Well, it's been another week. Work and more work. I guess I should be happy I have a job in these trying times. I have begun reading the first book in Stieg Larsson's "Millenium" trilogy. It's taking off good. The writing is flowing and I guess the translation is pretty good. I'm reading it in English. It is originally published in Sweden. The sad part is that the author passed away of an apparent heart attack at age 50 in 2004. They are now supposedly filming the first book in Sweden.

I haven't fished much lately but I am planning on a trip tomorrow to Clinch River with a coworker. It's supposed to be high fifties in the afternoon. I guess midges will be the ticket. We (Lisa and I, which is my wife by the way) decided to watch an old Swedish classic movie. Göta Kanal, from 1981. This is one of those eighties comedies from Sweden that were so huge. It has not aged well and it is no way near Lasse Åberg material, but fun anyway. One of my all time favorite actors Jan Carlsson, more popularly known as "Loffe" is the lead. He is just so goofy. I feel he has taken a lot fo heat for his somewhat bad performances in Swedish television game shows from the eighties. The guy is pretty funny in movie though. Check out "Jordgubbar med riktig mjölk" from 2001 as well as "Svenska Hjältar from 1997. Not much else to report. I will remain.

I guess it's time for some updates. I have tried to read some books and it's going slow. I'm currently reading an English translation of "Karin Alvtegen's" "Missing". It is pretty good and as I understand it they are working on filming it. As for fishing. Went a couple of hours with Pineman last Sunday to Holston at Nances Ferry. Got skunked. Water temp at 66 degrees. Did a nice hike today with a coworker and her boyfriend. We went to Rainbow Falls in the Cherokee Orchard Area outside Gatlinburg. A very nice and warm day. Unfortunately the drought is causing the creeks to dry up. In this case LeConte Creek. A nice day and maybe I will go fishing tomorrow although I'm supposed to clean the house. Easy choice heh?

Had a decent day on South Holston yesterday with Pete from Maryville. We made it up to the dam area at about 11 AM. The morning began with small olive zebra midges in size 20 dropped behind an indicator dry. I managed to catch a few small ones and then finally this fighter. A very nice 13" Rainbow. It was not easy fishing but it began to pick up on top at about 1 PM when the fish started taking Sulphur Dun's. I caught another bow in the 12" range and missed a couple of browns. Managed a half a dozen fish after a tough day. The weather was great and the fall is definitely here. I have had four days off from work and it has been great. I actually fished the South Holston together with another friend from Bluff City, TN. Mike and I fished a lower spot on the river and it was a cold and dreary day. I caught 10 fish but no size to them although they were mostly browns. Back to work tomorrow.

I'm back from a long day on the South Holston tailwater in upper East TN. It was a drizzle and cold all day. I managed to catch a dozen fish all below 11". My friend who I met up with for the first time today caught more but probably none much bigger. It was midging in the morning and Sulphur dries in the PM. Got home right at 7 PM. I had a day off from work. I'm not going back until Tuesday. I might do another trip in a day or two. My fishing season is winding down. I have fished with a couple of new people lately and it's always fun and interesting to getting to know fellow fly fishers.

No other news right now, worn out and tired going to bed.

Slickrock Creek, NC Saturday Oct 11, 2008

What a day. It was a full day for sure. I went with a new friend from an online fly fishing board. We decided on hiking in a couple of mile to some rugged waters in Joyce Kilmer Wilderness in NC. It was a muggy day for being October and the first highlight of the day was spotting a bald eagle cruising over our heads. We didn't do well when it comes to the fishing part but we got a good work out or at least I did. I was substantially in a lot worse shape than my buddy. We ended our day on another stream in NC and the second highlight for me was to spot one of the biggest black bears I have ever seen. I wasn't quick enough with my camera and the bear was staring at me a little too long for my comfort so I decided on backing off in order to not make the situation in to a situation of you know what I mean! All in all a nice day but fishing was slow. Oh well, you can't have it all I guess.

No news on books, movies or anything else right now, I got a call from a friend in Sweden which is always nice and I just found out that my darn ac unit is frozen up again. It's october for heaven's sake. I'm just leaving it until spring. I have to try to charge it up again since I can't afford to replace it just yet.

Got a phone call from my friend pineman somewhere in the backcountry of the smokies. He was all excited since he managed to roll and stag a handful of feisty brown trout today. This on a size 12 female para adams dry. He was so darn excited that I couldn't help but getting a little jealous.

Exciting news, St Croix is bringing back their best and nicest rods (sorry Neal) both for budgetary reasons and for the feel of it all. THE ST CROIX IMPERIAL is back man! From what it looks they might even be built in the good ole' U.S.A. Two exciting things in one day. Can't wait to get back to the streams and rain is coming tonight. YIPEEEE!

Short Camping Trip at Elkmont

Went to Elkmont for some camping with a coworker Saturday. My friend had managed to get a real good spot at the campground in the Smokies. We fished a little on Saturday afternoon but the river was extremely low due to the ongoing drought. I had a couple of strikes but gave up after a couple of hours. My buddy didn't fare much better either. We enjoyed an evening at the campfire with hot dogs and chili and made an early departure for Knoxville on Sunday. Back at work today and it was a slow Monday. Watched a movie last week called "Run Fat Boy Run" with the always hilarous Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. If you love Simong Pegg you'll like this movie. Although "Shawn of The Dead" was better but "Run Fat Boy Run" was better than "Hot Fuzz" in my opinion.