April Showers

Spring brings the best fishing of the year to southeast Tennessee. But in April, spring often brings the rain. I have been practically living at the Hiwassee over the past month. At least fishing twice a week! Yesterday was the best dry fly fishing of the season so far! I was met with a nasty storm, but nothing my waders and a solid rain jacket couldn't handle. I tried a smaller grey wulf pattern yesterday and it did not disappoint. There were plenty of bugs on the water, both caddis and BWOs. But I was getting sufficient hits on my fly so I didn't bother changing. Something I have noticed over the past few years is that brown trout seem to love the grey wulf pattern. And lucky for me, I also love brown trout. So I often am compelled to stick with the grey pattern, to tangle with the browns! Yesterday's prize was a nice hefty 15 or 16 inch brown trout. We tangled in a fight I will not soon forget. Also had a new thing happen to me yesterday. I casted my line out and put my rod in my mouth, out of laziness, so that I could tie my boot. As I was tieing I felt a jerk on my line. I tugged a little with my mouth but but didn't think much. Then all the sudden I felt some serious movement on the end of my line (keep in mind my rod is still in my mouth) I quickly finished tying my shoe and picked up my rod to feel a fish on the other side. I can honestly say I have never caught a fish with my mouth before. But now even that has happened! I hope to be back out over the weekend! Get out and enjoy spring! Til next time

-Dreamcatchers

Cool scene after the storm rolled through

One of the many browns that ended up on the other end of my line

We Found Gold - Part II

It has been long delayed, but I finally got my hands on my brothers pics from our trip out to the wild west last summer! Since then, I often have thought about that trip and reminisced of both the fun and struggles we encountered. There is something to be said about being out in the wilderness and never seeing another human for 3 or 4 days. Very surreal. I hope to experience that again! The same could be said about fantastic fishing, awesome vistas, quality time with the fam! I hope to experience all those again! But there are a few things I could pass on experiencing again: hail storms on a ridge line over 10,000 feet elevation everyday, endless mosquitoes, and temporary altitude sickness. What a trip though!?? We set out with a plan in mind and completely altered it on the fly! It still turned out great! And we still found GOLD! Enjoy the pics! til next time....

-Dreamcatchers 

Surreal Campsite

First GOLD of the trip

Sweet look down the lakes from an outlet stream

Trying my luck in the outlet stream before the waterfall

BOOM! Vibrant colored GOLD waiting!

Smile for the camera!

Danny we like to call the tamer of the BEASTS!

Til Next Time my golden friend

AGAIN!

T-minus 20 minutes until hail storm!

Cozy camp

Beautiful open area

Still going strong!

Can't beat fast action dry fly fishing

The last night from our campsite

Sunday Surprise

It had been quite some time since the Dreamcatchers were reunited together. Life goes on and people grow up! My brother recently had a child and that certainly has kept his life racing. It had probably been a solid 10 or 11 months since we had fished together. Sunday would finally provide an opportunity to string it up together again! It felt like old times out on the river together, every so often glancing over to see how the other is doing! Sharing the cordial handshake after a solid catch! Fishing wasn't quite as good as the weekend before but still managed to catch a ton of fish! The prize of the day would be a fat rainbow. I chased that thing for what seemed like an hour, more likely 10 or 15 minutes, but finally got it in the net! The weather is great and this fishing will match it! Get out while you still can! Til next time

-Dreamcatchers 

Big boy couldn't resist the dropper