Swamp Angel
03-24-12, 08:32 PM
On the evening prior to a Spring Fling or Fall Fling event, there are a few crazed, ol' trout fishermen who show up to get ever'thing set up. I once again volunteered fer the Tent Set-up Crew which gener'ly ain't even got to show up on account of somebody here on NGTO has a direck line to heaven an' nigh on always gits us good weather. However, the prospect of rain was serious 'nuff this year to at least bring the tent-setter-uppers out on site.
Now, a tent-setter-upper is s'posed to be one of the firstest folks on site, but when we arrived, we found that SlowStreamer, B983, and Chuck Morris had done claimed squatters' rights in the utility building, an' they was commencin' to commence the food prep'. Matter of fack, they had already done commenced commencin' a couple hours afore I arrove at some time 'round four o'clock PM in the afternoon.
B Kar Ma showed up within minutes an' was waylaid with verbal abuse from the aforementioned fellers fer bein' a slacker an' not bein' there afore they had arrove some two hours prior. Trout8MyFly weren't far behind in his arrival an' recevin' of further aforementioned verbal abuse. But all was forgiven once it was made known to ever'body that Bailey had accompanied B Kar Ma an' was a-gonna grace us with his presence. This especially pleased ol' Chuck Morris who has the idear that Bailey is (by all rights) his hound dog! Proof of this is found in the follerin' movin' pitcher as Chuck an' Bailey head over to scope out the denizens of the trout races, an' Bailey is greeted by an ol' friend.
NGTO :: Chuck Morris and Bailey S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0022.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0022.mp4
If'n y'all will take the time to stare a bit at the next video-moving-pitcher-image-thingy, you'll see raindrops a-fallin' on the wat-. . . No! Wait! That ain't no raindrops! Why them's dorsal fins a-pokin' up outta the water as trout cruise fer a handout of pellets from a generous Chuck Morris.
NGTO :: Fins to the left. . .S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0024.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0024.mp4
And, of course, I thought it necessary to git an idear fer ever'body to see jes' how scant the population density is in these runs at the hatchery. Jes' be patient, an' if'n you look real closely, you might see one or two trout fishies.
NGTO :: A Few Good Trout S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0025.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0025.mp4
Now, 'member, y'all, that I was here to meet up with Trout8MyFly, an' B Kar Ma so as to set up a tent fer the rain that was predicted fer the follerin' day. So, if'n you was at the Spring Fling and didn't see that huge tent set up on the grounds, well, mebbe this is why (HINT-lookit the tree-tops):
NGTO :: Don' need no tent S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0027.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0027.mp4
So, with the prospect of enny real work havin' been successfully avoided once again, we few enjoyed one anothers' good company fer a couple more hours an' then I retired to mah home in Larryville whilst the others remained an' roughed it with B Kar Ma as they watched an' tended to the fahn pork BBQ that B983 served up to us at the Spring Fling Saturday. (Which one of y'all BBQ tenders slept on that cot in the utility building?)
Bein' the loveable idjut that I am, I figgered 'twould be a good thing fer to arrive so as to aid in time to help set-up as well. If'n you plan on arrivin' to help set up a Spring or Fall Fling, the road to the hatchery had best look like this as you are makin' your gran' entrance (an' they still gonna say, "You late, Swampy!):
NGTO :: Almost there S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0028.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0028.mp4
' Course it got light real fast, an' the Drag-Free Drift seminar, which was headed up by FishBreath, quickly fell upon us. I had the opportunity to be included 'mongst this year's mentors an' was blessed to have two talented young men who were patient enough to put up with my ineptitude an' learn how to get that tickin' of the bobb- 'er, I mean strike indicator along the bottom jes' raht so as to snag them poor li'l, ol' fishies by they lip an' bring 'em to the surface. Xristos' friend, Matt was the first person of the day to bring a fish up outta the water. He got hisse'f a li'l ol' brownie off'n the side of a fallen tree on the west bank. (I ain't got a pitcher of none of the Drag Free Drift seminar on account of I lef' the dad-blamed cam'ra on mah dashboard, but I kin still see Matt bringin' in that first fish on a teensy-weensy Prince Nymph.)
After the Drag-Free Drift session, I collected mah wife, Meaux, an' we headed back up to the hatchery to see what all else was a-goin' on. Both of us had cold, achin' knees after an hour or so in the water, an' we needed to get back into sunny warmth. (By the way, Meaux was fortunate to have Patrick as her instructor an' she learned quite a bit from him about a drag-free drift. However, she was shocked to see how Patrick was apparently so overcome with a religious fervor that he nigh on give hisse'f a near full-on head-dunkin' baptism in the 'Hooch! But' parently his rapturous fervor ceased 'bout the time his shoulders touched that cold water, an' he didn't dunk his head.)
Once we got back up to the festival grounds we got to see some castin' games a-goin' on:
NGTO :: Casting Games S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0029.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0029.mp4
An we even done got to see the Presidential Limousine also too!
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0030.jpg
The main ground had a good crowd also too fer a little surprise event that included castin' instruction:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0034.jpg
An' "Sponsors' Row" had a little bit of int'rest a-goin' on:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0035.jpg
An' I even thunk I had done seen a sasquatch a-moseyin' 'cross the grounds:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0036.jpg
But nope. That weren't no sasquatch. . .
This was a Sasquatch a-sittin' a-hind the table fer Cohutta:
(Sasquatch is the one in the plaid shirt. That's Meaux in the yaller shirt to the left-hand side.)
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0037.jpg
This thing was a former Rainbowlover that had Fishbreath and had caused me to mistake it fer a sasquatch:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0036.jpg
(BTW, Landon, thanks fer headin' up the Drag Free Drift seminar. Ya done good!)
Healing Waters' table required a video to capture it, an' a nuther pitcher to git the full glory of that rainbow trout sculpture:
NGTO :: Healing Waters Video S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0038.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0038.mp4
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0039.jpg
An' of course, there's always the Chuck Morris Fashion Show:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0040.jpg
'Bout this time, the dinner bell commenced a-clangin' an' I was unable to git pitchers of our other sponsors who always grace our Flings with their presence. (Ladies, I promise ya, I'll make sure y'all git prime coverage come Fall Fling time!)
Now as proof of what the aroma of B983's pit was producin', take a gander at this chow line!:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0041.jpg
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0042.jpg
The rafflin' was held shortly thereafter, an' "Iron Skillet" awards was awarded, but I failed again to git enny further pitcher or video of the remainder of the fling.
So to ever'body who participated, whether on one of the work crews, as a sponsor, or as an attending NGTOer, I wish to offer a deeply heartfelt thankyou fer makin' the NGTO 2012 Spring Fling a wonderful event fer me an' mah wife, Meaux, to attend.
I'll see a lot of y'all on the river this comin' spring an' summer, an' I hope to see the rest of y'all back at the Fall Fling!
Mostest Respectfully,
Swampy
Now, a tent-setter-upper is s'posed to be one of the firstest folks on site, but when we arrived, we found that SlowStreamer, B983, and Chuck Morris had done claimed squatters' rights in the utility building, an' they was commencin' to commence the food prep'. Matter of fack, they had already done commenced commencin' a couple hours afore I arrove at some time 'round four o'clock PM in the afternoon.
B Kar Ma showed up within minutes an' was waylaid with verbal abuse from the aforementioned fellers fer bein' a slacker an' not bein' there afore they had arrove some two hours prior. Trout8MyFly weren't far behind in his arrival an' recevin' of further aforementioned verbal abuse. But all was forgiven once it was made known to ever'body that Bailey had accompanied B Kar Ma an' was a-gonna grace us with his presence. This especially pleased ol' Chuck Morris who has the idear that Bailey is (by all rights) his hound dog! Proof of this is found in the follerin' movin' pitcher as Chuck an' Bailey head over to scope out the denizens of the trout races, an' Bailey is greeted by an ol' friend.
NGTO :: Chuck Morris and Bailey S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0022.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0022.mp4
If'n y'all will take the time to stare a bit at the next video-moving-pitcher-image-thingy, you'll see raindrops a-fallin' on the wat-. . . No! Wait! That ain't no raindrops! Why them's dorsal fins a-pokin' up outta the water as trout cruise fer a handout of pellets from a generous Chuck Morris.
NGTO :: Fins to the left. . .S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0024.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0024.mp4
And, of course, I thought it necessary to git an idear fer ever'body to see jes' how scant the population density is in these runs at the hatchery. Jes' be patient, an' if'n you look real closely, you might see one or two trout fishies.
NGTO :: A Few Good Trout S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0025.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0025.mp4
Now, 'member, y'all, that I was here to meet up with Trout8MyFly, an' B Kar Ma so as to set up a tent fer the rain that was predicted fer the follerin' day. So, if'n you was at the Spring Fling and didn't see that huge tent set up on the grounds, well, mebbe this is why (HINT-lookit the tree-tops):
NGTO :: Don' need no tent S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0027.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0027.mp4
So, with the prospect of enny real work havin' been successfully avoided once again, we few enjoyed one anothers' good company fer a couple more hours an' then I retired to mah home in Larryville whilst the others remained an' roughed it with B Kar Ma as they watched an' tended to the fahn pork BBQ that B983 served up to us at the Spring Fling Saturday. (Which one of y'all BBQ tenders slept on that cot in the utility building?)
Bein' the loveable idjut that I am, I figgered 'twould be a good thing fer to arrive so as to aid in time to help set-up as well. If'n you plan on arrivin' to help set up a Spring or Fall Fling, the road to the hatchery had best look like this as you are makin' your gran' entrance (an' they still gonna say, "You late, Swampy!):
NGTO :: Almost there S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0028.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0028.mp4
' Course it got light real fast, an' the Drag-Free Drift seminar, which was headed up by FishBreath, quickly fell upon us. I had the opportunity to be included 'mongst this year's mentors an' was blessed to have two talented young men who were patient enough to put up with my ineptitude an' learn how to get that tickin' of the bobb- 'er, I mean strike indicator along the bottom jes' raht so as to snag them poor li'l, ol' fishies by they lip an' bring 'em to the surface. Xristos' friend, Matt was the first person of the day to bring a fish up outta the water. He got hisse'f a li'l ol' brownie off'n the side of a fallen tree on the west bank. (I ain't got a pitcher of none of the Drag Free Drift seminar on account of I lef' the dad-blamed cam'ra on mah dashboard, but I kin still see Matt bringin' in that first fish on a teensy-weensy Prince Nymph.)
After the Drag-Free Drift session, I collected mah wife, Meaux, an' we headed back up to the hatchery to see what all else was a-goin' on. Both of us had cold, achin' knees after an hour or so in the water, an' we needed to get back into sunny warmth. (By the way, Meaux was fortunate to have Patrick as her instructor an' she learned quite a bit from him about a drag-free drift. However, she was shocked to see how Patrick was apparently so overcome with a religious fervor that he nigh on give hisse'f a near full-on head-dunkin' baptism in the 'Hooch! But' parently his rapturous fervor ceased 'bout the time his shoulders touched that cold water, an' he didn't dunk his head.)
Once we got back up to the festival grounds we got to see some castin' games a-goin' on:
NGTO :: Casting Games S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0029.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0029.mp4
An we even done got to see the Presidential Limousine also too!
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0030.jpg
The main ground had a good crowd also too fer a little surprise event that included castin' instruction:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0034.jpg
An' "Sponsors' Row" had a little bit of int'rest a-goin' on:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0035.jpg
An' I even thunk I had done seen a sasquatch a-moseyin' 'cross the grounds:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0036.jpg
But nope. That weren't no sasquatch. . .
This was a Sasquatch a-sittin' a-hind the table fer Cohutta:
(Sasquatch is the one in the plaid shirt. That's Meaux in the yaller shirt to the left-hand side.)
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0037.jpg
This thing was a former Rainbowlover that had Fishbreath and had caused me to mistake it fer a sasquatch:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0036.jpg
(BTW, Landon, thanks fer headin' up the Drag Free Drift seminar. Ya done good!)
Healing Waters' table required a video to capture it, an' a nuther pitcher to git the full glory of that rainbow trout sculpture:
NGTO :: Healing Waters Video S2012 video by cmtullis - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.ph otobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2F AMBA0038.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid399.p hotobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp80%2Fcmtullis%2FNGTO%2 FAMBA0038.mp4
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0039.jpg
An' of course, there's always the Chuck Morris Fashion Show:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0040.jpg
'Bout this time, the dinner bell commenced a-clangin' an' I was unable to git pitchers of our other sponsors who always grace our Flings with their presence. (Ladies, I promise ya, I'll make sure y'all git prime coverage come Fall Fling time!)
Now as proof of what the aroma of B983's pit was producin', take a gander at this chow line!:
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0041.jpg
http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp80/cmtullis/NGTO/AMBA0042.jpg
The rafflin' was held shortly thereafter, an' "Iron Skillet" awards was awarded, but I failed again to git enny further pitcher or video of the remainder of the fling.
So to ever'body who participated, whether on one of the work crews, as a sponsor, or as an attending NGTOer, I wish to offer a deeply heartfelt thankyou fer makin' the NGTO 2012 Spring Fling a wonderful event fer me an' mah wife, Meaux, to attend.
I'll see a lot of y'all on the river this comin' spring an' summer, an' I hope to see the rest of y'all back at the Fall Fling!
Mostest Respectfully,
Swampy