down. It's a boy's last dream and a man's first loss.
  21. @Jerry Callo pm sent.
  22. I have 4 tickets for Waxahatchee at ACL Live on Saturday I may not be able to use. 🫤 If anyone's interested let me know.
×
×
  • Create New...