Kyra Perkinson Photography

05/21/2026

The May/June edition of American Fly Fishing magazine is out and our article on the Sturgeon River in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan's UP is in it. That was an amazing trip! Well worth the drive. You can get your copy here: https://americanflyfishing.com/

05/13/2026

On March 31, 2023 in less than a minute an EF-3 tornado tore through southern Indiana's McCormicks Creek State Park resulting in two deaths. Three more people, outside of the park, lost their lives to the storm before it was over.

Although we hadn't planned to, we ended up hiking the trail to Wolf Cave in McCormick's Creek exactly three years later to the day. Because we went before most plants were leafing out, the devastation was laid bare in front of us. Be sure to check out the panorama photo below.

We used to live not far from here and would frequently hike this trail. All I can say is that we were stunned and heartbroken to see the results of this natural disaster. The cut through the forest was approximately 1/4 mile wide and affected 282 acres.

It was 80F, sunny and humid, no shade and it felt like we were hiking through a bit of the apocalypse. There were small piles of flowers left along the trail, maybe in remembrance. There were also wildflowers blooming in a few spots as nature works on recovery.

The further along we went the more the sky began to darken and storm clouds began to gather. Needless to say we got soaked, but it felt wonderful after the sun and heat. Good thing our rain jackets were back in the car.

I don't think the photos can do justice to how large the affected area was or how terrifying it must have been for the campers that night. We talked to one of the DNR employees who told us that it took an entire year for some dedicated employees to be able to access the area and clear the trail to Wolf Cave. The campground and the road leading to it are still closed but the inn and many of the trails are still open.

It will be beyond my lifetime before the forest recovers, but I have no doubt it will. Because of reduced funding to the state parks, the recovery efforts are slow and there is no definitive opening date for the campground. However, a little birdie told us that when it does, it will be a modern state-of-the-art campground. That might happen in my lifetime. If you are interested in following the progress made so far you can check out the park's website here: https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/mccormicks-creek-state-park/mccormicks-creek-state-park-tornado/

04/29/2026

Photos from McCormick's Creek State Park, IN. We hadn't been to the park in decades. In the past, we lived not too far away and took our labs for walks in the woods and creek. It was lovely to return to the park and see it again. I highly recommend the canyon hike where you will see waterfalls, riffles and limestone.

We enjoyed our stay there, even after walking through the devastation left from a deadly 2023 tornado. I will share photos of that in a different post. While I was looking for more background information on the 1st Indiana state park, I stumbled upon an old brochure from 1987 preserved by Bell Memorial Public Library. Here is a portion of that brochure and a link to it as well. My husband and I commented that they just don't write things like that anymore. Be sure to read to the end because the last couple of sentences are relevant even today.

"The Intelligent Use of Leisure Time"
This trail map is given to you with the compliments of the state of Indiana through the Department of Natural Resources in the hope that it will direct your attention to the primary purpose for which the State Park system has been established. These recreational areas are parts of 'Original America', preserving for posterity, typical primitive landscapes of scenic grandeur and rugged beauty. Along the quiet trails through these reservations, it is to be expected that the average citizen will find release from the tension of their overcrowded daily existence; that the contact with nature will refocus with a clearer lens their perspective on life's values and that they may here take counsel with themselves to the end that their strength and confidence are renewed.
http://docs.bell.lib.in.us/documents/scans/stateparks/mccormicks.pdf

04/06/2026

Our first stop on Spring Break was Cataract Falls, Indiana. We have been there many times before, but this was different. I have always wanted to go under the falls at Cataract but we weren't really even sure how to get under it. As serendipity would have it a video popped up that showed us how, just a few days before we left. This time we lucked out and even though the lake was high enough to almost eliminate the lower falls, the upper falls were perfect for us to go under. We can check this one off the list! If you follow our YouTube channel (Perks' Fishing Hole), we will be posting a video of this experience soon.

03/18/2026

Our article on Findley Lake in Ohio is in the current March/April issue of American Fly Fishing magazine. The magazine features destinations near your neck of the woods, gear and how to articles. You can check out their site here: https://americanflyfishing.com/

This year, you can follow us on our Youtube channel as we take you along with us as we explore destinations we will be covering for the magazine. You can subscribe (for free) to our channel here: https://youtube.com/?si=90E1HRqbTPJ5b4d2

02/14/2026

For those who are interested, Nathan and I have started a YouTube channel for our fishing activities. When the weather gets warmer in our neck of the woods, we will take viewers along as we create articles for American Fly Fishing magazine and what that entails. Other videos also include fly tying, caring for equipment, basics of fly fishing, fishing outings and travels, as well as sharing videos and photos of our past and future adventures. You can check it out here:

Welcome to Perk's Fishing Hole, where Midwesterners Nate and Kyra take you along on their fishing adventures. Join us as we check out both familiar and new to us fishing holes. Fly Rods or Spinning Rods, we use both. During the winter, you can check out our various fly tying videos, perfect for begi...

02/08/2026

Since our snow will be melting this week, I thought I would share a couple more snowy scenes with you. A creek surrounded in snow and a lone tree in a corn field with a red barn in the far distance. Good news for those who hate the snow, I saw a flock of robins today, although we always say spring isn't here until the red-winged blackbirds show up. It will be here before we know it.

01/27/2026

Now this is how I remember winter as a kid. Lots of snow. Too bad it is too cold to really enjoy it. Those drifting roads are no joke. Here are a couple of photos from this week. A cardinal as seen through our kitchen window and a black and white of a local marsh getting additional snow. Stay warm and stay safe out there!

12/05/2025

I know most people in our town were anything but excited about the near zero temps this morning, but I was super excited because of the beautiful hoar frost. You have to be quick because as the temperatures and sun rise, it quickly disappears. Rivers and Driveways can both be beautiful when covered in sparkling frost.

11/22/2025

It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since our first article was published in Eastern Fly Fishing. That magazine was consolidated with their other regional magazines into what is now American Fly Fishing. Our latest article covers the Black River in Ohio. As was stated at the end of the article, we have been contributing to American Fly Fishing for many years. How time flies!