Time in the mountains....

[kaisersoze]

Here's what I think and I don't post here anymore. I'm gonna do what I want, fish where I want, keep what I want or feed it to the pigs, take a picture of what I want and piss where I want. So Bee, if it wasn't worth ranting about then why did you rant?? And people wonder why I fish w my earbuds in.......FO

[kaisersoze]

Oh btw.... Excellent post mrl0004

[bee]

Hey Mr10004 I appreciate your honest response.  I take fish pictures too, but not of every fish I catch or even 5% of them. But that was  not remotely  my point .   Mine was an honest concern   over the dry hand (and general over handling)   of these particular species of fish in the GSMNP where they exist …..and my concern over the fact the fact that we  (TU , Great Smoky Mountain Conservation Assn, numerous agencies) have spent decades trying to get the GSMNP brookie population back into just a preservation mode.  As all of us should know, those are hardscrable fish, existing in a tough environment.  They deserve the respect of all flyfishermen in the way they are treated and that was my point….As I said 
'Please don't be offended ", and Im glad you have responded nicely and perhaps understand the basis of my comments better than others might, because you from your photos it is obvious that you value those places and fish too.

 I fish a lot in our state and  I guess I about daily/every trip see so much continual abuse of fisheries, regulations, laws, common sense,  (even on released fish) that I may come  across too strongly when I choose to periodically make a point about my concerns….

[Yoda]

Awesome report as always!! Thanks Matt!! As for the critic.... Meh... everyone is an expert..

[mrl0004]

Hey Mr10004 I appreciate your honest response.  I take fish pictures too, but not of every fish I catch or even 5% of them. But that was  not remotely  my point .   Mine was an honest concern   over the dry hand (and general over handling)   of these particular species of fish in the GSMNP where they exist …..and my concern over the fact the fact that we  (TU , Great Smoky Mountain Conservation Assn, numerous agencies) have spent decades trying to get the GSMNP brookie population back into just a preservation mode.  As all of us should know, those are hardscrable fish, existing in a tough environment.  They deserve the respect of all flyfishermen in the way they are treated and that was my point….As I said 
'Please don't be offended ", and Im glad you have responded nicely and perhaps understand the basis of my comments better than others might, because you from your photos it is obvious that you value those places and fish too.

 I fish a lot in our state and  I guess I about daily/every trip see so much continual abuse of fisheries, regulations, laws, common sense,  (even on released fish) that I may come  across too strongly when I choose to periodically make a point about my concerns….

Bee, next time I'm up that way, I'd be glad to buy you a beer and discuss my love for the mountains and their brook trout. As a scientist myself, I take a lot of interest into the science of brook trout, specifically the southern app strain found in GSMNP. I've had a lot of conversations with park fishery biologists and while some streams are in need of revitalization, some are overcrowded. In fact, the fishery biologists have said they wish people would take some and eat them. The streams I fish are in that group. As bad as I want to try it, just once, I just can't bring myself to eat them. So while in your eyes, it may look like I mishandled all the fish I caught with reckless abandon, I assure you that was not the case.

[icthus]

Bee….

And the 2016 River Dick award goes to……… you!!!!!


You should be proud, many things were considered.  The last guy who had this title had it four 6 years,  And a tip of the cap to that fella.
Holla--- River D.

1) Your lack of posting and then you bring negativity/criticism
2) Are you really commenting on how a person has a fish in the hand.  IF I was better at the computer I would draw a schlong on the hand and take a pic and post it.   (I 'm kidding, I wouldn't draw a schlong on my hand and post it,  I personally don't want a schlong on my hand, but it would be funny if I did). 
3) Praise you for being a freakishly awesome time tested fly fisherman. 
4) Despite the tag line on this site, its not always about the size, but about the journey catching the fish
5) mrloo4 was a lot kinder then most.  Don't be a Duweee…why a person feels they need to criticize the handling of a fish, or what a person feels is kind of being a DICK (please see Phil L. on fishing the reds in Arkansas…a little bit of a dick there) Not to say I don't do it at times, but it is more for a laugh then to try to let people know how awesome I am and how long I have been fishing.

here is to you… A drawing on the hand, 
Pal

[kaisersoze]

I agree Dickthus. You really don't need a schlong in your hand......

[icthus]

Lol...

[MikeA]

I've seen so many great fishing spots get completely decimated in my lifetime. I'd say 95% of those I've seen were caused by human induced environmental and natural environmental issues. None of them have been caused by fishermen. Not one. I'm not saying it's never happened but I've never seen it here. I used to really get upset about this stuff then I took a year off and realized how stupid that was. I realized how much all that worry had infected the one hobby that could always make me happy every since I was old enough to hold a fishing pole. All that worry about the Caney and Cumby Trout getting eaten by corn dunkers. People fishing Reds. People foul hooking Trout with jerk baits etc. All that worry only to see the Trout populations on two amazing fisheries get decimated by the Dam projects. The Priest Hybrid population by the floods. The Smallmouth by the floods. I've actually become a better fisherman by not fishing for a spell. Now if I catch a nice eating size Trout and I'm hungry for fish, in the cooler it goes. Had a great dinner just a this week of Wood plank Trout and grilled Striper another day. Besides considering the cost that TVA has imposed on fisherman and guides, it's cost effective to eat more fish now. So in short I try to not get upset anymore about what other folks are doing and spend alot more time enjoying the sport of fishing and the fish.   

[oldmanelrod]

BEAUTIFUL PICS.  Please do to be offended but I have to say I am constantly amazed that people who obviously love brookies and their  environs choose to flat hand (dry?) photograph so many of them before releasing them. The large one is beautiful and worthy of a photo to me.  The plentitude of the others need to be spared the ordeal. Just me.  Not flaming.  Another forum in the state is flat eat up with the flat hand small broke pictures to the point of silliness. Not  a rant worthy of a response from anyone.  Just an  observation from someone who has fished those places for more than half a century .    To go back in those places and catch a beautiful fish with an obvious hand print on it …….headscratcher.  But then I am out of tune with the rest of the world it seems.

I'm not offended and I agree with you to an extent. I'm unsure what you are most upset about though. Is it the fact that I photographed multiple brook trout that are small in your eyes? Or is it that you think I didn't handle them properly? If it's that you think I didn't handle them properly, I'm guessing you think my hands are not wet by the pictures? It may look that way in some, and it may actually be in some. I get a little excited when I catch one and want to preserve the moment. I assure you that in most of the pictures, my hand was wet, even if it doesn't look like it from the pictures.

As for why even bothering with a picture, to each his own. Some people like to photograph a lot of the fish they catch (there were plenty I didn't photograph) and some don't. I am someone that does because this is the first time I've been able to get up there and do that in about 3 years. It might be that long (or longer) before I get to go again. So I respect your opinion, but the circumstances are different for everyone. I hope you can respect that too.

Well stated.

[grumpy]

My favorite fish & streams, i like to say keep 'em wet & i know everyone here does to. It sure looks better than rolled in gravel.
Also, i  like the civility in the responses, big Thanks for that.

Grumpy