"Seven Bridges Road"

Scouting the Blues

2011-12-20T15:02:00.001-05:00

Sunday I decided to scout some blue lines (wild trout water) I haven't fished before. I usually like to take the camera to snap some pics along the hike. The weather was cool, dry and the water was at perfect levels for the roughly 3 mile hike. Leasa joined me today and we had a blast! We stopped by the local Apple house to start off then I showed her some old home sites that once stood in the early 1900's only later to be taken out by flooding. Much history back in here, I know she enjoyed it. We agreed, we will be back with the fly rods and waders next time, a sweet spot this is. Hope you enjoy the shots I took along the way.

PS. Took her by a magical little place to meet my Deer friends..lol

Old Cider press

Crystal clear waters

In the bottoms!

One of the old home sites

The flood took her at only 16yrs old.

Fun with tree shrooms

Love the Super Zoom on my Nikon

Boo!

They let me stalk close

Fun with Honey Jars!

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~CBK

2011-12-06T18:37:00.001-05:00

Me and my son are inseparable, we fish, shoot, play guitar, take pictures and enjoy time with each other. As I watched him grow I seen in increments the man he was becoming. A strong young man driven by principle, morales and ethics. I also started seeing myself as a young man. I watched him step away from me on the streams to cast his own line, I watched him take serious and patient aim downrange, I watched his leave the foundation I laid for him. I watched him become an outdoorsman. Now eighteen I find myself having to step away but with ever watchful eyes as I see him step away into life. His decision to take on the responsibility to guard this great country I knew was soon to come as it came to me as a young man. The man I call son will soon be under way with the United States Navy as a Gunners Mate.

How does a father know when he is done? He don't, he keeps being there as mine is for me. Maintaining the watchtower for when needed and awaiting to grant the title of father to the boy who is now a man.

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” - Jim Valvano

A time for thanks..

2011-11-26T20:36:00.001-05:00

I wanted to share a day of thanks with everyone. This year has held so much that I am thankful for. As I find myself on the stream, I often day dream as I cast my line about the positive things in life things like my son, my girl, my health, and my family.. the positive changes I have made and the lessons learned. It all adds to the experience out there for me. This year I have so much to be thankful for, my family and my health along with the numerous positive changes and people in my life. My son who everyday amazes me with his person and talent. Sometimes I wonder what my purpose on this planet is for, taking a moment with him I see it. I am greatful for family and the tighter bond and closeness we have. My girl, she is amazing its almost like our lives have run alike to the point, we are peas and carrots! On this day of thanks my Nana was rather ill and we missed her at the table. With her, we have stories that range from 1919 - 2011, amazing to still have her. I have heard that when one door shuts, god allows another to open, I truely believe this as with Leasa and her family another door for my family has opened and for her mine. She has a fine son and daughter in law with a beautiful grandson. Sitting at the table.. it's like one huge famliy, my family, our family something I am truely thankful for.

Welcome to my home, sit have some Turkey, share some talk and thanks for stopping in!... JD

Reflections of time past

2011-11-16T20:03:00.001-05:00

This time of year I really enjoy being out on the cool streams of western NC. Usually quiet of others and with the foliage down, I enjoy seeing things not possible while they are covered in vegitation. I fished an area that in the early 1900's was attempting to be incorporated had a population of about 800. One flood to many and no more was the little town of Mortimer NC. Many who know me, know I enjoy that area not only for the fishing but for the locals who I have come to know very well. I usually use Mortimer as a base camp, sometimes traveling 30-40+ miles away or sometimes I just sit back and enjoy the simplicity of fishing NC Delayed harvest waters along Wilson Creek. This was one of those simple trips, relaxing and enjoying the moment, working on my cast and grabbing a pic or two. Thanks for stopping in and as always, looking forward to hearing from each of you... Cheers..JD.

Ps.. The Mortimer link above shows the only picture I have ever seen of the old bridge in use, thrid pic down.

Here is an old pic (1916), to the right you will see these old bridge colums when they were standing.
http://web.utk.edu/~jeparks/images/Walker08.jpg

1940 Crystal pool after the flood, never rebuilt bridge.
http://web.utk.edu/~jeparks/images/Walker17.jpg

The underbase of the bridge column.
Knowing this was hand laid in the early 1900's is pretty cool when you look close.

Going Home

2011-11-06T18:58:00.001-05:00

Today was a day to go home. Home to familiar waters where I could relax, enjoy the experience and take a few pictures. Decided to take the old truck, she performed excellent. Caught a small handful by mid day then decided to peel off the waders and grab the camera for a while. I missed having my son and Leasa along today, they had somethings to take care of so a solo day it was. Like the truck, I am starting to feel my age, knees ached and I seem a bit slower navigating the rocks and stream. I guess at our age, we are classics now..lol But with age comes wisdom, I seen the fish before they seen me today. Foliage is leaving us however, there were a few colors left to enjoy. Thanks for taking a moment to enjoy the day with me... Cheers JD

This is my Town

2011-10-17T19:00:00.002-04:00

Well, once again my fishing trip changed for this weekend. This year with all that I have going on has taken a toll on my water time however, there is much more time to get out there being I fish all year long. Saturday me and my son Aron, took some time out for the range, Sunday me and Leasa hit the parkway with the top down and had a great time. Given I had some time today to myself, I decided to throw the camera in the saddle bag, grab the bike and hit the road for some local shots. Made a freind along the way, Milly the Mill cat. Thought if I couldn't take you fishing that I would take you along with me to explore some home town Americana, my town. Thanks for swinging by, I always enjoy hearing from everyone....Cheers, JD.

Craig Campbell "Fish" - Official Music Video"

2011-10-03T16:25:00.000-04:00

Our day out

2011-10-02T21:18:00.000-04:00

This weekend was a great one to be outside and hitting the streams. My son joined me and always, its a pleasure to have him along side of me. We decided to hit the Wild Water first then off to delayed harvest (which was slim pickings) and finish the day. Around every turn was the beauty of Pisgah in all her glory. We stopped by Mortimer to hand off some cigars to Bruce at the store and then called it a day shortly after. A great day out in Pisgah with my son fly fishing, what more could a father want! Enjoyed the new Nikon also. I should also noted that my son has a new camera and has taken to photography a bit also. I think I am fortunate to have such a great lad to pass on these beautiful past times. Took some pics for you, hope you enjoy... Cheers, JD

PS.. We had snow flurries already!

Mark Allen Fly Rods!

2011-10-02T19:15:00.000-04:00

I have seen pictures of these beauties being built on Google Plus and often wished I could get my hands on one just to see how good these things really are. As luck would have it and after making a comment to Mark that I would provide some field testing for him, the FedEx man shows up with, yup you guessed it, a Mark Allen custom made fly rod!

I told Mark I would give him an honest unbiased review and that I could give it a good work out on these beautiful Western North Carolina streams. If you know me much, you know I spend as much time as I can out there and with the weather turning cooler, I know this was going to be fun!

(Specs)
The rod is a beautiful 7ft 3wt (3 piece) Graphite with a moderate fast action. It has a reversed half wells grip made of super grade cork. Polished aluminum down locking reel seat along with single foot TiChrome rod guides. Mark chose gun metal gray with a Brown Trout finish which totally is a work of art. Suggested price is at $329.00 with rod tube. Being I support American made products as much as I can in this sport, I asked Mark about the parts. He stated they are all American made and that he wasn't sure of the guides at this time but he does get them from an American supplier. The rod tube is outfitted with four sleeves and locking zipper, green in color and super strong. The tube itself is made in the USA, This is a big plus for me!

(Usage)
I was able to get some serious Blue Line water time with this rod. Any wild water fly fisherman worth his grit isn't going to throw names out of his precious waters so you'll have to just go with me on this. Imagine streams that you have to hike into, fight the laurels and rock hop all day! Carrying this rod I noticed it was light but has a quality feel to it. When you rock hop around your bound to slip, fall or toss your rod. With that being said, I did just that, yup this is a review so why not give it hell I thought. It does well resisting scratches from normal wear and tear so, I tossed it up a few banks when needed my hands to hold on to the laurels to climb, still looking good. I decided to drop it in the water and I used it to keep some tree limbs out of my face. I know what your thinking, he is nuts, you don't use a fly rod for that, well I am reviewing a rod someone who is going to put their hard earned money into so the abuse is justified in my thought. The rod looks great, no problems here. I feel this rod will retain a beauty that will last during normal use for years.

(Performance)
I found this rod to cast exceptionally well for a 7ft rod. I used Rio Trout LT WF line rigged with 6X and in my opinion is a superb line for small streams when you want a smooth delicate presentation, I swear by it. My casting style is pure Appalachian. I cast left handed, right handed, around boulders, through trees and scrub so keep in mind, I'm not going to be seen in any distance casting competitions..ha! I was pleasantly surprised with the control of this rod and how I was able to correct in mid flight many of my sloppy casts. Sensitivity is a strong point of this rod also. I was able to feel the slight bumps of the submerged leaves flowing down stream and the short strikes of the wild trout without issue. Being I know the line is working with the rod to perform like this I decided to put some additional stressful use on it. I threw a nice #12 Stone into a popular tree and decided to play tug o war with it. It handles abuse as expected very well. Catching fish on it? Well catching wild trout around here makes you work at manipulating the retrieve and not so much on letting the rod do the work like on larger fish that you would catch on the Davidson etc. I was able to maintain tight lines and manipulate the fish where needed without issue. I feel without a doubt that if your fishing your typical small streams you will be pleased also with how this rod loads. It loads fast and I found it to be one of the rods strong points. It was a pleasure to cast given it loads fast and got me on fish fast. For the review I used an Orvis CFO 1 and my Abel TR-2.

I decided to do something outside of the rods specifications (Who me?) I took it to a popular Delayed Harvest stream and see how it could handle itself. On this river I go directly to my Winston 5WT or my Sage 4WT and when chucking big streamers I usually run a large arbor and nothing smaller than 4x. Well I pulled up along side the river, tied on some 4x and a nice huge nasty #8 Slumpbuster. This placed way more stress on the rod during casts as expected. Back casts and roll casts were very tricky and I could not get near as much line out but hey, I expected that, The CFS was up and stripping that streamer through the current bowed that rod like it was a wheat field in a tornado. Did I catch anything in the DH?.. No unfortunately and I would have loved to for the review but it's called fishing, not catching right? Did the rod handle the added weight, yes from a structural integrity point of view. Did it perform well, not really but remember this is a small stream rod and not designed for this but if someone purchased this rod and thought they would hit huge water, I wouldn't want them disappointed. I remember my first rod, thought I could catch anything anywhere with it, not so true once I was out there or it was way to much on the small stuff. Buying a rod is like buying a pair of pants, make sure it fits.

Another out of spec run I did with it was overloading it. I placed my Abel TR-2 on it loaded with 4wt. It done flawless and added a little more punch to the casts. I know some of you like to overload and I do too when the situation warrants it. I did not under load it based on my 2wt line was off the spool at the time. From my observations, it would perform as usual under loaded, light and slightly sloppy as they all do.

(Comparison)
I compared this rod to several of mine and found it closely resembles and performs like my Orvis Superfine "Trout Bum" which boasts a $575.00 price tag. The quality of the cork reminded me of my Winston however, its allover beauty is pure custom. I think if I were to add this to my arsenal I would look toward and Abel brown trout custom painted reel which would look awesome with the Brown Trout skin Mark put on it.

Final thoughts..

This is a superb three weight rod designed for small streams that has a little wiggle room on the upper end near a four weight. Its custom paint scheme is mantle quality and screams look at me! Overall quality is of a custom quality rod and I would feel it will stand up to many years of normal use. At $329.00 with rod tube it's a great deal and rivals rods costing more. This is an American made rod by an American craftsman and the hard work Mark puts into them can be seen and felt. I feel you will be happy with this rod when used within its specification range. I suggest you contact Mark as it's rumored he may be making other weights too and they may fit your style more. I am sure that being a custom shop Mark can deliver to your needs. Mark can be contacted at markffsc@gmail.com

I have added a few of the trip pictures along side of my review...
Hope you enjoy and tight lines to ya!... JD

Mark Allen's rod is second from top

Mark Allen (top) Orvis SuperfineTrout Bum (Bottom)

My son and me

My son

2011-09-14T22:47:00.001-04:00

My son has started a blog and I want to give him a shout out. Looks like I got an honorable mention :)

http://arondllr.blogspot.com

Back Roads

2011-09-11T21:08:00.001-04:00

Took the day off? Not necessarily.. Working on a project for a friend so until its completed I decided to post a few pics of our trip today. Took Leasa out for a nice ride on the bike today and enjoyed this awesome Carolina weather we are having. I kept a close eye on some waters while above the 3,000 ft level because I will be heading back up in a few days (Hint). Had a great time with a great gal! Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I did taking them and riding around the country side.... cheers, John.

Lazy Days & Parkways

2011-09-01T21:24:00.000-04:00

Sunday we decided just to ride some of the parkway and enjoy this awesome weather. Temps in the upper 60's for the most part and nothing to do? You guessed it, hit the mountains, scout some water, eat a good meal and just kick back. Took a few shots as usual, thought you may enjoy... Cheers, John.

e do da ~ a yo tli

2011-08-22T21:12:00.000-04:00

Cherokee for father & son.. I feel my Cherokee history that runs through my veins awakens and recharges my soul when I am in the forest or on the stream. The bonding I have with my son is unbreakable. We have been out there together since he could cast a rod. I watched him grow into fine flyfisherman, outdoorsman and respectful of all things. Passing on your vaules and traditions is the goal of any father. He is approaching his 18th birthday, enrolled into college and plays guitar with his band who just had a show the day prior in Charlotte. I know he was tired from the night before but still, he gathered what he needed and followed me to the stream. I feel like me, his soul is refreshed within the forest and waters. I know now the foundation I have instilled will be passed on, being a father, you know this. I know he will pass on these things to his son or daughter for he is a oh-sda-duhn ~ Asgaya (Good Man).

One of many faces

Forgotten

Old railbed

Tired

He towers over me in spirit too!

Time to get out of the Bear sanctuary :)

Make every moment count!

2011-08-15T20:57:00.003-04:00

This weekend I decided to throw Leasa a little surprise. I took her for a surprise Fly fishing trip into the Smokey Mountain National Park and the Cherokee tribal waters. Went the extra mile and rented a small cabin, a little shanty more like it but hey.. it was off the ground. Being she is a camping gal, I knew she wouldn't mind it. Went into town and introduced her to Adolph and Valeira, two of my Cherokee friends. Later I took her across Newfound Gap road into Tennessee where we ended up eating lunch at Alamo's and goofing around the area. Before dark, I wanted to get back across the mountain to catch a sunset and get ready for the fishing on Sunday. What an awesome drive! I highly recommend it if your in the area. On the way back to camp we were greeted by a Bull Elk, majestic creature he is. As Sunday arrived we geared up and had a blast along Bunches Creek, Bradley Fork and the upper Luftee. Memories made, great times and we made every moment count! I though you all would like to come along... Cheers, John.

Paid respects at the Veterans Cemetary

Was dark and only had the phone with me

I looked down and seen this at my feet!

Putting her new skills to work

Honest.. it was this big!

Home sweet home

A very Familiar spot

To Whine or Wine?

2011-08-04T22:45:00.000-04:00

This blog has taken a twist with the terrible heat! There is not much water time when the temps are sustained like this so my time on the water is limited. One thing we have found is that you try to go regardless just to be out there, catch a fish or two, snap a photo and make the best of the rest of the hot day. Me and Leasa (She Rocks!) have found we like to enjoy the locale as much as possible on our journeys. As of late she has introduced me to visiting wineries which are all over Western NC. This day we fished upper Ashe county and boy it wasn't long until the heat dried up the day, the water, the fish and our minds so we hit the local winery. New river winery is located in Lansing NC within the old school house, a school my father went to! So.. what do you do when the days are cut short? I find it hard just to go home so enjoy some pics and here's to cooler days and more fly fishing!

PS.. Threw some other pics in too!

Cheers... JD

My Mooseknuckle review

2011-08-04T21:39:00.000-04:00

If you have followed my blog for a while you have noticed one thing, I don't commercialize much. I post or advertise only places I shop at and gear I use, own and employ on the stream. If you really know me, you know I buy and honor AMERICAN made gear! Of course that's hard to do anymore. Call me the old curmudgeon of the stream and that's fine with me..lol What am I trying to say? Well if I take a moment to speak on something, it must be of some use in the real world of fly fishing (The one where you torture gear "All" year long) and must have some quality to it.

Have you heard of the Mooseknuckle lanyard yet? Well, I was given one to field test by Jeremy Barnes of Mooseknuckle Lanyards. I have known Jeremy for some time and can say that he is a stand up kinda guy who I would fish with any day. So you say that makes me biased? Maybe but as a real friend should be, I'll be honest out of respect. My review.. The Mooseknuckle Lanyard is a quality built American made lanyard by a fly fishermen for fly fishermen. Time has been taken in all aspects of its creation. The one thing I look for in a lanyard is how it will carry its payload. The Mooseknuckle does the trick in a very comfortable fashion. The other is how it feels around your neck after hours on the water. I found myself forgetting it was even there! This is mainly do to the fact he has created a slip type method for adjustment unlike many who use an adjustment to the back. This will also be a strong point for the lanyard as you will not be as likely to wear out the neck foam area as easily.This time of year most of us shed the gear and go as light as possible. The Mooseknuckle is made mainly from Para-cord which if you have ever used it in the military you know it ranks highly as being strong and light weight, this is great for me when its hot out and I keep the gear to the minimum. Below you will find some photo's I took, look close and see for yourself at the quality and simplicity of this lanyard. Your not going to find any fancy beads, charms or gimmicks however, he does make a ladies model in pink. What you will find is a great lanyard, American made and will most likely be the last one you buy. Make sure to email Jeremy for the latest info as the lanyard is only in a beta stage at this point and he plans on making different models available. I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store.

Cheers, enjoy...and remember, wear your "Mooseknuckle" with pride! Tight lines from your local wild water curmudgeon... JD

PS.. Jeremy, your not getting this lanyard back!

A Family Tradition

2011-07-10T18:59:00.000-04:00

Today me and my son headed up to a section of water located in NW North Carolina we never fished before. We got there and the water was murky brown and had recently been blown out, but who cares.. I had my son with me! We have traveled many miles and stomped in many a stream together to the point, catching fish is secondary and fellowship is primary. We decided to call it an early day due to water conditions and head to Todd NC to have lunch. We had a blast just kicking back sharing memories and dreams of the next great stream and chatting with the store keeper. Todd is one of those town that is 100% Americana and proud of it, actually I am too! Took a few shots so you guys could come along with us... Cheers, John & Aron.

The Virginia Creeper.. I remember as a kid the engineers would toss out candy to us.

This Pig is a local pet at the Flyshop, yup.. it runs around just like a dog!

Being a Vet, seeing a town display the colors all year is touching.

This road bed was once the railbed for the locally famous Virginia Creeper shown above

Road Trip'n

2011-07-02T20:54:00.001-04:00

On busy holidays I tend to stay away from the water. Many out of town folk come in for the holiday and bombard the water and highways so I sit back and let them have the weekend. Today I decided to take a road trip with Leasa on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A way to get away and spend some quality time together off the water. Weather was hot but soon turned overcast and cooled down slightly. Surprisingly we encountered very few people! I decided to do what I developed this blog for in its early beginnings, use my camera phone or simple point n shoot to grab some shots and hope for a good one or two. Today I chose to only use my Samsung Droid Charge and to only post this entry via mobile blogger. I'm not expecting much but here it is... enjoy and happy 4th!

"Always Faithful"

2011-06-10T20:54:00.040-04:00

Today was a special trip, me and my son took his cousin (my nephew) out for a taste of flyfishing. Trent has always been curious about it and has always enjoyed spinner fishing for trout. What made today special is that Trent will be leaving for service in the United States Marine Corps and we felt what better way to send him off than have a mans day out on the stream and give him a memory he can reflect on. I know all about those memories and how they can keep you going as I too served my country and often found myself reflecting on home. We also wanted to show Trent some of what this beautiful country has to offer, the freedoms and land we love, enjoy and what he will be protecting. I want to thank Trent for stepping up and doing this for all of us, I am proud of him and will keep him in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you all do too, for all of our Troops. Semper Fidelis - "Always Faithful".

Ps. Trent, when the going gets tough, just remember.. YeeeeHaaaw!..lol You know what I mean :) and I promise not to send any Bra's or Panty Hose's in your care packages to Paris Isle..hmmm :)

Check out that tail!

Love when they don't know when I'm in the woodline!

My favorite shot of Trent!

Aron (My son) and Trent

John - Aron - Trent

Aron working a very stubborn Brown

This video has only sentimental value to the three in it
and yes.. we don't deny our Good Ole Boy side!

Confluence of Friendship

2011-06-01T14:47:00.001-04:00

Visited the Davidson River over the holiday and had a blast. I was able to net a total of five and for me on this river, is a good day. Fish here are educated, stubborn and only let you catch them when their bored (My thoughts). It's labeled as one of Trout Unlimited top 100 streams and boasts some of the biggest PIGS around. Weather was warmer than usual and the water level down and that only added to the difficulty level for the day. Decided it was time for Leasa to try her skills at a more educated fish so I asked her to come along. Later in the day she netted a nice Brown off an Elk Hair Caddis. Her first trip to this kind of river and she got one, awesome job! She is learning fast. Took some time out to visit downtown Brevard NC where the White Squirrel Festival was in full swing. I was fortunate to meet up with Jeff Dyke (Local Waters) and his friend from Venturepax who reside in Cincinnati Ohio and I have spoken to for a couple years via Twitter. Jeff is a great guy and I hope on his next trip we can spend some more stream time together. Had a blast, couple brews, took some pics and thought I would share... Cheers, John.

Random old pics..

2011-05-26T00:32:00.002-04:00

Rounded up some old shots and played around with Movie Maker...enjoy, Cheers..John.

Pay it forward..

2011-05-19T15:32:00.000-04:00

The reward you get while out there should be shared. I was fortunate to be able to pass along a few things to my friend a couple of weeks ago. I watched her improve her casts, tie her knots then finally, catch, land and release her fist fish! I think she liked it, you be the Judge... :)

Time for Thanks..

2011-05-02T03:47:00.000-04:00

Once again, in my beloved Pisgah. I slipped in late Saturday and was greeted by some of the locals that offered me shelter. How great it is to have such people in my life that the without regard, will shelter you, feed you and entertain you. All this is because of one simple thing that allowed our paths to cross.. Flyfishing. I have often heard of it being the sport of Kings and Gentlemen and I must say, I agree. Always greeted with a smile and a handshake I often find myself sitting down pasing a tale or two, sharing a warm bowl of chillie or cool one. Sometimes you may not see another for weeks however, you pick up right where you left off and the fellowship fits like an old glove. I have ate dinner with families I didn't know to start with, sat and traded flies, passed along pointers and stories with strangers and threw many a stick to their furry companions on the water. The bonds you make run deeper than would seem to many.

I drove deep into the forest and was greeted by wild browns and bows that were eager to take an elk hair caddis. I lost track of time and found myself not being able to make it to my shelter that was so kindly offered to me. I decided to stop to grab some nabs and a drink at a local store and chatted a bit. We traded old Army stories and times of when Ft. Bragg would send up special forces trainees for mountain training. This place holds not only a beauty but a ruggedness only fit to train the ones who protect us. Funny how this places gives and gives to us all and without asking for anything in return. As I was about to leave, the man at the store said.. "You can seek shelter here" I asked how much, he stated, "Nothing" and that he would not have it any other way. Once again I was amazed to find another friend of the river. I camped for the night enjoyed picking guitar, eating more pork and beans, a couple of cool ones and some good times.

I awoke, took down my camp and headed back to the water. As I geared up, I felt the urge to give thanks for what was provided for me by these people, the forest and God. I took out the old worn Bible that was given to me, read for a while, told the old man upstairs to grant me enough time to pay it forward and thanked him for such a place.

Took a few shots for the blog, enjoy and if your ever down this way.. feel free to take shelter out back, I wouldnt have it any other way. :)

God grant that I may live to fish For another shining day, But when my final cast is made I then most humbly pray, When nestled in your landing net As I lay peacefully asleep, You'll smile at me and judge That I'm "good enough to keep."

Skipper, always greets me/us at the parking area.

Giving Thanks

Not to offend, I take my Rights seriously and served to protect them.

Found a little bit of what Heaven must be like..

2011-04-22T11:44:00.001-04:00

Will let the photos do the talking.. I will post them in order of occurrence. For those who have followed me for a while, know I dont kiss and tell my locations (Unless its Kari, I have a weakness for bear hunting women..lol)...Hi Hi! Enjoy the pics and thanks so much for stopping by...cheers, John.

Ps.. The last to pics are very low quality but gives a hint if youve stomped the backwoods of Western NC.

Deep Within..

2011-04-03T22:24:00.000-04:00

Spent a most beautiful day deep within the Pisgah Forest today. Couldn't have asked for a better day, everything was perfect. Much rock hoping today, seemed endless but my rewards were many! Hatches everywhere, even the Bats came out early to enjoy a meal. Plunge pool after plunge pool, I found myself thankful to be here. Dries done the trick today! Life is starting to arrive in the forest, small buds and blooms made the hike in even more enjoyable. Mid way, I took a break, layed back on a large rock along the creek and just gazed upward, I think I seen what heaven must be like I thought. Took some shots along the way for you...enjoy, John.

Where it takes me?

2011-03-18T22:00:00.000-04:00

Sure is getting warmer out here! Took a day and just went wherever the waters took me. My beloved mountains never fail to recharge my soul and refuel my spirit... enjoy some shots along the way.

Ps.. The boot shot was taken to display the calrity of the water that day which proved a challenge with the smart fish in the area. And yes, thats a stuffed Bob Cat :)

The Bid D and Family!

2011-03-06T17:01:00.000-05:00

Spent a great weekend with my son and my Aunt at her home in Brevard NC which is in the heart of some prime trout waters. Rain fell but who cares when you can fish waters like these. Streamers done the trick this day and with the rain, we had the river almost to ourselves. Thanks to Aunt Janet, Gregg, Ollie, Goldie and Misty for making us feel at home. It was nice waking up to her breakfasts in the mornings. Thanks to Gregg too for showing me some nice looking water that on my next trip over, we both will go and try.

As always, a few shots along the way, enjoy....John.

Spring is almost here!

2011-03-02T22:38:00.001-05:00

Took some time out to scout some water and catch a few shots. Spring is almost here. I noticed a couple of small hatches and a few bugs about! This is looking like it will be a great dry fly season.

Testing continues

2011-02-21T02:44:00.002-05:00

Thanks for your patience! Still working with the new Google app.

The Skunk never smelled so good!

2011-02-01T22:06:00.001-05:00

Few days back me and my son got out and attempted to get a little fishing in. The temps were way down, down so low just getting rigged up was almost painful! Like a couple of troopers we cast iced lines, had some good laughs and shared some of that father son bonding only found on the stream. No fish today however, I'll take a skunk day with him any time!!

Threw in a few other pics from later in the week, enjoy! ....John

Scouting Trip

2010-12-29T00:16:00.000-05:00

Scounting new waters and checking the ice flow..next to the wind, I can't stand ice! It's such a work around and barrier to the fish. Warmer temps and some rain should get it back in check the next few days for a while. Enjoyed a nice brew at Canyons afterwards!

No Pebble Mine! ..Thanks Guys!

2010-12-05T20:36:00.001-05:00

Not to long ago, my friend Kyle (Denver Colorado)from Twitter "No Pebble Mine" posted a tweet asking for pictures of how we used our No Pebble Mine stickers he sent to us previously. Mine, simply placed on the tailgate of my truck with my ugly mug beside it! Just the other week Kyle told me that my photo was picked by The Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska as one of the prize winners! The other day I received a beautiful Ball Cap, another sticker (needed one too) and several pieces of information about the group and its projects. Below you see that I proudly display the hat along side a few others that hold a significant value to me. The sticker, well I'm thinking..maybe a little more creative this time around :)

Special thanks to Kyle and Scott Hed at SAA for presenting me with such a neat hat with a purpose! And beyond all else, please take time to see what The Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska is doing! Thanks Guys!

Another Beautiful Vid from R&R

2010-12-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

R&R Fly Fishing Video (Spawners)

2010-11-16T00:03:00.004-05:00

Be the Crane

2010-11-14T02:13:00.000-05:00

Today was a day for gear maintainance and reflection. Never enough time for either of it lately. As always I am never to far from some body of water and of course, the camera is just as close. After getting my batteries recharged by mother nature, I grabbed a few shots I wanted to share. Tomorrow, me and my son are going to spend some time casting a fly, sharing some stories and enjoy the water. I find it hard to fish sometimes with him, as watching him grow into such a fine young man and a Flyfisherman often stops me in my tracks. He has become rather acomplished out there. I remember not to long ago when he stepped away from me into his own waters, a moment I will always remember. When asked for advice once, I stated, I am not sure, why don't you watch a professional fisherman as I pointed over to the Crane. That Crane can teach you more than I ... I find myself once again turning to the Crane, ever so watchful for that next moment.

Frankenhawg!

2010-11-11T23:14:00.000-05:00

Had a blast with my friend Jason today! Spent the entire day enjoying some great fellowship and flyfishing. Weather was perfect and the sceneary spectacular! What a great way to enjoy Veterans day, being a Vet myself being able to be outside and with good friends, I'd say thats about perfect. Thanks Jason, I needed that time out. Took some pictures and even landed a HOG with a jaw bone like a chainsaw! I name thee... Frankenhawg! Enjoy the pics... Cheers!

The Tree Army

2010-10-31T01:01:00.003-04:00

Not only did I get to fish one of my prized favorite Wild Waters today, but I also took some time to respect the sacrafices of others before me that had touched the area long ago. FDR Called them "The Tree Army" otherwise known as the Civilian Conservation Corps or CCC, was all over North Carolina. Here is a little information on it.

America was in the grip of the Great Depression when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was inaugurated in March of 1933. More than twenty-five percent of the population was unemployed, hungry, and without hope. The New Deal programs instituted bold changes in the federal government that energized the economy and created an equilibrium that helped to bolster the needs of citizens.

Out of this economic chaos emerged the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Its purpose was two-fold -- conservation of our natural resources and the salvage of our young men. The CCC is recognized as the single greatest conservation program in America and it served as a catalyst to develop the very tenets of modern conservation. The work of America's young men dramatically changed the future and today we still enjoy a legacy of natural resource treasures that dot the American landscape.

3,470 fire towers erected;
97,000 miles of fire roads built;
4,235,000 man-days devoted to fighting fires;
more than 3 billion trees planted;
7,153,000 man days expended on protecting the natural habitats of wildlife; 83 camps in 15 Western states assigned 45 projects of that nature;
46 camps assigned to work under the direction of the U.S. Bureau of Agriculture Engineering;
forest improvement — timber stand inventories, surveying, and reforestation;
forest recreation development — campgrounds built, complete with picnic shelters, swimming pools, fireplaces, and restrooms.

To walk and fish on the very site where these guys worked was an honor. Imagine being dirt poor, walking into a camp with nothing but the shirt on your back not knowing what the next few months or years were going to hold? They literally changed our country, amazing! Took a few shots, caught a few fish and made untold amounts of memories!... Enjoy..John (Warning - Hero Shots!..sorry)

Ps.. Spent the end of the day in Old Fort North Carolina, had a nice dinner, walked the park and enjoyed sitting on the porch (us old dogs) of an 1880 cabin! Threw in some shots from there also.

Scouting Trip

2010-10-26T22:00:00.001-04:00

Decided to take the day and Scout some little known waters in the hunt for a new adventure. As usual, I took a few shots along the way. I hope you enjoy viewing them and it gives a little sense of the beauty that surrounded me... Cheers, John.

"Often I have been exhausted on trout streams, uncomfortable, wet, cold, briar scarred, sunburned, mosquito bitten, but never, with a fly rod in my hand have I been less than in a place that was less than beautiful." Charles Kuralt

My Mountains

2010-10-20T06:01:00.001-04:00

I sat there and forgot and forgot, until what remained was the river that went by and I who watched... N Maclean

Like a scared child running to its mothers bosom, I ran to my Mountains ...
... J. Dollar

GSMNP

2010-09-26T17:07:00.003-04:00

Me and my son decided to take three days and hit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this weekend. What an awsome time we had. In every direction you would turn, beauty everywhere! Friday we fished Bradley Fork, worked our way toward Elkmont taking pictures along the way and finally ending up in Gatlinburg TN for lunch and a visit to the local Fly Shop that just happens to have a Papa Johns Pizza below it! Water was way low and fish were few and far however, I was able to get several nice stikes by some wild bows. After seeing the low water was it didn't seem right to pressure the fish so we started scouting. Later Saturday the rain started deep within the mountains which related to Bradley Fork turning into a muddy soup but who could complain, rain was very much needed.

In the evenings we decided to drive onto the Cherokee Reservation and enjoy a meal and walking town. Stopped in one of the locally (Cherokee Indian) owned store where Valeria designed us yet another handmade bone bracelet, something that has became a tradition for us to get together. Later that evening, my friend James "Grizzly" Cates from TN came by to visit where we shared a thought or two, a nice bowl for the pipes and wondered why we haven't won the lottery yet! Always great to catch up with Jim!

Here are some pictures of our journey, they tell the best story. Sorry for the lack of fish pictures but given the water level issues it quickly turned into a scouting trip for future trips, and did we see some good stuff! It's great to see your son grow into such a fine young man, carrying on his fathers tradition of Flyfishing and enjoying the outdoors. To see him delicatly land his fly, appreciate the land and understand, it's not just about the fish. I'm very proud of him!

Ps.. He cooks a mean breakfast too! :)

2010-09-12T14:07:00.003-04:00

The 2011 calendar from our artist Tommy Ellis is available now! Beautiful Water color paintings of the outdoors including The Great Smokey Mountains National Park from Photographers John Dollar, James Cates and others displayed beautifully by Tommy. Cost is $10.00 + $2 S&H. Contact Tommy and get yours today at ghost1066@gmail.com Thank you for supporting a National Treasure and great Artist Tommy Ellis.

The Beauty of Pisgah

2010-09-08T21:44:00.005-04:00

Taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and by far the best weather this season, I decided to head back into my familiar stomping grounds, The Pisgah National Forest. I would usually camp in a more primitive setting however, given the holiday, they were long gone when I got there. Stopped by the Davidson River campground and fortunatly I was able to secure a site from people that decided to leave early. Honestly, for $20 a maintained campsite, bath houses, some history and being along a Trout Unlimited top 100 stream is not a bad deal. The Mrs was along for the trip so it was equally devided into showing her the beauty of the area and some Flyfishing. Started at Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock and of course the Hatchery to show her the HAWGS that call it home. Excellent fishing on Wild Waters, the fish displayed some beautiful colors and a good fight as usual. My usual M.O. is to take pics while fishing however, being the trip was split between two activities, the camera got a little extra workout.

Ps.. So many pictures, so hard to decide.. Maybe another post in order? I have to add one more comment to complete this. If the Great creator of all things Flyfishes..He does so with a Winston Fly Rod. After enjoying the new rod this weekend, I'm sold... Simply an amazing rod, period.

ay tee kaw ee ay lay - gah dah

2010-08-28T02:42:00.001-04:00

Ay tee kaw ee ay lay - gah dah .. Cherokee for "Sacred Ground".

I decided to take my map today and read within it's contour lines the secrets in which they may hold. Gazing at Ridgelines, Spurs, Saddles and Depressions taking several dead end guesses and nearing the end of a beautiful day, I discovered Sacred Ground. A place I feel will not be recorded in my Fishing journal, highlighted on a map nor discussed in great detail except as tales passed down to the next generation. A beautiful place where the Wild Trout once released, ran directly back to gulp your next cast much like a child, trusting, innocent and unknowing of the lessons soon learned. As I sat creekside, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails swarmed about landing amongst my gear in such a way, attempting to gain my attention. This made me think of the Cherokee that once dominated this area.. the Cherokee believed Butterflies carried the wishes to the Great Spirit in heaven to be granted. Release after release I realized my wishes were indeed granted.

As I worked my way back through laurels, hardwoods and pines, I looked back and realized that I seen no presence of man, no sound, no blown trash, fire pits or beaten paths and was over whelmed with peace. I'm not sure if I will return, I'm not sure it's a place ready for us humans..It seems to be doing just fine without us. It was a privledge to be on "Ay tee kaw ee ay lay - gah dah" today.

Just a few shots streamside & a couple from my travels... Enjoy, Cheers... John

Another day at the office

2010-08-22T21:41:00.000-04:00

My friend Dave Hise helping land the big one! Take a moment to check out his blog and his Flyshop.

Hangin on the D

2010-08-07T20:21:00.017-04:00

Decided to hang on the D today! Thats the Davidson River outside of Brevard North Carolina. Half the day was on Wild Waters and the other half I relaxed at the Hatchery section with my friends. Took some casual pics along the trail in my usual fashion, wanting you to enjoy the experience with me. Thanks for coming by, I hope you enjoy the pictures and another.

Cheers.. John

The Frying Pan

2010-07-25T03:01:00.000-04:00

Wow! Was it hot today. I had planned on heading to GSMNP however, felt it would be a long drive for fish that were equally as tired of the heat as I was. I decided to wait later in the day and get some elevation under my feet in an atempt to reach cooler temps. Well, just shy of 3,000 feet it was still 90 degrees so, Ended up being a photo shoot with the Nikon for the majority of the day. Later my friend JR (Awesome Flyfisherman) called and asked where I was. After letting him know, he wanted to meet later and fish a bit. We met up near Edgemont NC and worked upper Wilson Creek for a mix of Wild and stocked fish.

Few fish came to life after such a brutal hot day and what few did, decided to enjoy our caddis we were throwing. Managed a couple nice wild bows and seen many more than expected however, with the water still warm, their interest was minimal. Had a blast, haven't fished with JR in a long time and it was a treat to spend the remainder of the day with him. Ended up fishing until dark and of course, we didn't have our headlamps. Finally got back to the vehicles and ended up chatting an hour or so until we headed on our seperate ways.

Had a great time JR, lets do it again!

Bears!

2010-07-25T02:27:00.003-04:00

My friend James @huntinthedream sent me this video footage from his game camera. Funny thing is, I often speak of running into a bear, not that I worry about it terribly but one tends to wonder that after trying to thread 8x tippet you look up and Ole Yogi is sitting beside you. Honestly anything out there that can eat and sleep more than me, has my respect. As luck would have it me and JR were fishing upper Wilson Creek today and ended up walking out without our headlamps... great :) Glad James sent this well afterwards! Stop by and check out James blog here at huntinthedream.blogspot.com

Special Critters

2010-07-17T18:01:00.001-04:00

Found this little fella while out on one of my trips, nope not Albino but White. They are protected and are rather friendly!

WNC Treasures

2010-07-17T14:52:00.006-04:00

Decided to get back out and hit some Wild Water that I have not yet fished. I usually end up doing more prospecting than anything on new waters however, I was so amazed at this stream that I ended up pulling the majority of my 14 hour day there. It was a cooler day however later the humidity got high and I think I was sweating in places man was not supposed to! As usual I took a few pictures of this amazing area and wanted to share them with you. I ended up taking a short nap in the truck for a couple of hours mid day to recharge my batteries. I am starting to think my truck is my new found home :). Two things I want to point out is that this stream was full of brown fingerlings. Most streams will have their supply of rainbow fingerlings however given this location, big Browns come up stream to spawn here. Such a beautiful thing to see when a stream is self supportive. The other thing being the White squirrels! These unique critters are protected in these parts as they are rare. Was a remarkable day in paradise and I have already started to plan my next adventure to this area!

Ps. The brown Fingerling was released unharmed. I was surprised she took such a large fly. This displays a good example of the agressiveness I seen with them.

One tired sweaty Flyfisherman

Home away from home

Pisgah Forest Western NC

2010-07-11T01:31:00.000-04:00

Me and Jeremy decided to get out and venture into the Pisgah National Forest. As expected we had a blast that words cannot describe. I took a few shots along the way and wanted to share them. This is honestly a blessed place, to be amongst this forest is a privilege and the fish are earned! Later in the day we decided to stop by the Catch and Release section of the Davidson river. Outside of the huge fish that hang out here, the comments from the anglers who miss one is pure entertainment. One thing I have never seen until today is that nobody was there, honestly vacated and rather weird. There was some NCSU students placing nets to catch Bats for a study regarding some form of fungus that is kiling them off, interesting. When all was said and done the one thing we had on our mind on is.. when we comming back!

A Revisit to Jeremy's Blue Line trip

2010-07-11T01:00:00.001-04:00

Found a short clip on my friend Jeremy during his first trip into the Blue Lines. Since then he has gone with me twice and I can honestly say, he is hooked!

Western NC Wild Waters

2010-07-11T00:45:00.000-04:00

Location - Classified (You just don't talk about these things..lol)
Type - Wild Trout Waters
Notes - Beautiful day! Top water and Nymph action all day. The only way to cap off such an awesome day? .. Visit the Fly Shop and hang out with the dogs! I love Bear, the Black Lab but honestly, I've never met a lab I didn't!

Grandis Respectus

2010-06-25T11:55:00.000-04:00

The one thing that I have found is that in one way, shape or form we all have a passion for the outdoors. Through this blog and Twitter I have met many people that share a passion for Flyfishing, Photography, Art, Pipes, Fine Tobaccos and the fellowship that binds us. I have been Privileged to fish with a couple of the finest Flyfishermen I have ever met, Jim @Grizzly_Jim and Austin @365flyfish both who I met within the social meadia outdoors crowd.

Recently I was honored by having American Artist Tommy Ellis @ghost1066 request to use some of my photography for a series of watercolors titled the "John Dollar" series. To have something that you are passionate about be recognized by an Artist of such acomplishment is truely an Honor.

My passion for hand crafted Pipes and Fine Tobaccos on my blog and through Social Media has introduced me to yet another community of people who I have found welcoming, Fun and very talented. Two people I have met and immediatly formed a bonding frienship with, just as I have done with my Flyfishing brothers are Steve @steveliskey and Mike @Pipes4Mike. Both American Craftsmen/Artists whos work is not only amazing, beautiful and detailed, has a level of quality which is unsurpassed in excellence! Take a moment to visit them and see what they do. If you want American quality, this is where you go. http://www.steveliskeypipes.com/& Mike http://www.pipes4mike.com/

Yesterday, the ups man drove up and handed me a package with a California return address. As anticipation grew I ripped into like a kid on Christmas morning! Low and behold it was a Handcrafted custom made pipe from Steve. A beautiful small biliard perfect for my shirt pocket while Flyfishing! A rusticated black beauty with a ring of antler and the most beautiful bit I have ever seen. Holding this pipe you notice first off, its quality and balance, something I like to have in my hand. Words can't describe how it feels to have a custom Handcarved pipe to call your own! This will be handed down to generations as "this was Johns pipe" he always had it on him while casting a fly in the beautfiul mountains of North Carolina.

Wait.. Hold on a second! As I dug a little deeper I noticed something else in there. A brown velvet bag containing a Handcrated custom made Pipe Tamper from Mike! A tamper perfectly matched for the pipe in size, weight and color. Black ebony with a deer antler ring and machined aluminum base! If any two things were made to be together this was them. like a reel to a rod, the fly to the Tippet it was perfect, a match made with quality American Craftmenship! Unknowingly to me Steve and Mike wanted to design a special set of Pipe and Tamper as a gift to me, in return only asking for friendship.

Words can't describe the feeling I have with these acts of kindness from each of you. You all have a second home in NC and a trip to any location on our over 3,000 miles of Trout waters to include dinner and a fine smoke upon request! Upon arrival the only cost will be... your friendship ;)!

Thank you Tommy, Steve and Mike and to the others that I speak to on Twitter, my blog, through pictures, rants, raves and casting a line. To each of you " Grandis Respectus" ... John

A Sacred Fishery

2010-06-12T23:50:00.006-04:00

There are many beautiful Trout streams within North Carolina, 3,000 miles actually however, few earn what a select group of flyfishermen consider a wild sacred fishery. Today I was Privileged to introduce my friend Jeremy to his first day on such a stream. Each fishery requires its own skill set, some at a higher bar than others but all require an effort unlike the standard issue stocked stream. Wild fish are smart, stealthy, fast and know how to survive. The first thing you notice when fishing for wilds are, they are strong for their size and usually offer a ritualistic like dance across the water once the hook is set.

You will earn these fish, you will hike, walk, cast, climb, lower yourself through laurels, deal with extreme temps both hot and cold, snag trees and come across wildlife in surprising encounters, take a dunk in the drink, meet blood thirsty insects... before you even get to the challenge of maybe, just maybe out smarting the fish. The rewards of success are great and the enviroment biblical. For those who earn this right of passage, indeed should hold their head high but understand it does not come without responsibility. We do not speak aloud stream names, we leave no evidence of our travels and we understand that its a privilege to catch a wild and it is to be respected.

Welcome to the Blue Lines Jeremy, it was an honor to to be your wing man today.

A Sacred Fishery 2

2010-06-12T23:38:00.001-04:00

A Sacred Fishery 3

2010-06-12T23:26:00.001-04:00