Independence Day at the Park

Saturday we spent the day at a local state park where we rented out a building to celebrate July 4th. This small local park is probably the place where I officially learned to fish, and I don't visit it often enough. When GSMNP is overrun by tourists, this small park is just about perfect. Yes it does get a little crowded, but not nearly as smothering as the droves of people who swarm on Townsend and Gatlinburg.

Below are a few pics from the day, and I do plan on going back much sooner than later.

We Cooked Hard

We Ate Hard

We Napped Hard

We Even Caught Some Bluegill

One Year Birthday

This past week we celebrated Trey's one year birthday. Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday that I was rushing Amy to the hospital. What a wonderful year it has been, and my little buddy is getting so big. Unfortunately I had to travel for work this past week, but luckily I was able to come home on his birthday. Below are some pics from his birthday. I am one proud daddy, and I am at a loss of words to explain the emotions I have experienced the past year.

Enjoy.

Troutfest Tomorrow

Well, tomorrow is the big day. I am scheduled to be tying at Troutfest tomorrow from 1:00 till 5:00. However, I plan on getting there around 11:30 to look around and get my stuff set up. Also looking at the recent poll, it appears the majority of you out there would like to see me tie either a stripper midge or a woolly bugger. I definitely plan on tying those patterns as well as some of the others on the poll. I am somewhat surprised by the woolly bugger since it is a reasonably well known pattern. On the other hand I did expect to see the stripper midge near the top of the list. This is an absolutely phenomenal pattern on the South Holston River when you can't get the fish to take any typical sulfur fare.

I hope some of you were able to make it to Troutfest at some point this weekend, and I look forward to seeing all the positive ways this benefit is used to improve the fishing in the Smokies.

New Poll: Troutfest Flies

With Troutfest about 7 weeks away, I am trying to get an idea of what people would like to see me tie. I plan on tying mostly tailwater flies since that is where most of my experience is. However, I do have experience with smokies flies such as the neversink caddis, tellico nymph, Adams, and blue quills. I would like to focus my efforts on 4 or 5 flies during the course of the day, unless I get a special request from a visitor. Please vote, and you can vote for more than one fly. If you have another request, please feel free to leave a comment as such.

Tight Lines and God Bless.

Troutfest

Things have been a little slow lately on the fishing side of things. All of the recent rains have had all the tailwaters blown out, and I don't expect to get on the water for at least another week.

However, I wanted to share with everyone that I will be at Troutfest this year as one of the fly tyers. A couple other blogger buds will also be there tying. What is Troutfest? See the link below to find out, and try to come out if you are available.

Troutfest

I haven't done any public demonstrations since my days tying for The Creel here in Knoxville. That has been almost 15 years ago, but I figured it was time that I come out of my comfort zone and do it again. I always enjoyed tying in front of others, so I don't really know how I got away from it. I would have my dad drop me off at the shop on his way to work (I didn't have my license yet), and I would stay there and tie and talk flyfishing all day long. Those are some good memories I had long forgotten. As the time draws near, I will probably solicit comments from you to let me know what flies you would like to see me tie if you were attending. I am definitely planning on tying Blake's Stripper Midge, Sulfur Biot Softhackle, Slumpbusters, and Woolly Buggers, but I will need a few others in my arsenal.

Until next time.....

Tight Lines and God Bless

Merry Christmas

With only 4 days to go until Christmas, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. This is a wonderful time of year, and it is even more so now that Trey is here. With this as my first Christmas being a dad, and my second as an uncle I am so excited. Trey is not old enough yet to understand, but my little nephew Bryce is. Amy and I are very excited to see the look on his face when he opens one particular present we got him. Trey's primary present from me this year is his lifetime sportsmans license. Not that he will know what it is, other than wanting to eat it, its benefit will be seen in future years. Right now Trey thinks everything is something that is to be eaten, even his feet. Our little guy just makes everyday that much more special, and I can't remember what life was like before him. I have attached a few Christmas pics I took this year, and you can see how much he has changed.

I also have added a poll just to see what my readers prefer to say during this time of year. Personally, I choose to say Merry Christmas, because Christ is the reason for the season and I don't want that to be left out. I know that there is some debate right now about which is politically correct, and honestly I could care less about political correctness. So please feel free to vote in the poll and leave a comment if you feel so inclined.

As far as fishing goes, I plan to get out a couple times during the week between Christmas and New Years. The long term forecast once again is for rain/snow during that week, but I have all intentions of going unless icy conditions prohibit. Stay in touch in the coming year for more fly patterns, book reviews, detailed trip reports, and conversation.

Trey and Cousin Bryce

Alisha, Jeremy, and Bryce

Family Portrait

Merry Christmas and God Bless

First Father's Day

As my first Father's Day wraps up, all I have to say is wow. I have had 11 days so far with my son, and it has been so much more than I could have ever imagined. Not only have I spent time with my son, but I have spent a lot of time with my dad this past week and on Saturday. He is an inspiration to me, and I hope to be as good of a father to Trey as my dad was to me.

Today was our first day taking Trey to church, and I was told "Happy Father's Day" more times today than I can remember. Everytime I turned around somebody was walking up to me and slapping me on the back congratulating me. After church we went to lunch with my father-in-law and then back to the house for a day of rest. My wife had to have her incision reopened on Thursday to drain, and I am responsible for changing her packing and bandages. On top of that, Trey has plugged tear ducts, so I have been constantly cleaning his face throughout the day.

Around 6:00, my wife seemed upset, so I asked her what was wrong. She said she was so sorry that my first Father's Day was a bust. I told her that I thought it was far from a bust. To me, Father's Day is about showing dads and husbands about how much they are loved and needed. If I have ever felt needed, I felt it today. Taking care of my wife and son is an amazing responsibility, and even though it can be tiring it is extremely rewarding.

So, my first Father's Day, even though it wasn't filled with outdoor activities, sports, movies, etc., couldn't have been better. I feel a sense of accomplishment taking care of both of them today, and I don't think I would have changed a thing.


God Bless

Baby Trey, Welcome to the World

Yesterday I was introduced to emotions never before imagined. A whole new box of thoughts and feelings was opened that I never knew existed in me. From the day we found out that we were expecting I have been excited. But seeing him emerge, and holding him for the first time, words cannot explain the rush of emotions I felt. I saw a completely innocent little person who I am entrusted to love and care for. A little person who will work my hardest to show love to and show love to his mother. I still think that the greatest gift a father can give to their children is to faithfully love their mother, and I am to fulfill that promise I made. I am up to this entirely new challenge and consider this my most amazing and favorite responsibility in life.

Trey was born at 5:41 pm after 14 hours of labor. My wife, Trey, and I were all exhausted after the long day, but we were so very excited to share this day with friends and family. We are so blessed to have both our families here in Knoxville with us to support us in this time of discovery and wonderful task. I am also blessed to have a job that allows me to have a week off work to assist my wife in her recovery from the C-section. I always have a positive outlook on life, and love to tell people about how good life is. I feel that I am a mile high right now, and don't see any way that things can get any better, and I know that God is due all the glory for this.

My fishing adventures will be on hold for most of the month of June, but I may be able to sneak in a few hours on the Clinch one day after work. In the meantime, I will be enjoying my son and dreaming of all the wonderful days to come.

By thw way, the lifetime sportsmans application is already in progress......