https://youtu.be/dq-1G6Wif8s
Took Friday off work, loaded up the car for a solo camping & fishing trip. Left the house about 9 oclock. This would probably be my last weekend long trip without my son, who is now 6, and unbeknownst to me, likely my last trip with my old dog.
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LoginStopped at the bakery in Tellico Plains to pick up some bread, have a coffee, and completely ruin their bathroom. Arrived at the campground at 11 and it was completely full. Never in my life had I been there when there was more than 1 or 2 sites occupied. Drove on up the road to the free dispersed camping, which turned out to be a better option anyway. More privacy, better water, free, and the forest service had parked a freshly cleaned portojon there.
Set up my tent, jerked off real quick, and hit the water. Immediately was into fish.
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LoginNothing big, but didn't have to work very hard for these, and considering how lazy I get on the water these days, I was ok with that. I used to adjust dropper lengths, change flies, apply floatant, look for fish at every pool. Nowadays i basically just thrash around flogging the water with the same old fly all day long. Catching anything is a bonus.
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LoginThe dog was still running strong, staying right behind me, eager to move on quickly.
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LoginWent back to camp for a quick lunch. "Farmhouse Sourdough" made with saison beer and spent grain on top.
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LoginQuick knife shot for the boyz of steel
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LoginBack to where we left off earlier and fish were still biting, but beginning to slow down. They seemed to be interested 10-3pm, then shut off until the yellow sally hatch before sunset.
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LoginDog was starting to slow down some. Beginning to struggle over and under fallen trees and small waterfalls. Fished for a few more hours until it slowed down and headed back to camp to mess around until the late hatch. Built a fire, since i'd need coals for dinner, and drank a few beers. Turned around and the dog was completely out. If I yelled, he wouldnt even lift his head, just open 1 eye.
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LoginWent back out when i started noticing little yellow bugs bouncing around like drunk butterflies. Had to wake the dog up cause I couldn't just leave him at camp. He was sluggish, really didn't want to go, and after about 15 minutes, he bailed on me and walked all the way back to camp by himself and went to sleep on his bed. Fished until it was too dark to see and went back to make dinner.
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LoginSaturday morning, we got up early, I made a big pot of coffee and christened the portojon. Took the car up the mountain to find the brook trout water. It gets pretty rugged where it begins to turn into gorge. Tough entry and exit. Should have known the dog was too wore out to do this again when he needed help getting up into the car. Found a little pathway that led down to.....a fishing pier????
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LoginFishing was very slow. It was still 8-9 oclock. Got to the waterfall below and my dog got scared. Normally something he'd find a way up and over, but he knew his limits, but i commanded that he climb it. He took an alternate route and got himself stranded right beside the rushing water. He was tired, and his legs were shaking, one of his back legs slipped on the wet rock and he slid backwards into and over the falls. Maybe a 10 foot drop, right into the pool and pushed under by the force of the falls. I was ready to jump in after him, but he popped up and paddled over to the nearest bank.
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LoginHad to help him out of the gorge, which was a chore. He was limping pretty bad, and yelped when i pushed on one of his hips. Put him in the car and fished for a little while longer, but felt bad about leaving him there, so decided to take him home and let him rest, if he still was injured, he probably needed to go to the vet, not fish or camp any longer. We got up to the parkway and I decided to take him on a flat hike on a ridge top. He didn't limp too bad, but was very slow moving.
Doug, false salomon's seal?
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LoginFlushed 2 grouse along the trail, and I guess we walked past a nest, because a big hen came out into the trail, bouncing around, neck all puffed up, hissing and making an awful screaming sound. Craziest shit I had ever seen. Couldn't get my camera ready quick enough, after I wrangled my dog. He was ready to eat it.
Good time. Will do it again, maybe with different company.