Heading to West Virginia in a couple of weeks

[Albert Einswine]

An old Air Force buddy of mine has renewed a long standing invite to join him and his sons for a fly fishing excursion to his cabin on the Shavers Fork between Glady and Bemis West Virginia, about 15 miles south of Elkins. He and I fly fished the trout streams of the Michigan Upper Peninsula extensively while we were stationed up there in the '80s.

We basically cut our teeth on fly fishing and fly tying together when we were stationed up there. It was a natural friendship, both of us from the sticks and brought up with a love for hunting and fishing. Haven't seen Ron or his wife Dorothy since '89, but we've stayed in touch off and on over all these years. Really looking forward to this trip, I've never been to West Virginia or Pennsylvania and my route will put me through there, too. I like to add to the list of states I can say I've been in when opportunity presents.

Should be able to get some good photos on the trip and I'll post 'em when I get the time.

[DeltaBoy]

Have a great trip.  Just no Deliverance stuff.

[Albert Einswine]

Have a great trip.  Just no Deliverance stuff.

This trip is to West Virginia, not north Georgia, so all is well. lol

[jrulz83]

An old Air Force buddy of mine has renewed a long standing invite to join him and his sons for a fly fishing excursion to his cabin on the Shavers Fork between Glady and Bemis West Virginia, about 15 miles south of Elkins. He and I fly fished the trout streams of the Michigan Upper Peninsula extensively while we were stationed up there in the '80s.

We basically cut our teeth on fly fishing and fly tying together when we were stationed up there. It was a natural friendship, both of us from the sticks and brought up with a love for hunting and fishing. Haven't seen Ron or his wife Dorothy since '89, but we've stayed in touch off and on over all these years. Really looking forward to this trip, I've never been to West Virginia or Pennsylvania and my route will put me through there, too. I like to add to the list of states I can say I've been in when opportunity presents.

Should be able to get some good photos on the trip and I'll post 'em when I get the time.

Sounds great, I've never wet a line in WV. My fly fishing experience is primarily in the Rockies, along with a couple trips to the Smoky Mountains. Nothing beats a freestone Rocky Mountain stream.

[Rzbakfromwaybak]

Hope you have a great trip, Albert.  Nothing better than old friends combined with a fishing or hunting trip.  Sounds like a lot of fun.

[Albert Einswine]

Sounds great, I've never wet a line in WV. My fly fishing experience is primarily in the Rockies, along with a couple trips to the Smoky Mountains. Nothing beats a freestone Rocky Mountain stream.

That's definitely on my bucket list, Colorado and especially Montana.

[Albert Einswine]

Hope you have a great trip, Albert.  Nothing better than old friends combined with a fishing or hunting trip.  Sounds like a lot of fun.

I expect it will be pretty sweet. I'll be fishing in the Allegheny Mountains and the whole territory will be a new experience for me.

[jrulz83]

That's definitely on my bucket list, Colorado and especially Montana.

Caught trout in both, mostly on small streams in wilderness areas. I have hit some of the famous bigger waters, but my goal always is to get away from people; so I tend to want to shy away from the big water. To me, wet wading small streams in a wilderness with a 3 or 4 weight is just more fun than having to deal with waders, slick rocks, and a thousand other idiots on the Blue Ribbon waters.

[Albert Einswine]

Caught trout in both, mostly on small streams in wilderness areas. I have hit some of the famous bigger waters, but my goal always is to get away from people; so I tend to want to shy away from the big water. To me, wet wading small streams in a wilderness with a 3 or 4 weight is just more fun than having to deal with waders, slick rocks, and a thousand other idiots on the Blue Ribbon waters.

That sounds pretty sweet, I need to add a 4wt to my repertoire, as it stands I have a 5wt, 8wt and 9wt.

[95_alum]

An old Air Force buddy of mine has renewed a long standing invite to join him and his sons for a fly fishing excursion to his cabin on the Shavers Fork between Glady and Bemis West Virginia, about 15 miles south of Elkins.

Have either of you rafted the Gauley? (The put in is right below the Summerville Dam, south of where you guys will be fly fishing).

[jrulz83]

That sounds pretty sweet, I need to add a 4wt to my repertoire, as it stands I have a 5wt, 8wt and 9wt.

I have a 4wt, 5wt, and a 7wt that somebody set down by a log and forgot about 4 miles deep in a wilderness in Colorado. The 8' 4wt and 8'6" 5wt are four piece and the 9' 7wt is a two piece.

[Albert Einswine]

Have either of you rafted the Gauley? (The put in is right below the Summerville Dam, south of where you guys will be fly fishing).

I've never rafted anything, Ron may have, I'll have to ask. I kinda doubt it, though, he's more of the mountain man type, hunter, trapper, ginseng digger, fisherman, etc... and this will be my first trip to WV.

[Hawgon]

I floated the New River in the New River Gorge.  It was quite the experience.

[Albert Einswine]

I floated the New River in the New River Gorge.  It was quite the experience.

Several of my fellow maintenance techs here in Indiana have rafted both the New and Gauley Rivers there. Fly fishing is my thing, though. Just floating on water is a waste of valuable water to me, haha.

[Hawgon]

Several of my fellow maintenance techs here in Indiana have rafted both the New and Gauley Rivers there. Fly fishing is my thing, though. Just floating on water is a waste of valuable water to me, haha.

There couldn't have been any fishing that day.  It was the first weekend in March that you could float and the river was up and muddy.  And by up, I mean a six hour float took two hours.  There are class 5 rapids there and some of those holes were flat out awe inspiring.  You knew that if you entered that stretch wrong and got in the wrong spot, there would have been no power on earth that could have saved your life.

[Hogoverseas]

This trip is to West Virginia, not north Georgia, so all is well. lol

You obviously have never been to West Virginia then. There is a reason that individuals make West Virginia jokes on the East Coast. We did some training there and people didn't take to kindly to "outsiders". haha

However, it is a beautiful state and I hope the weather warms up before you all go.

[Albert Einswine]

You obviously have never been to West Virginia then. There is a reason that individuals make West Virginia jokes on the East Coast. We did some training there and people didn't take to kindly to "outsiders". haha

However, it is a beautiful state and I hope the weather warms up before you all go.

I'm the guest of lifelong WV natives who are old friends from the Air Force. I'm sure I'll be just fine.

[DeltaBoy]

Never been there but I seen plenty of pictures ... it some pretty country.

[twistitup]

Enjoy the Yuengling

[cal34]

Have a safe and great trip!

[Albert Einswine]

Have a safe and great trip!

Thanks man! Hope to get some good pics of the Blue Ridge Mtns and hopefully some nice looking brookies and browns.

[grayhawg]

Thanks man! Hope to get some good pics of the Blue Ridge Mtns and hopefully some nice looking brookies and browns.

Be careful and have a great time.

[Albert Einswine]

Be careful and have a great time.

Thanks, gray!

[Hogfan46]

Enjoy the Yuengling

Yes, great beer.