Perspicacious Words

Headed to China...Again

2011-02-23T18:33:00.000-05:00

Actually Taiwan this time.

Random Photos

2010-09-22T19:37:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I have posted some photos. I have been out taking them, but I have not been keeping up with the image editing. Here are a few from some recent outings.

Fort Boonesborough State Park:

Camp Nelson National Cemetery, Nicholasville Kentucky:

Tiznow - Breeders Cup Classic winner:

Deer at Mammoth Cave National Park:

Wildflowers:

Sage Z-Axis - Resurrection

2010-09-17T18:42:00.000-04:00

Many may remember this post from last year. The breaking of the Z-Axis. I recently realized that I had not posted when the rod was repaired. Yes, it has been repaired and is once again in my arsenal.

After it broke I gathered up the pieces and sent them in to Sage (along with a check for $50). They received it, and a few weeks later I received the parts back with a new tip section. As it was a rod I had built myself, they match it with a new tip for you to wrap. I really liked the guides I had on that rod, so I decided to salvage them from the broken pieces.

It is fairly simple to remove the guides from a rod. Just take a razor and carefully slice through the finish and threads close to the blank. Once you have cut all the way through you can easily pull the remaining thread and finish off the blank. If you were going to re-finish the blank at this point you would give it a good cleaning and it would be ready to wrap.

Because I had a new tip section I transferred my guide spacing from the broken section over to the new blank. I wrapped the guides, replaced the tip, and then put the finish on. After allowing the finish to setup the rod was ready to go.

I have not used the Z-Axis much this season. The 2 weight I wrapped earlier this year is seeing most the action. I have had the Z-Axis out a few times though, and it casts as nice as ever.

Favorite Quotes...

2010-09-16T19:34:00.002-04:00

What a tourist terms a plague of insects, the fly fisher calls a great hatch.

-Patrick McManus

Smallmouth on a 2 Weight

2010-09-11T15:29:00.000-04:00

I have not made it out fishing as much as I would like this year. There are a lot of excuses, all bad ones. I did, however, make it out last week for a couple hours. I grabbed my 2 weight and went to the nearby stream to try to catch a few Smallmouth. As in the previous post, I was not expecting anything of size. And that is pretty much what I got. No Smallmouth, a few Sunfish, and a couple Rock Bass.

As I was fishing back towards the truck I decided to put on a weighted fly and drop it to the bottom. I was a little surprised I was able to throw it as well as I did using the 2 weight. Two casts, two taps. On the third cast I had a solid hit and set the hook. Fish on.

With the light rod it took about 10 minutes to get the fish in. Several times he would turn and run, and there was not much that could be done. Eventually I forced him to the shore. A beautiful Smallmouth. It was definitely worth the trip.

And if you haven't caught a Smallmouth on a very light fly rod, I highly recommend it...

The Bite is On

2010-07-06T11:55:00.001-04:00

With all the hot weather we have had the bite seemed like it would never take off. Last week we finally had some cooler weather, so I took an evening and went to the nearby stream.

Usually I catch some Sunfish, Rock Bass, and the occasional small (6" or so) Smallmouth. I had my small stream rod - a 7'3" 2 weight I tied up earlier this year. As is typically the case on this stream, no need for the net. The fish are usually too small.

I started out with a small foam fly I tie up for the smaller fish. Had a few takes, but not much. Then switched to a weighted crawfish imitation. No luck. I then put on the old standby - a Stealth Bomber. Decided to try it in Black. That was the ticket! As it turns out, I wish I would have had the net. If you have ever wrangled in 8-12" Smallmouth cast after cast, on a 2 weight, you know what I mean. No pictures - by the time I would get the fish to hand it was a little too much to wrestle the fish, the 2 weight, and the camera. For about 3 hours every 2-3 casts a smallmouth would take the fly. Cast up into the rocks and watch the take. What a way to spend the evening!

And to think I was debating using my 8 weight for some of my Smallmouth fishing this year...

2 wt Rod

2010-04-08T23:00:00.001-04:00

Favorite Quotes...

2010-02-10T17:52:00.000-05:00

Calling Fly Fishing a hobby is like calling Brain Surgery a job.

-Unknown

January Fish

2010-01-19T21:41:00.004-05:00

There has been a lack of fishing posts recently on this blog. Some say I have been lacking motivation to document my trips. Some say I have not been out fishing enough. Regardless of the theory you subscribe to, it can not hurt to fish more.

Today was all planned out. We were going to hit the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam. The weather was going to be nice. According to forecasts no generation would be taking place during the day. Conditions were going to be perfect. After all, conditions were perfect Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The web site said it would be the same today. The internet would not lie to me, would it?

Today's topic for discussion: Has the internet ever lied to you?

As we started traveling this morning I checked the iPhone for water conditions. Between 9:00pm last night and 7:30am this morning the water flow went from no generators to two generators. As a result the river was much, much too high to wade. And the generation was going to continue throughout the day.

We went to the river anyhow to check out some of the locations, and to find new ones. We made a few casts, but did not even bother to put on the waders. As expected, no fish were caught.

We got back in the truck and headed North to the War Fork. It is a small stream that only has trout due to stocking. But in January you take what you can. A few hours on the water and still no fish. It was looking like a skunk as I fished back to the truck. Finally, in sight of the vehicle, I made one last cast. As I mended the line there was a hit. I set the hook and brought a small Rainbow Trout to hand.

It may not look like much, but it was the best looking fish I saw all day.

First Fly Fishing of the Decade

2010-01-13T20:02:00.004-05:00

What better way to start the new year and new decade than to go Fly Fishing? I made it out on January 1. It was good to get out, but cold. Every three to four casts the guides would be completely iced up. Usually when you step out of the stream the water runs off your waders. This trip the water would simply form a thin layer of ice on the waders.

No fish were to be caught, but it was good to get out.

And good to warm up afterwards...

Today's Topic for Discussion...

2009-12-31T01:00:00.001-05:00

Is it true that cannibals do not eat clowns because they taste funny?

Pizza Time

2009-12-29T19:21:00.002-05:00

How to calculate pizza volume:

Courtesy of foodnetworkhumor.com

Merry Christmas

2009-12-26T17:39:00.003-05:00

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Potty Training

2009-12-05T11:03:00.002-05:00

I hope it does not come to this, but if we are not done with potty training soon I may have to resort to extreme tactics.

Favorite Quotes...

2009-11-14T18:13:00.001-05:00

Scholars have long known that fishing eventually turns men into philosophers. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy decent tackle on a philosopher's salary.

-Patrick McManus

Favorite Quotes...

2009-11-05T13:08:00.002-05:00

I look into... my fly box and think about all the elements I should consider in choosing the perfect fly: water temperature, what stage of development the bugs are in, what the fish are eating right now. Then I remember what a guide told me:

Ninety percent of what a trout eats is brown and about five-eighths of an inch long.

-Allison Moir

Today's Topic for Discussion...

2009-10-13T19:31:00.002-04:00

Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin?

Harvest Moon

2009-10-05T21:05:00.002-04:00

Tonight was the Harvest Moon. It has been a while since I have photographed the moon, so I took a few images tonight. Both were taken with a 400mm lens, with a 1.4x Teleconverter attached.

This one was my favorite, taken through some trees. The moon was still low on the horizon and had a nice orange glow to it.

September Fly Fishing

2009-09-13T19:38:00.004-04:00

I made it out twice this week for some Smallmouth fishing. Sorry, no pictures. I have been kind of rough on my small digital cameras. My first went into the water. The latest one quit focusing. I am looking for yet another one. In the interim you will just have to believe me when I discuss my exploits. And hey, I'm a fisherman! I would never stretch the truth...

Elkhorn River

Wednesday after work I went out to the Elkhorn River. We had quite a bit of rain and I was concerned the river may be blown out. When we arrived the water looked high. We found a place we could test out the water and stepped in. As luck would have it, the river was actually not very high. Just very muddy from the rain, making wading difficult. Tripping, however, was rather easy.

With the murky water I should have sunk a fly beneath the surface. But I had a couple taps on the surface, and kept with it. There was not much catching. I did get one Smallmouth to hand, but that was it.

Silver Creek

On Thursday we took off of work early to hit Silver Creek. The plethora of fish made up for the limited catching on the Elkhorn. We caught enough Smallmouth, Rock Bass, and Longear that we lost count.

For most the afternoon we stuck with surface flies. Dahlberg Divers, Poppers, and Hopper patterns were producing well. We fished through two sections of river, the second one chest deep. The fish were holed up in the deep water. While the majority of takes occurred when casting towards the rocks on shore or the grass, we had takes from about anywhere we could put a fly. The Smallmouth were particularly acrobatic, jumping and twisting in the air when hooked. Definitely a lot of fun.

As we were getting ready to head back the bite slowed down. We put droppers under the surface flies and everything picked up again. Using a Crackleback below the surface I caught another bunch of fish as I worked my way back to the truck.

As I removed my waders I made a discovery - apparently my waders have a leak. And not just anywhere - from the water on my jeans it appeared I had, well, wet myself. I know I get pretty distracted when fishing, but I was pretty sure that was not the case here. The leak is right in the crotch of the waders. I will need to get those patched up before going again, at least before going somewhere with a lot of onlookers.

All in all, a good fishing week.

The Sunsphere

2009-09-05T20:41:00.009-04:00

Behold the awesomeness that is the Sunsphere... Author Unknown

In March, 1996, I sat down to watch The Simpsons. Little did I know how that episode, entitled Bart on the Road, would change my life. This particular episode featured Bart obtaining a fake drivers license. Like all young men in this predicament, he rents a car and travels to Knoxville Tennessee to see the Sunsphere. Hilarity ensues.

Did you know:

The Sunsphere served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair

Recently we traveled to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The trip was intended as a birthday get-away for Kristin. To get to Pigeon Forge from Lexington we had to travel through Knoxville. This gave us a chance for a little side trip - a chance to see the Sunsphere. After all, if it was good enough for Bart, Milhouse, Martin, and Nelson it must be a truly spectacular site.

Did you know:

The Sunsphere weight 600 tons and features six double steel truss columns to support the seven-story sphere

We approached the exit, the Sunsphere gleaming in the distance. What an awe-inspiring sight, the golden globe gleaming in the mid-day sun. Our dreams nay, life ambitions were about to come true. We were to experience the grandeur of the orb. So excited were we, that we drove right past the exit. Luckily the gleaming aura of the sphere led us back to our destination

Did you know:

The tower has a volume on 203,689 cubic feet, and a surface area of 16,742 square feet

We parked the car and made our way to the towering sphere. We took in its' beauty, as its' nobleness overcame us. The impact it made upon us was felt by all about, evident by Knoxville Channel 8 News interviewing Kristin for the evening newscast.

We experienced the Sunsphere up close marveling at the masterpiece of engineering that stood before us. Taking the elevator to the observation deck we were amazed with the structure, the view, and the noticeable absence of bird guano on the structure. We also recognized the deficiency of restrooms in and around the superstructure.

Did you know:

The tower's window glass panels are layered in 24-karat gold dust and cut to 7 different shapes

As we departed the Sunsphere we did so aware that our lives were better off than they were prior to the encounter. What a life altering event, to experience the structure I had first heard of on that evening in March, 1996. With sadness we left the facility to head into the Smoky Mountains and nearby factory stores.

Did you know:

As a result of European Starlings depositing too much guano on the tower's frame, in 2003 the Knoxville Public Buildings Authority purchased a device that emits various noises to scare the birds away from the tower

As I close this entry, allow me to leave you with this quote from The Simpsons:

Bart: We got no car!
Martin: We got no money!
Milhouse: And no one knows we're here!
Everyone: We're stranded!
Nelson: But on the plus side, I knocked over the Sunsphere. HA-ha.

Today's Topic for Discussion...

2009-09-01T19:11:00.001-04:00

Why do we press harder on remote control buttons when we know the battery is dead?

Idaho Vacation

2009-08-29T10:55:00.004-04:00

We spent a few days visiting my parents in Idaho. It was a great trip - some eating, some fishing, some driving, and a whole lot of relaxing.

We flew into Salt Lake City, where my parents picked us up. They drove us up to their place outside of Idaho Falls. It did not take long before Rachael was having fun with Grandma and Grandpa. She had talked about riding the 4-wheelers with Grandma for several weeks. They did ride the 4-wheelers, but I think she liked the RTV best.

Grandpa took us to the South Fork of the Snake River to do some fishing. Grandpa tried to buy some worms for Rachael to use, but she informed him: Grandpa, I only fish with Flies! That is my girl. We took the Jet Boat out and anchored near the dam.

Rachael grabbed her pole and started fishing. She was disappointed when she did not catch a fish on the first cast - the Bluegill in Kentucky are spoiling her. It was not long before grandpa had a fish on though, and Rachael reeled it in. We did not tell her there was a worm on the hook.

Afterward Grandpa took us for a short ride in the jet boat. We then dropped the jet boat off and put the drift boat in. Me and Dad spent the afternoon fishing the South Fork. We saw a lot of fish coming up and hitting the fly. I did get this nice cutthroat to the boat.

The next days were spent playing and fishing. Dad, Uncle Roger, and I floated Box Canyon in the drift boat. We caught a lot of fish, all Rainbows. Nothing too big, but the number more than made up for that. I do not have any pictures from that day. It was a beautiful float, one I definitely will put on the list for next time.

Sunday was raining so after church we spent the day at the house. My sister Lorie and her boys were also there so we just relaxed while the cousins played.

All in all a nice, relaxing get away for me. Kristin has some more details and photos on the family blog.

Ad Annoyance

2009-08-17T08:23:00.002-04:00

Whether on TV, radio, or in print, everyone has those ads that annoy them. For example, ads that use an alarm clock. What advertising agency in their right mind wants to associate a product with a sound that is almost universally despised? And do you really want to buy a product from a company smart enough to hire this ad firm?

To this day I will have nothing to do with Snuggle brand fabric softener. That bear they used on the ads, with its' little giggle, perturbed me one too many times. You know the ads I am referring to. But the ads did make an impression.

This morning as I was driving in I heard a promotion on the radio for a motorcycle. The announcer told me that the feeling I would get when riding this particular bike could not be explained in words. The announcer then went on to explain, in words, that feeling.

No, I will not be going to the dealership to ride the bike. Unless they will let me take an alarm clock and the Snuggle bear to run over...

Recent Happenings

2009-08-12T19:36:00.002-04:00

It has been a while since I have updated the blog. I am going through some information overload - between the blog, Facebook, and Twitter sometimes you just wonder how much people really need to know. Is it necessary to know every time I step out for a restroom break?

However, for posterity's sake, I will update the blog. Hey, it is the closest thing I have to a journal. Here are some of the recent happenings.

15th Anniversary

Kristin and I celebrated our 15th anniversary. It has been 15 years since I married the love of my life, and every day I fall more in love with her. Thanks for everything Babe!

We celebrated by flying Kristin's mother to Kentucky to watch Rachael. We went to the Bahamas for five days. It was great! Nothing but sitting on the beach. I could really get used to that - anyone have a house they want to sell on the islands? I did get a slight red tan. Did you know you can get Aloe lotion with Lidocaine? Great stuff, great stuff.

Fishing

Yes, I have been fly fishing. Not as much as last year due to the rain. The rivers have been blown out much of the time this summer. The three of us have made it over to the lake for Bluegill quite a bit. So far only one Smallmouth Bass trip though. I hope I can get a couple more in this season.

Excuse me while I take a restroom break. I will update Facebook and Twitter when I return.

I did manage to hook a duck the other night. I cast the small (size 16) dry fly out behind the duck. He turned and grabbed the fly. I did not fight him too hard before letting him break off. Of course, had there not been so many folks at the lake, I may have tried to get him airborne. It would have made a much better story.

Church

They put me in one of those leadership positions I had hoped to never have. I hope someone knows what they are doing. Previously, when there was talk of putting me in these positions, I moved the family from Colorado to Kentucky. I am not sure where to move them to now. Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi maybe?

Burgers

Anyone that knows me probably knows that I am a fan of burgers. If you doubt me, look at my gut. The burger that tops them all is In-N-Out. Hey, after spending two years in Southern California, I am a big fan. Well, I do not think we are going to get an In-N-Out any time soon in Kentucky. However, they did recently open a 5 Guys Burger s. It is not quite In-N-Out, but it is pretty close. The closest thing to it I can get in this part of the country.

That is it for now. I will try leave a little less time between my blog entries. And more time between breaks.

Relaxing Recess

2009-07-21T18:58:00.002-04:00

Sitting on a beach in the Bahamas. Does it get much better than this?