Aaron Christensen
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Buy a boat but think hard about what you really want. Depending on your life stage, you preferences could change. Starting in my late 20’s and continuing to age 40, I have wanted a bass boat, an off shore boat, and in shore boat, a flats boat, a sailboat, a Hobie cat, and a pontoon boat. I have made offers on several of these and looked seriously at all of them.
Ultimately, however, I have realized that my personal fishing preference is mountain streams so I don’t really need a pure fishing boat. At this point, I am leaning toward a 22 foot tri-toon pontoon boat with a 115 hp or higher engine. I could put a trolling motor on it for fishing but the real goal would be family time. I presently own a fishing kayak, a canoe and an Outcast pontoon. I am restoring a Sunfish for the kids.
It has been too long and the place is under new ownership, but the Old Kirby Place on the Madison is nice. They have a side house that might suit you needs. The main house might be a bit too crowded for your needs, but it is also very nice.
Note that the Madison is tough to wade. My wife and I enjoyed the trip, but the Madison is not really what I prefer.
Also consider a backcountry trip on horses. That is one of my next dream trips. You can get with an outfitter that will take care of everything and make great meals, if that is what you want.
These ideas are not in your precise area, but perhaps close enough.
I am looking forward to this trip.
Someone asked about patterns. WNC is not known for great hatches so, IMHO, placement is more important than pattern. Nevertheless, the October Caddis might be out. This is an easy caddis pattern. For one version, wrap the hook with a thin-cut strip of 2mm orange foam, add some brown hackle and some elk or deer hair for a wing. This is a seasonal favorite on the Nantahala, which is relatively close. If you do a Google search, you will see several other variations — both wet and dry.
I plan to throw a few on our trip. In the worst case, it will be a great indicator for a dropper down below.
Excellent points on this thread. If I can add to Gary’s post, I suggest knowing exactly where you want to go with your work before you start writing.
If you are working on a technical or legal piece, the reader should not need to outline your work to understand your points. For example, if a lawyer needs to write what will end up being a 50 page brief to the Court of Appeals, the lawyer would be wise to spend up to several days outlining the argument. (As Gary said, identify your topic sentences and the subject for each of your paragraphs.) Then, after you finish writing 50 pages, figure out how to cut it to 40 pages. Inevitably, you will find ways to make your points more concisely. (Gary’s rule 3).
If there are any young or aspiring lawyers out there, I recommend “The Elements of Legal Style” and “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword.”
Business people will also set themselves apart from the crowd by studying the art of writing.
Many of these principles will also apply to other areas, such as journalism. While creative writing is different, mastery of basic writing skills will help you understand when you should veer away from the basics of writing 101.
Are there any shops in say TN, GA, or NC that might have a good selection of bamboo rods?
Bo Cash runs Table Rock Angler near Morganton, NC.
So . . . what are you going to tie with that expensive stuff?
It makes a great looking Thunder Head and my flies need all the help they can get.
It is hard without a boat but I have rented a kayak and a small john boat (cheaper than a guide) and fished the marshy area’s around Pawlys Island which is just south of Murrells inlet. It should be cooling off a little so the sea trout and reds should be moving back into those channels. Or lay a shrimp pattern on the bottom and you can catch big flounder all day any day in that area. That is fun on a fly rod. I got into a bunch of sheapheads in that area one day as well and that was fun.
But is you do this make sure you remember where you are going because those channels all start looking the same.
There are a couple of great bait shops in Pawley as well that will tell you exactly the best places to go. Without motors they are more willing.
http://www.pawleysislandoutdoors.com/
Eat a hushpuppy for me. And all the flounder and shrimp you can eat – I cannot anymore due to shrimp allergies. Sad… 🙁
Good info there. I will take my kayak when I go this fall and give it another go. Flounder don’t get the benefit of C&R but I will give ’em a corn meal sweater.
We go to Surfside Beach (a few minutes from the inlet) every year and I just returned from a week-long vacation.
If a new guy can join in, it sounds like a great trip. I have high interest and a 50% chance of being able to attend. Christine (my bride) will try to pawn the kids off on her parents so we can make it. Christine also fishes.
In terms of patterns, consider adding Roger Lowe’s “FLY PATTERN GUIDE to the Great Smokey Mountains” to you library. I understand that Roger closed his shop but still guides out of Waynesville. You can probably track him down for an autographed copy without too much trouble. If you are new to tying (like me), he also sells videos for many of the patterns he provides in the book. Personally, I find that an elk hair caddis will catch just about any wild mountain trout in NC.
I am a big fan of furled leaders for small mountain streams where the cast does not amount to much more than roll casting the leader.
Welcome Aaron, great to see you finally joined the site. How’s the grill 😉 Haven’t heard from you since we fished at Callaway. Hope all is going well in NC.
Bamboo rods have become a recent interest of mine.
I didn’t know you had a bamboo rod, is that a new purchase? I am still in love with my new fiberglass fly rod and I think I will stay with the glass niche. Be careful when reading posts from Cameron, he will get you hooked on glass in a hurry.
Thanks for the welcome. I have had my first nice bamboo rod for about a year now — a 7 ft 5wt Mike Brooks rod. One of these days I will take Bill Oyster’s class on building your own. I do like fiberglass, too. Another favorite rod is an 8 ft 4wt Hardy glass rod.
I forgot to mention ceramic smokers/grills as a hobby. I like that, too. I use a GrillDome. Funny thing is, there are people who love their ceramic grills as much as we love fishing.
