Which comes first?

rb608 wrote:

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message news:es9fdk$cj0

Don't get me wrong, I not one who catches fish every time I go out, I
really have to work at it, but I try to give myself the best opportunity
to catch a fish.


Like Tim, I'm in agreement with you all the way, except that I do enjoy a
good cigar from time to time. As for the approach (and I'm anything but a
great fisherman), I am usually very patient and stealthy as you descibe.
(and for that I owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Miller's company on Wilson's
Creek a while back.) Not only to scout out the river, but also because all
of the aspects of the experience are as valuable as the actual fishing. I'm
not there to catch fish, and I'm in no hurry to do so. I'm there to go
fishing, and the streamside observations and approach are part of that; to
be enjoyed, not rushed through. And frankly, if the trout don't like the
smell of a good Montecristo, it doesn't lessen my enjoyment of either.

Joe F.



you know...it's about time you found your way (or lost your way) back
down here again. this life moves and expires much too fast not to think
about slowing it down with a bit of good fishing. there are some other
places in western nc i think you should see. i'm sure you'll enjoy
smoking that stogie while chasing the great mystery in carolina...

sometimes "a cigar is just a cigar"... but, the trout are so much more
important. "coldly indifferent...like life itself...sudden wonder,
relentless mystery...a beat of heart and blood and bone beyond the
normal geography of language" (or cigars). [harry middleton]

jeff (goin shad fishin tomorrow...the run has started.)

Tom Nakashima wrote:



Yes, I'm a firm believer that patients is the key in fly-fishing.



damn...must be all that cigar smoke? g

Tim J. wrote:

rb608 typed:
snip

I'm there to go fishing,
and the streamside observations and approach are part of that; to be
enjoyed, not rushed through. And frankly, if the trout don't like
the smell of a good Montecristo, it doesn't lessen my enjoyment of
either.


You da man, Joe. Pick up a Hoyo de Monterey Dark Sumatra - the bigger, the
better. You won't be disappointed, and you'll have enough left in your
pocket to buy that club for clubbing the water as you dash into the river
just upstream from Jeff. And if upstream just happens to be upwind, all the
better. ;-)

joe can club and smoke upstream and upwind of me anyday...i've got just
the spot. pleasant stroll for him down to the stream from hooper
bald...i'll begin above the junction and we'll meet at middle falls.
better bring a pocket full of smokes joe.

jeff

On Mar 2, 8:31 pm, jeff wrote:
rb608 wrote:
"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message news:es9fdk$cj0

Don't get me wrong, I not one who catches fish every time I go out, I
really have to work at it, but I try to give myself the best opportunity
to catch a fish.

Like Tim, I'm in agreement with you all the way, except that I do enjoy a
good cigar from time to time. As for the approach (and I'm anything but a
great fisherman), I am usually very patient and stealthy as you descibe.
(and for that I owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Miller's company on Wilson's
Creek a while back.) Not only to scout out the river, but also because all
of the aspects of the experience are as valuable as the actual fishing. I'm
not there to catch fish, and I'm in no hurry to do so. I'm there to go
fishing, and the streamside observations and approach are part of that; to
be enjoyed, not rushed through. And frankly, if the trout don't like the
smell of a good Montecristo, it doesn't lessen my enjoyment of either.

Joe F.

you know...it's about time you found your way (or lost your way) back
down here again. this life moves and expires much too fast not to think
about slowing it down with a bit of good fishing. there are some other
places in western nc i think you should see. i'm sure you'll enjoy
smoking that stogie while chasing the great mystery in carolina...

sometimes "a cigar is just a cigar"... but, the trout are so much more
important. "coldly indifferent...like life itself...sudden wonder,
relentless mystery...a beat of heart and blood and bone beyond the
normal geography of language" (or cigars). [harry middleton]

jeff (goin shad fishin tomorrow...the run has started.)

Spoke with Joel and Wayne earlier this evening. Both have decided not
to participate in the WI early season opener tomorrow......prior
commitments.....um.....or something.

The mystery heeds not, nor cares.

Just came in from shovelling by the cold light of the full moon,
clearly and preternaturally visible through the falling, swirling snow
on a cloudless and blustery pre-spring evening.

Cullen is unimpressed by the conundrum. He knows that picas lurk
nearby and shows a single-minded devotion to duty that shames those of
us who worry the ragged bones of work, family, home and hearth. He
knows. He speaks to me.

I listen. I have learned.

The wind speaks. I listen.

The call is faint, nearly smothered by the howling of the silver maple
(how apt that moniker seemed in the freezing rain yesterday!) tree in
the back yard and the crunching of tires on cold snow out front, but
there it is. It is coming out of the west at about 30 miles per hour
and I can't quite make out what it is saying.

I'll be heading out at about 5:00 to see if I can get closer and hear
it better.

Wolfgang
who supposes it will be old news.....but hey, there are some stories
we just never tire of.

"jeff" wrote in message
...
Tom Nakashima wrote:



Yes, I'm a firm believer that patients is the key in fly-fishing.



damn...must be all that cigar smoke? g

or, he fishes with Reid. Before the weekend is out, he
is generally a patient at some facility nearby, at least
in my experienceg
Tom

Wolfgang wrote:.....but hey, there are some stories
we just never tire of.


yup... g

just back from shad fishing at pitch kettle creek and grendle creek.
the beginning of the run always brings out the crowds, especially on
weekends...but it's still fun. weather was warm, water temps 53, and we
caught a decent number...enough to deep fry for the four of us. tasty
end to a pleasant day. one of our fishing areas is under a huge poplar
with a bald eagle's nest near its top. this is the 5th year we've seen
the eagle...

jeff wrote:

joe can club and smoke upstream and upwind of me anyday...i've got just
the spot. pleasant stroll for him down to the stream from hooper
bald...i'll begin above the junction and we'll meet at middle falls.
better bring a pocket full of smokes joe.

So have you made the trip down from Hooper? I've heard that it's a
bit of a death-march. One guy I met on the creek said they were
planning to do a shuttle, leaving a vehicle down at Junction so they
wouldn't have to climb back out.


Chuck Vance

Conan The Librarian wrote:

jeff wrote:

joe can club and smoke upstream and upwind of me anyday...i've got
just the spot. pleasant stroll for him down to the stream from hooper
bald...i'll begin above the junction and we'll meet at middle falls.
better bring a pocket full of smokes joe.


So have you made the trip down from Hooper? I've heard that it's a
bit of a death-march. One guy I met on the creek said they were
planning to do a shuttle, leaving a vehicle down at Junction so they
wouldn't have to climb back out.


Chuck Vance

the above was a bit of fun/tongue-in-cheek.

fortenberry and i hiked down from hooper bald several years ago, but we
didn't find the trail ...after a few hours, we found a small feeder
creek, and ken caught a native brookie in a spot i'd wager had never
been fished before. we then climbed back up the 2,000+ elevation to the
5,000+ feet at hooper and drove over to santeetlah. i was, uh, a bit
tired at the end of that day.

i think it would be a full day. the hike down and back to the junction
will probably be 10+ miles, i'd guess. i sure wouldn't want to fish all
day and hike back up to hooper. there are other trails in from the
other side, but i've never been in that way. i've also not yet made it
to upper falls...something i plan to rectify this year. but i plan on
overnight camping near middle falls after hiking up from the junction.

jeff

jeff wrote:

Conan The Librarian wrote:

[hiking in from Hooper Bald]

the above was a bit of fun/tongue-in-cheek.

Yah, sorry to go serious on you there. :-)

fortenberry and i hiked down from hooper bald several years ago, but we
didn't find the trail ...after a few hours, we found a small feeder
creek, and ken caught a native brookie in a spot i'd wager had never
been fished before. we then climbed back up the 2,000+ elevation to the
5,000+ feet at hooper and drove over to santeetlah. i was, uh, a bit
tired at the end of that day.

Gee, sounds like an average day in WNC. ;-)

i think it would be a full day. the hike down and back to the junction
will probably be 10+ miles, i'd guess. i sure wouldn't want to fish all
day and hike back up to hooper. there are other trails in from the
other side, but i've never been in that way. i've also not yet made it
to upper falls...something i plan to rectify this year. but i plan on
overnight camping near middle falls after hiking up from the junction.

IIRC, it took me about 90 minutes to hike to the lower (Big) falls.
So what's the mileage from Junction to Middle Falls? (I.e., is it
close enough to be doable as a day trip and still leave adequate time
for fishing?)


Chuck Vance

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
t...
wrote:

Tom you really need to attend a 'Clave one of these days, you can
be the guest of honor and hold the bag during the snipe hunt. ;-)

--
Ken Fortenberry

I'm actually looking forward to a few of the claves and fishing with some
of the ROFF people. Is that bag for the exchange gifts? I was thinking
of bringing a box of Cubans or a First-Aid kit.
fwiw,
-tom