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James Eaker

@thatswildjames

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Foraging/ Fly fishing/ Hunting/ Conservation/ All things Outdoors
NC born

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On Friday I lost my best friend of 12 years. It had been less than 2 weeks after finding out that Archer had developed an aggressive and especially painful form of bone cancer that we had to say goodbye. Those who know me know how much Archer meant and means to me. Of all of the passions I have for this world, things like fly fishing , mountains, and ecology, none hold a candle to the love I have for my boy.

I remember with absolute clarity a fiery sunrise on a sandy backroad in Emerald Isle, North Carolina in 2014 where I watched the sun rise as a puppy threw up sand and sea water from full day of chasing and attacking waves. I remember recognizing in that moment how much he would mean to me and how his absence would one day destroy me.

Right now I feel the crushing weight of that absence. The recognition that I will never again in this world feel his heavy head on my shoulder. That I will never again look behind me on a stream and watch him trot in perfect distance with his handsome jet black coat and mahogany markings grizzled from the water, recognizing the task at hand and attentively watching my every cast and even my fly drifting through a pool anticipating a fish he will charge and that I will have to call him off off of. I will never feel the thump of his tail on the comforter of the bed as Rose and I greet him good morning, or a witness his excitement over a fresh snow or sandy beach.

However it brings me comfort to know how full of a life he lived and how many incredible memories I created with him. From scaling some of the highest mountains in eastern North America, to exploring box canyons and alpine meadows in New Mexico. Tracking deer and navigating endless miles of rivers together. He has done and seen more than 99% of dogs in this world.

I recognize there never has been and never will be another you. The most perfect temperament you could ask for, the most beautiful and expressive personality, the warmest and most loving heart and the fiercest loyalty. I love you so much and not a day will go by that I will not think about you and miss you. Goodbye, you are my best friend, you are my heart, you are all of me. You are my Archer. by @thatswildjames

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10 months ago

These fish may be the hardest I’ve ever worked for. After several unsuccessful weeks chasing New Mexicos state fish, the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, I was finally able to bring several to net yesterday. It took 14 miles and over 3k in elevation gain in hiking, all above 9500 feet in elevation, as well as forcing myself through thick brush along most of the stream. This was all more than worth it as nearly every pool I fished produced this incredible painted fish of the land of enchantment. The fish were not very picky and not very spooky, often taking a fly again after being hooked and getting off quickly. Bow and arrow casting amongst downed trees and heavy vegetative cover made me feel right at home, only the fish in this small stream were more sizable than expected and what I’m used to in North Carolinas small streams. The route I took to get into this deep backcountry stream was exhausting and spectacular, with meadow covered balds and towering still snow capped mountains surrounding. I even spotted my first mountain lion in the wild, disappearing off the trail into the brush about 60 yards ahead of me. I have a lot of content from this excursion, too much for one post so I’m very excited to sit down more and look at all the GoPro footage and pictures and share them throughout the week.

#wildtrout #nativetrout #cutthroat #cutthroattrout #riograndecutthroat #riograndecutthroattrout #flyfishing #flyfishinglife #flyfishingadventure #flyfishingadventures #flyfishingnewmexico #newmexicoflyfishing #newmexico #newmexicolandscapepics #newmexicowildlife #newmexicooutdoors #newmexicooutside #nmoutdoors #nm #landofenchantment #newmexicohiking #drydropper #dryfly #dryflyfishing #smallstreamfishing #nymphing #westernnativetroutchallenge #westernnativetrout taken in Somewhere In New Mexico by @thatswildjames

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2 years ago

Heartbreaker of a Gila

#flyfishing #flyfishingadventures #flyfishingnewmexico #newmexicoflyfishing #nmflyfishing #dryflies #nymphs #drydropper #nymphfishing #trout #nativetrout #wildtrout #nativetroutfishing #deserttrout #gilatrout #gila #gilawilderness #newmexico #newmexicohiking #newmexicooutdoors #newmexicooutside #desert #desertwildlife by @thatswildjames

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2 years ago

Climbed up into high elevation October color and found some nice ones today.

#brooktrout #flyfishing #wildtrout #wnc #appalachia taken in Western North Carolina by @thatswildjames

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13 days ago

New stream today, one that had been on my list to check out for quite a while. It unfortunately did not fish as well as I was hoping/expecting, however I did still find a few brook trout. Nearly 9 miles covered with lots of rhododendron and granite scrambling/ climbing, and a majority of the fish caught were within a few dozen yards of the car near the trailhead at the end of the day. Some incredible scenery and absolute seclusion were well worth it.

#flyfishing #appalachia #wildtrout #brooktrout #nativetrout taken in Appalachian Mountains by @thatswildjames

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19 days ago

A little early morning blue lining with @toprlgunn. Lots of brook trout caught, a few browns, and a couple of rainbows that spit the hook to just miss out on the slam. Rose and I both missed a gorgeous 14” + brown that evaded me last year as well.

#flyfishing #wnc #wildtrout #appalachian #appalachia by @thatswildjames

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a month ago

Cove forest and ridge line collecting.

#wildmushrooms #appalachian #appalachia #mushrooms #wildfood taken in Western North Carolina by @thatswildjames

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2 months ago

A few healthy char in sub 60 degree August water temps.

#flyfishing #brooktrout #nativetrout #wildtrout #wnc taken in Western North Carolina by @thatswildjames

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2 months ago

Warm waters across WNC forced a last minute change of plans this morning to avoid stressing out our wild trout further. I took the opportunity to finally check off a more heat tolerant backcountry native fish from my list, the Bartrams Bass. Bartrams bass were once grouped/ described as “Coosa” or “Redeye” bass before being distinguished as a separate species last year by the University of Georgia. Bartrams are endemic to the upper Savannah River basin and are limited to 3 rivers in Southwest NC. One of which I hiked into this morning to lay eyes on this unique black bass species in person. Like their cousins, Bartrams inhabit swift shoal and plunge pool streams and ambush prey amongst rocks and other structure. I was able to bring 4 to the net and broke one fish off on the hook-set that looked to be 14-15 inches, which is the upper limits of their size range. Along the way I found scores of chanterelles a little too rotten and bug ridden to harvest.

#bartramsbass #bassonthefly #flyfishingnc #nativefish #ncoutdoors taken in Western North Carolina by @thatswildjames

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3 months ago

Gorgeous Red Salamander, not to be confused with a Mud Salamander or Red Eft, from this past weekends hike. This was one of my favorite amphibians growing up, so I was stoked to come across one traversing the forest floor in the rain. The only others I have ever come across have been at night.

#redsalamander #amphibian #amphibians #salamanders #ncwildlife taken in Transylvania County, North Carolina by @thatswildjames

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3 months ago

Rainy Sunday mushroom hike with @toprlgunn

A nice haul of chanterelles (picture 2) and and sturdy eastern cauliflower mushroom (pictures 1 and 8) made it home to the frying pan.

#foragedfood #foraging #wildmushrooms #mushrooms #wildfood taken in Western North Carolina by @thatswildjames

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4 months ago

Things are really heating up both heat wise and mushroom flushes wise here in western North Carolina. Here’s a foragers pizza made with chanterelles, lobster mushrooms, and hedgehog mushrooms all foraged earlier this week. Sauce was a ramp pesto @toprlgunn and I kept frozen after harvesting and creating earlier this spring. This was my first time finding lobster mushrooms, and my first time eating hedgehog mushrooms. Salad greens from our wonderful friends @shantzsie and @shantzy_

#wildmushrooms #foraging #wildfood #wildedibles #mushrooms taken in Western North Carolina by @thatswildjames

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4 months ago