Cash Wounded Finger + Father’s Day

Cathey and I spent a few days last week with our daughter’s family in Tennessee helping with one of the wounded. Cash our youngest grandchild almost lost his pinky when his older brother Bryson accidentally close a heavy glass door on his little hand. The hall door leads to all the children’s bedrooms. Bryson didn’t notice Cash had his little fingers in the door opening. Jenny our daughter sent us a text telling us they were in the emergency room getting his pinky snitched. The procedure took 10 snitches extremely painful for Cash who went into a rage during the procedure. B.T. and Jenny were beside themselves to see their little one in such grief. Happy to report that Cash will be getting the snitches out in a couple of weeks and he will be able to play again like a normal 4-year-old.

One happy little boy with one of the nurses at the emergency room----notice the Popsicle.

While we were there I decided to take Bryson and Laelyn to Harvey Park one of their favorites. The reason they like this park so well is the beautiful creek that flows close to the playground. The kids love to wade in the creeks shallow waters. Sorry, we had to sneak off without Cash but his Mom didn’t want him to get his bandage wet in the creek water.

Bryson and Laelyn spent quite a while using their Dollar Tree nets trying to net some of the small minnows that call this creek their home.

This tiny little minnow along with a few mosquitos’ bites were the catch of the day, which was enough fun to satisfy Bryson, Laelyn, and Pops.

I hope all you Dad’s and Grandpa’s have a wonderful Father’s Day!!!

Fishing the Grasshopper

Terrestrials are some of my favorite flies to cast in the summer and fall. I put the grasshopper to the test today fishing Ryan Creek on Smith Lake. I couldn’t have asked for a better morning with low humidity, no wind to speak of, and cloudy skies. The first spawn is winding down, causing the big gills to move to deeper water. That deeper water is where I was casting the hopper today against the huge rock walls on the lake. The walls are my favorite place to fish for the bigger fish during the down spawn time.

This bluegill exploded on the hopper just as I moved it inches off one of the many walls I fished today. All fish today were landed in water depths of 20 to 30 feet deep off the walls. One has got to love landing these beauties using the 4 or 5 weight fly rods.

I fished the brown hopper all morning because it was so hot with the hits. I’ll give the green hopper a try on my next outing. Both of these hoppers are so realistic and durable.  

Cathey and I will share these four for lunch with hushpuppies, french fries, slaw, and fresh tomatoes.