We’ve been wet wading for a week and water conditions have been perfect (finally!!) in the Smokies. Charity and I have both been guiding quite a bit as folks with cabin fever (not Covid-19) have been getting away to the mountains. We’ve been fishing a lot of dry and dropper set ups, but most days […]
Smokies Gradually Open Up More Areas
After two weeks of limited opening Great Smoky Mountains National Park will open more areas tomorrow, Saturday May 23, 2020. However, several areas and facilities are remaining closed. The most noteworthy areas opening up are Tremont, Greenbrier, Big Creek, Roaring Fork, and Cosby Creek. All trails will be open as well. Up to this point […]
Back on the Water in the Smokies
The national park has been open for about a week now with restrictions, but we’ve guided a few trips and have more on the calendar. It’s good to get back in the park and guiding again, but here’s what you can expect. Only the main roads in the park are open at this point. That […]
The Latest Update From the Smokies About the Park Status
It’s pretty ironic that we live within mere minutes of some of our favorite trout streams, but because of the national park closure we have to drive about 90 minutes to go fishing. Things are pretty quiet and we’re firm believers that’s a good thing! It doesn’t look like the pandemic got much of a […]
Drawings and Watercolors from Ian
We’ve been housebound during the pandemic. We’re getting outside quite a bit, but the kids online school schedule of Zoom classes makes it difficult to take off all day long. As a result we’re doing some gardening, home maintenance, and Ian has been doing a tremendous amount of art. Ian has always done a bit […]
Keeping ourselves busy during the Covid-19 crisis
This is usually our busiest time of the year for guiding, but we’re completely shut down. The national park is closed and Tennessee has mandated the closure of all non-essential businesses. We’re keeping busy with other projects. The kids have online school and are handling that exceptionally well. We’ve been staining our decks, a project […]
Trout In The Classroom Trout Release
Townsend Elementary School has been involved with Trout in the Classroom for about five years. Every spring there’s a huge field trip where the kids get to release the trout in Little River here in Townsend, then go up into the national park to see fisheries biologists and entomologists in action. The Little River Chapter […]
Fly Fishing, Wildlife and Outdoor Art
Very few people know this, but Ian dabbles in art. He draws quite a bit and works in watercolor as well. This has always just been strictly for himself with no intention of selling anything. In fact, he keeps a pad in his backpack almost all the time. When he’s alone on the stream or […]
Quick Pic: Backcountry Brook Trout in the Smokies
I took this photograph of a swimming brook trout on a long hike up Lynn Camp Prong earlier this month. Water conditions were a little bit on the high side and the weather was gray and drizzly. I could have fished, but it was one of those days when I just needed to get out […]
GSMNP Closed Due to Covid-19
.Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed for a minimum of two weeks due to the Covid-19 crisis. We have been expecting this announcement for a few days, but it still stings. All roads, trails, and access has been closed. While we haven’t been guiding much considering the time of year, we did have a […]