Those of us in the South East are suffering through severe drought and record setting highs! eg. This Sunday is forecast to be 96 and the coolest day since August 2nd! I have fished 1 day this month! The Duck River is well over 70 degrees and the Elk while at 58 degrees is a slimy mess. My new pontoon is languishing in the garage. Can’t, and don’t, want to even think about practice casting.
I have cleaned all my rods, reels, lines, etc. Orginazied my flys and other gear. I should not have to tie another fly for months and my furled leader supply over flows!
Our normal temps for August are mid 80’s and we are some 14 inchs of rain behind this year.
How or what are you doing to get around this awful weather?
How am I handling the heat? I’M SWEATING LIKE A HOG, THAT’S HOW I’M HANDLING THE HEAT. Plus it’s making me a bit testy. I’m headed out for the evening hatch at Mentor Lagoons, and chasing undersized gills and tight-lipped bass. Then I have to get everything in order to teach 15 scouts (12-15 year olds) fly tying and casting on Saturday. Two entire troops decided to go for their Fly Fishing Merit Badge at the same time. Should be a good time. They’re cooking lunch for our team as well. THAT should be interesting.
Joe
Jack,
I’m not going to be rude telling you about our weather! I’m sorry your having such problems with the heat and no rain! Were having the weirdest August in maybe 40 yrs! (on the positive side) Heaven only knows WHAT our weather is going to be in September!
I wish you could come here and relax!
Doug
Personally, I am swimming, skin diving, riding one of my classic motorcycles, and fishing, fishing, fishing.
I’m origianlly from N. Texas, so this heat is nothing to me…just business as usual. I learned at a very early age to:
-
Always wear shoes outside, so you won’t cook your feet on the concrete, puncture them with stickers, and/or step on cactus, wasps, asps, snakes or Sycamore Beetles.
-
Don’t lean on cars. You will get a 2nd degree burn on your hand!
-
Always take a jug of water with you when you leave the house. Keep several in all your vehicles.
-
Drink Slurpees RRREEEAAALLL slow to avoid the top of your head blowing off from the cold!
-
If all else fails, go fishing.
Semper Fi!
This is from the meteorologist’s blog from the Mt. Washington (N.H.) Observatory from last weekend
01:11 AM Sat Aug 18th
Temperature read out at 2 am EDT
When I look at the forecast for the next 36 hours, I get an unsettled feeling in my stomach. It isn?t because I think I did an insufficient job forecasting. It isn?t because we have a potent storm forming nearby. It isn?t because we are going to break any ground shattering records and have the press swamp us. It is because of the temperatures and winds we will be getting will be creating some wicked wind chills for this time of year and there is bound to be at least one unprepared person out there.
Normally, August is one of our warmer months up here but over the next 36 hours, it will feel more like late fall rather than late summer. While valleys will be getting to temperatures in the mid 60s during the days, summits will be plunging below the freezing mark (32 Fahrenheit) tomorrow and will continue dropping until bottoming out Saturday night in the mid 20s before slowly rising (but still below freezing) on Sunday. Winds will be averaging between 50-70 mph during the day Saturday, 45-60 mph during the night Saturday, and 30-50 mph on Sunday. When you combine these two factors, you get wind chills on the order of 10-20 Fahrenheit Saturday, 0-10 Fahrenheit Saturday night, and 10-20 Fahrenheit Sunday.
For those who don?t know what a wind chill temperature is, it is the temperature it feels like to people (and animals). It is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin. The faster the wind is, the faster body heat is carried away which in turn lowers the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. This in turn can bring about frostbite to exposed surfaces or hypothermia. Given the conditions this weekend, frostbite will set in to any exposed surfaces in a matter of 30 minutes especially in areas of the body with poor circulation.
So what are some things that you can do to prevent the effects of wind chill and possible frostbite? First, I would encourage hiking another time if possible. If you decide to make a go at it though, first check the forecast to see if anything has changed. Next, with the valleys being so ?warm? and the summits so ?cold,? dress in layers storing the extra layers in your pack, including a warm coat (LL Bean makes a few good ones that we wear). Make sure any clothing you are wearing is either made of wool or synthetic material, cotton is not a viable option. Wear thick wool socks or multiple layers of synthetic socks in good boots. Gloves are a must as well as a cap or balaclava of some sort. Pack plenty of food because you tend to burn more energy when it is colder. Insulate your water so it won?t freeze. Let others know of your plans or check in at a Visitor Center at the base of the summits. Some optional items to pack are goggles, hiking poles, crampons, and anything else you would normally pack for a late fall hike because it will definitely feel like it this weekend.
Ryan Knapp ? Meteorologist
According to The Model for global warming, Middle Tennessee is supposed to be one of the truly big winners in the Climate Change Sweepstakes. We are supposed to have milder winters and COOLER, WETTER SUMMERS! We are looking at 100 + almost every day and no rain. Pooh! Oh well, we’re supposed to get downright chilly in a few days, 92. Brrrrrrrrrr. I’ve gotten a couple of flannel shirts out. 8)
At least the lawns don’t need mowing. The rivers do, but not the lawns… The Harpeth and Stones Rivers are getting pretty nasty.
I am very thankful for A/C.
Ed
Ed,
Is JACK going to be forced to quit fishing and join a GANG?
Doug 
Jack,
Learning to deal with heat is a lifestyle change. Personally I didn’t think it was all that bad when I was up there 3 weeks ago from Florida. Some of the locals were complaining about it but to me it wasn’t all that hot. the humidity is what seems different to me. Dryer in the mountains. Try getting a straw had that will allow air to circulate. Jim Norman ( I think it’s Jim) the golfer has a nice style hat. Drink plenty of water and stay away from “replacement” drinks like Gatorade except in small quantities unless you’re really sweating a lot. If you do drink it try cutting it with water half and half. Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Wear short pants. I only own three pairs of long pants and those are for dress up occasions. I wear Cabela’s six pocket shorts everywhere.
Down here we say JAPDIP… Just Another Perfect Day In Paradise.
I had to come back and edit this. After I got to thinking about it there's a lot of things I think we do different in the south than "the way we did it up nawth." We hear that all the time too. I once heard that iced tea is the table wine of the south. My mom likes her's with key lime in it but then she has a tree. My wife uses lots of lemon in hers. I drink mine straight up with sweet n' low.
I think we also eat more vegetables. Save beef and pork for cooler weather. Someone also once told me that the Mexicans who work in the fields around here are better able to handle the heat because of all the hot food they eat. I don’t know about that, I think it was one of those prejudice thoughts coming through. A large salad makes a great noon time meal. Stay away from the heavy stuff. This might turn into a North vs. South thread before it’s over. Maybe you need to learn to like grits as well. That might help.
Rusty <><
With five bamboo rods to make in various stages of construction from just split to waiting on the first coat of varnish to dry I am having no trouble staying in the basement shop where it is cool. Add to that the half dozen rods to repair and eight dozen flies to tie for an order, I think I will be there for awhile. Heck, I will probably still be there when the weather turns too cold to be outside.
fishbum
Jack + Grits= Marriage Made In Heaven!!! 
Jack,
Have you changed your Diet now that your residing in Tennessee???
Doug (Possum?)
Don’t forget Okra and Colard greens!
They are predicting rain Sat, Sun & Mon and temps are going to back to normal by the end of next week.
Now, now, Jack. You just moved down South and this is your first Southern Summer. You have to take the bad along with the good :). I keep telling folks that kind of hot weather is normal for us Floridians in the Summer. The drought is not normal though and we should have been getting Summer afternoon thunderstorms but have missed them during about our last two Summers. We still catch fish in the Summer but not very many as they don’t bite very well. Most folks stay out of the heat as much as possible during Summer. Those brave souls that do fish during Summer try to go very early or very late in the day and some go at night. This (Summertime) is our off-season like the iced up folks up North during Winter is their off-season. Most of us are just waiting for the cooler weather to arrive hopefully starting in Fall.
BTW, to be a good Southerner, you just have to love to eat greens.
Robert,
I brought my wife downhere from WV and the last thing she learned to eat was greens. Now she has even learned to cook them from scratch. For those not used to it they should start with cooked spinach. then move on to collards and turnip greens. After you are really learn to enjoy them try some poke weed. Poke has a very strong taste and is not for the faint of heart.
Collards with pepper sauce mmmmmmmmmmm.
Rusty <><
Rusty,
You forgot my favorites. Mustard greens. Not those new tiny crinkly ones they sell now and call Mustards. Those aren’t real Mustards. I’m talking about the big broad leafed ones like Collards that I can’t find anymore. Too bad you can only get Mustards when they can grow them in the cooler months. That is if you can find the real ones in the stores anymore.
Now if you really want to get Southernized :), you have to go try some local stuff called Swamp Cabbage. Just the cabbage heart of a young Cabbage Palm tree cut up and cooked down in a pot of water with salted pork and butter in it. But you have to use the core of the heart or you get a bitter taste. Too many folks were cutting down and cooking Swamp Cabbage and the Cabbage Palm went on the endangered list so it isn’t exactly legal to cut Swamp Cabbage anymore unfortunately. But folks still do it here and there. They just don’t tell anyone :). If folks started to farm grow Cabbage Palms and sell the hearts for Swamp Cabbage, then they wouldn’t be endangered.
Dixie;
What about some Hush Puppies and deep fried Blue Gill to go along!!
It’s been thunderbooming for over and hour here but very little rain. The Temp did drop about 10 degrees!
To me, “Southernized” is eating breakfast at a WAFFLE HOUSE. If’n you can do that, you’re a SOUTHERN.
I go there just to watch the grill man take food orders from the waitresses by VOICE ONLY. They’re able to get out 20-25 orders without a mistake. And this is a place where you can get your hash browns 5 different ways.
And as to the heat question, it’s raining so hard so often here in Northern Illinois we hardly notice it. Wish we could send some your way and out West.
Stay COOOOL
Mark
HOOORAY!!!
HALELUJIA!!!
AWESOME!!!
Jack, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE and HOLD YOUR GRAPHITE UP INTO THE SKY!! :shock:
Doug
Well Jack, I didn’t want to get carried away. But Gills, Shellcrackers, and Specks are good eating. Our weather is the same as what you’ve got going, lots of noise but little rain with a slightly lower temp.
BTW, you need some cornbread to go with those greens and pepper sauce. I just had some tonight. Collards are plenty good if there aren’t any Mustards around. No fish fillets yet though. Still waiting on the weather to cool off and the fish to bite better before I can put a decent amount of fillets in the freezer to fry later. I’ll take the cornbread over the hush puppies :).
Comfort food:
Hoppin’ John made with black-eyed peas and brown rice.
Cut a slice of drying-out, skillet-baked cornbread, put it in a microwavable bowl, cover with a generous helping of cooked (but now cold) black-eyed peas (with some pot liquor) from the refrigerator. Put in the microwave and nuke until warm. Eat mess with a spoon. (Hot peppers are optional.)
Get a big, ripe tomato from the garden and eat it like an apple while it’s still warm.
Black-eyed peas and jalapeno-baked beans with fried corn bread.
BBQ
Iced tea with a half of a Calamondin orange squeezed into and then drop the orange dropped into it.
Here ya go, Jack. That should give you a little start on table fare.
Ed, who wasn’t hungry when he started typing…
Alright what is a hushpuppy??? I have no idea.
sorry for the highjack question.
As for handling the heat I don’t know if you call 75-80 HEAT but it’s NICE to me!