[Abe Mathews]

Mike’s given you good advise.

I’ve had a 3wt for small streams for a couple of years now.

[Abe Mathews]

But for the love of the hop, WHY?  Why would a man in Georgia yearn for Fat Tire when you can get Sweetwater 420 in the freakin’ soda fountains in GA?  I’ve had some Fat Tire, and I guess it’s not something I’ve ever gotten that whipped up about.

Since it’s available in TN maybe I need to buy a sixer again.  If nothing else, I could boil brats in it.  Or make chili.  Something you’d be hard pressed to to in GA.

[Abe Mathews]

Zach, it was cool to finally meet you in person.

[Abe Mathews]

I’m going to be there at some point.

[Abe Mathews]

What, you come all the way up here Abe and you didn’t call?  I feel used!  No but seriously glad you had fun but I wouldn’t have minded showing you all some spots around town…next time

Lee

Lee-

I apologize, I know I should have gotten in touch with you prior to the trip.

[Abe Mathews]

She’s told me that she’s been tying on her dad’s vise (which, incidentally, I gave him a couple years ago, a Griffin #2A) and has tied flies she wants to fish with.

[Abe Mathews]

I bet that would be an absolute blast for fishing some of the smokies streams.

[Abe Mathews]

My suggestion is to get a hold of a Griffin #2A (I found one for $30 that my brother now has but they’re normally about $50), a pair of decent scissors (I like Dr. Slick), a pair of “junk” scissors (JoAnn Fabrics has scissors on sale for 50% off about once a month), one standard ceramic bobbin, and a whip finisher.

Make a bodkin by sticking a sewing needle in a wine cork, steal a pair of your wife’s (or mom’s, or girlfriend’s, or your own) tweezers, and get a bottle of Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails.

[Abe Mathews]

My normal Smokies rig is a 14 Stimulator or EHC with a 14 or 16 Pheasant Tail, Copper John, or Tellico nymph.

[Abe Mathews]

That straight 6 was a GREAT motor.

[Abe Mathews]

Dave, is that F-150 loaded with the old straight 6?

Abe

[Abe Mathews]

This was my last vehicle, a 2001 Ford F-150 Extended cab.

[Abe Mathews]

Hell, I avoid Illinois when traveling due to their draconian firearms laws, and I do my best to minimize spending any money in states that don’t have reciprocity with TN for CHP’s.

[Abe Mathews]

Keith, understand that I hate CF lamps and I believe that they are far worse than the incandescent alternative.

[Abe Mathews]

I’m using an old desk lamp with a long arm and a CF bulb that I spent about 3X the normal price on.

[Abe Mathews]

In salt, I have been wade-fishing, either in the surf or in the intercoastal waterways.

[Abe Mathews]

I was unsuccessful in my attempt at steelheading, but you have got to have a couple of egg sucking leeches.

[Abe Mathews]

In terms of “bling”, I have done better on Zebra Midges where I counter-rib below the wire with a single strand of pearl flashabou than midges without the flash.

[Abe Mathews]

Never heard of that before, but that’s a very interesting pattern.

[Abe Mathews]

Nice, Abe. How about a pic of that fly? Congrats on solving the puzzle and finding joy with the new rod.

Darrin, I’d love to post a pic of the fly.

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