The Road to the Smokies: Leaving Home
By Tom Chandler on Apr 29, 2007 in Tennessee, Travel
Working largely day and night, I managed to get my projects written and shipped, threw a bunch of gear — which may or may not have been the right stuff — into a couple duffles, and headed out of town.
It’s pretty apparent I’ve forgotten some vital piece of gear, but waiting for that “special” moment when you discover exactly what has become a hallmark of my trips.
To my credit, I didn’t stagger out of the house without pants — a definite possibility given my recent brain death.
Now I’m in Chico, tomorrow I’ll be in Sacramento, then Dallas, then Knoxville. Basically, close enough to the Smokies to smell ‘em. By Tuesday, I’ll be fishing.
Given my love of commercial air travel, I’m sure I’ll have something painful to report by this time tomorrow. As they say in the airline world, please stand by.
Finally, my brother and I just finished a Google Earth flyover of my backpacking trip up Hazel Creek. The trail looks good, the climbing looks gentle, and the creek. A beaut.
And though Google Earth isn’t actually refined enough to let you spot fish in the water, reality’s never been much of a barrier for a fisherman.
You just know those bend pools hold fish, and you’re reasonably sure they’ll move a long ways for the chance to nail a Beetle Bug.
Google Earth doesn’t actually show that either, but you just know it.
See you at the Terminal Security Station, Tom Chandler.
Technorati Tags: fly fishing, fishing, flying, tennessee
ijsouth | Apr 30, 2007 | Reply
Have fun…just be aware that, due to the crazy spring, there are a bunch of different hatches going on up there, and the trout might be a bit confused. I was able to catch all the brookies I wanted on dries, but when it came to ‘bows, I had to use prince nymphs to get them. Of course, it could be completely different by the time you get there.
Larry Swearingen | Apr 30, 2007 | Reply
I don’t think TC is travelling 3000 miles to fish for Rainbows. Brookies are probably the target species.
Larry S
wayne eng | Apr 30, 2007 | Reply
thomas……… you once told me one of your favorite kind of people were waitresses ,they are nice to you and bring you food….isnt that like a stewardess?traveling cant be that bad…yesterday evening david edmonson and i went out and found a secluded piece of water with an eclectic hatch.once we figured out the game we fooled and got fooled by rising trout.nice ones too……have a blast and dont forget your way home….the engthing..
ijsouth | Apr 30, 2007 | Reply
He mentioned Hazel Creek…that’s primarily ‘bows and browns. He will have to go WAY up that stream to get to any brook trout.
Tom Chandler | Apr 30, 2007 | Reply
Hazel’s not until Thursday-Sunday. Tomorrow (Tuesday) Rich Margiotta and I chase Brookies (The Official Char of the Trout Underground). Wednesdays we’re drifting a tailwater with Ian Rutter in the pursuit of dry fly rainbows.
But Larry’s right about me and Brookies. Give me a shot at them and I’m there.
ijsouth | Apr 30, 2007 | Reply
Well, the brookies were eager for me, both in the Smokies and up in Virginia…I got over 50, up to 9 inches, and all but a few on dries. Most of them were on parachute Adams - I retired one of them after many fish and this fly’s ability to avoid loss in the trees. It was charmed, and deserved a trip to the old fly’s home.
kbarton10 | May 1, 2007 | Reply
Tom,
When the polite, well groomed gentleman wearing the security patch asks you to grab your ankles…resistance will be futile.
It is actually quite sanitary, they use gloves now.
I did make a quick phone call to the airline - nothing to be alarmed about really, I dont think the lady understood what I meant by, “C4 molded into the shape of a Hardy Perfect, detonated by a middle aged lunatic waving a cane rod.”
Her supervisor had a different reaction, I think I heard the slide on his Glock ratchet…
Allah Akbar, Babe!
Beaverkill | May 1, 2007 | Reply
It is easier to accept the punishment of travel when your destination consists of high mountains, clear streams and moss covered rocks. Add in a a few spotted friends and it sounds much like a VACATION..While some of us are about to endure the same hell with a desitination consisting of asphalt, brick, and 4 ft windows…Enjoy the Smokies and dont forget to buy some cheesey T-shirts and get a photo with the Indian Chief..
Peter M Spirito | May 1, 2007 | Reply
When researching each new trip, the next one being Missouri in June, I spend hours in my Google Earth “chopper-1″, following road maps and NGS Quad maps to aquaint myself with the area.
Peter and Judy Spirito
Port St Lucie Fl, & Cove City NC.