I was getting a few of my things in order this morning and came across a few notes I scribbled during my last trip to the Smoky Mountains in April. I spent two days with two different guides; each had their own style and approach to waters. The first one liked to put me into faster waters, while the second like to put me in the softer “edge” waters. In retrospect I could not have had two totally different guides to learn from.
With river right, I was constantly put into a position to make back hand – side arm casts, to make it easier, he cut my leader down to a mere four feet and tippet even less for better control. Reason being he wanted me to place the fly generally within a very small target area, once the fly hits the water the trout will either react to it or will let it pass. This type of fishing will put you on edge all day, soon as the fly hits you have to be fast.. no, ultra quick to react to a take. After a day of fishing like that, I would gladly have given it all up for a straw hat, overalls, a string and hook with a worm on the end with the fishing line tied off to my big toe while I snoozed under a shade tree waiting for a fish to take my offering. I put up with it because I learned a totally different way of fly fishing than I would ever have discovered on my own. Luckily for me there wasn’t a bottle of Crown Royal in the cabinet up over the stove in the trailer to help calm my nerves. Otherwise I would be pan handling on the streets of Gatlinburg today.
We all know that to have any success you first have to plan the approach with stealth in mind, small streams will challenge you at every step of the way. Generally I would look and try to study the water for signs of trout rising, undercut banks, small riffles, pools, dark or shaded areas, and structure for those pesky trout to be hiding. With a guide they know their areas so your time looking for holding spots isn't required, why they had another client at this very spot a couple of days ago, and they did hook into a couple. Now well rested, it was my turn.
I need to get quicker. The next spot we tried….
The day between guides I went back to my old slow paced (enjoyable) kind of fishing. Partridge and Orange searching pattern and the old stand by Wulff fooled enough for me to gain some confidence back and those lighting quick reflexes I once had wasn’t just a memory.
The guide had a nice quality southern pace about her, everything was easy and natural. AHHhhhhh….
That is until we got to the position she wanted me to start working, and worked me she did I tell ya. The thought of straw hats and a fish’n line tied to my toe started to take hold again. Fishing dries with a small dropper has never been my favourite way to begin with. I would much rather go home without the slightest hint of a nibble than to fish two flies. But I gave it a shot anyway, and learned to slow my casting stroke down a tad. String, bobber, straw hat, and shade tree you don’t have to worry about such things.
That is why on my way home from the Smokies, while getting gas in Richmond, VA I decided to head on up into Central PA and totally relax on a couple of streams where the trout will take my offering at a nice smooth and relaxed pace.
As always, that is one fly on at a time.
AK Skim
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Winner of the NEFF 2007 Most Prestigious Award
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Winner of the 2008 NEFF Protector Award |