My new adventure

[Tim_T]

A few of you already know this, but for those who don't, here goes.

For about 20 years I've wanted to be a fly fishing guide, but I couldn't travel and be away from home while having a family. Now that my kids are grown and moved out, I decided to go for it. I attended a fly fishing guide school on the Bighorn River in Ft Smith Montana in March. For the last three weeks I've been guiding in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I will be here until September, then will guide on the Cumberland this fall. I will probably be in Florida guiding for Tarpon this winter. I'm 49 years old so I don't know how long I can do this, but I wanted to chase a dream while there is still time.

[Tyme2fish]

Tim, please post some photos here that you've posted on Facebook. I'm sure the members here will enjoy them as much as I have.

[Bandit1]

Tim, please post some photos here that you've posted on Facebook. I'm sure the members here will enjoy them as much as I have.

Especially the ones of us that no longer have facebook.



Congrats Tim & good luck on your new adventure & dream.

[peter]

Wow! Tim.
I need to book a trip when time allows. Novice or worse.

[apb]

Very cool! Good luck following your dream!

[Moveon]

A few of you already know this, but for those who don't, here goes.

For about 20 years I've wanted to be a fly fishing guide, but I couldn't travel and be away from home while having a family. Now that my kids are grown and moved out, I decided to go for it. I attended a fly fishing guide school on the Bighorn River in Ft Smith Montana in March. For the last three weeks I've been guiding in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I will be here until September, then will guide on the Cumberland this fall. I will probably be in Florida guiding for Tarpon this winter. I'm 49 years old so I don't know how long I can do this, but I wanted to chase a dream while there is still time.

I wish you the best. I have a good book about fly fishing in the Smokey Mountains... "Smokey Mountains Trout Fishing Guide". by Don Kirk. Maybe you are aware of this guide book?

One place I could stay all day long is the bend in the road going back to Elk Mont. The pool is very deep and has boulders as big as houses under the water. The road is right next to the stream there. I was trying to catch some huge fish but they would not take anything I presented at them. They would rise up and sip the surface for small insects of some type which were way to small to see. But the fish were clearly visible and it was frustrating to see them so clearly and not be able to get them to bite. The Rangers came by while I was fishing and checked my fly to see if they had barbs on them. ( they didn't) and he even smelled the fly to make sure I didn't have any attractant juice on it. I did LOL. I had a little bit of DR JUICE that I had on my fingers and had applied to the small fly I was fishing with at the time. He probably could not tell as there was so little of it on the fly at the time. The next time he shows up I'll throw the fly up into that tree that grows next to the road/stream and he will have to climb up into the tree to check the fly. Just Kidding. I've only caught two small rain bows in those mountain streams and that was by luck. The water's always very low when I go to the Smokey's as I wait until the fall of the year when it doesn't rain as much. And the first time I went camping there it was during a drought and there was hardly any water running though the rivers that fall. But we had 8 straight days of excellent camping weather with no rain at all. Best camping trip I ever have had. It always rains when I go camping all the other times.

Anyway I've envious of you now. You are working in my favorite place in the USA.

[Tim_T]

I wish you the best. I have a good book about fly fishing in the Smokey Mountains... "Smokey Mountains Trout Fishing Guide". by Don Kirk. Maybe you are aware of this guide book?

One place I could stay all day long is the bend in the road going back to Elk Mont. The pool is very deep and has boulders as big as houses under the water. The road is right next to the stream there. I was trying to catch some huge fish but they would not take anything I presented at them. They would rise up and sip the surface for small insects of some type which were way to small to see. But the fish were clearly visible and it was frustrating to see them so clearly and not be able to get them to bite. The Rangers came by while I was fishing and checked my fly to see if they had barbs on them. ( they didn't) and he even smelled the fly to make sure I didn't have any attractant juice on it. I did LOL. I had a little bit of DR JUICE that I had on my fingers and had applied to the small fly I was fishing with at the time. He probably could not tell as there was so little of it on the fly at the time. The next time he shows up I'll throw the fly up into that tree that grows next to the road/stream and he will have to climb up into the tree to check the fly. Just Kidding. I've only caught two small rain bows in those mountain streams and that was by luck. The water's always very low when I go to the Smokey's as I wait until the fall of the year when it doesn't rain as much. And the first time I went camping there it was during a drought and there was hardly any water running though the rivers that fall. But we had 8 straight days of excellent camping weather with no rain at all. Best camping trip I ever have had. It always rains when I go camping all the other times.

Anyway I've envious of you now. You are working in my favorite place in the USA.

I would have been a little upset with that ranger. I only use barbless hooks because our guide service is strictly catch and release; however, you are legally allowed to use barbed hooks if you so choose. Also, to my knowledge and everything I've read on the subject, there is nothing that says you can't use attractants on your flies/lures.

Speaking of rangers, my clients and I were checked today and he even checked my guide license and my CUA paperwork (paper that shows we are a legal concessionaire in the park).

[peter]

The redneck fly fisherman now the redneck fly fishing guide. You could probably get a reality show with that. Lol. Hope you wear camo and a side arm.

Ps Tim referred to himself when we were talking as the redneck fly fisherman.

[FlyLie]

A few of you already know this, but for those who don't, here goes.

For about 20 years I've wanted to be a fly fishing guide, but I couldn't travel and be away from home while having a family. Now that my kids are grown and moved out, I decided to go for it. I attended a fly fishing guide school on the Bighorn River in Ft Smith Montana in March. For the last three weeks I've been guiding in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I will be here until September, then will guide on the Cumberland this fall. I will probably be in Florida guiding for Tarpon this winter. I'm 49 years old so I don't know how long I can do this, but I wanted to chase a dream while there is still time.

Tim, great news. Hoping, his new venture is rewarding for you and family. Sure the TN location is much different than what you left in KY.
Now back to basics, always remember to use a zebra midge as the dropper and some times a yellow colored hopper is hard to beat, hee,,he. Maybe see you on the Cumberland this fall, as I guide there. Regarding the Smokies, I purchased several USGA topo maps several years ago (macho $$) which I will never use again. Any interest. Gary Boone

[Tim_T]

Tim, great news. Hoping, his new venture is rewarding for you and family. Sure the TN location is much different than what you left in KY.
Now back to basics, always remember to use a zebra midge as the dropper and some times a yellow colored hopper is hard to beat, hee,,he. Maybe see you on the Cumberland this fall, as I guide there. Regarding the Smokies, I purchased several USGA topo maps several years ago (macho $$) which I will never use again. Any interest. Gary Boone

Gary, what are Zebra Midges? :-)

I appreciate the offer on the maps, but I have the National Geographic map, the map the park puts out, and the series of maps by Fred Turner. In addition I have guide books by Jim Casada, Ian Rutter and two by Don Kirk.

It's funny that I have been fishing this park for over 20 years, but I have fished new water several times in the last three weeks.

If you get a chance you should come down this summer and catch some wild brookies with me!

[FlyLie]

Gary, what are Zebra Midges? :-)

I appreciate the offer on the maps, but I have the National Geographic map, the map the park puts out, and the series of maps by Fred Turner. In addition I have guide books by Jim Casada, Ian Rutter and two by Don Kirk.

It's funny that I have been fishing this park for over 20 years, but I have fished new water several times in the last three weeks.

If you get a chance you should come down this summer and catch some wild brookies with me!

Thanks me friend, but with the Cumberland a few miles from me front door, don"t need to travel far. Know what I mean... We should sit down some afternoon and tie some midge patterns (zebra), hee...he.