Swimming would be Drier

Yesterday's few minutes of fishing (without me catching a fish) seemed to just whet my appetite. So, after a fish dream filled night and waking up well before my alarm went off, I got up to the sound of rain. Not just a sprinkle but an all out downpour. Crap. I really wanted to go fishing but wasn't that interested in fishing in a rainstorm. So I went to the basement to tie some flies. After tying up some Purple Hazes to replace those I lost last time I was on a stream in #18s and #20s I needed to tie something a little bigger. 

Turned out pretty good

Sometimes while tying I just have to experiment. This time I combined a bunny strip and some simi-seal dubbing. The result is a streamer that has a lot of movement in the water and a nice profile. As I sat there wondering if it'd work I finally said, "Screw this crap, I'm going fishing."

Looks like a great day to get out, right?

There was quite a bit of rain waiting, but I didn't let that deter me. The first spot I stopped was a string a beaver ponds where I've had success before, but didn't find much. I did manage one small Cutthroat on a Chubby Chernobyl and missed a couple on the new streamer, but I wasn't finding the action I had been dreaming of. So off to a new spot that required a bit of a hike, but what the heck? I was already wet.

Perfect setting, especially with the elk bugling

As I slid down the trail (yes, literally slid) I started to wonder if I had made a mistake. How was I supposed to climb back out of here? Oh well, I was already down there. It didn't take long to find a willing fish and the day was starting to really shape up.

Nice start on a new stretch

Soon after that I found a great looking beaver dam that wasn't here last year when I fished this stream. Sometimes the beavers screw up a nice riffle, but sometimes they get it right. Several nice fish were waiting to crunch a red San-Juan Worm that I put under my dry. 

Some great Brown Trout live here

Love the Cutts

Love it when I find some great Cutts! These were as thick and healthy as anyone could ask for, and had some really nice length to them. The stream was beginning to get a bit murky with all the rain, but I pushed on to a stretch of stream that I've never fished to find the fish of the day.

Fantastic fish

A perfect way to end the day so I pulled up and made my way, slippin' and slidin', back out and made it home in time for dinner and to find out that my 49ers and the Wife's Broncos both lost. Glad I didn't stick around to watch. Didn't find out if the new tie works, but it's just an excuse to get back as soon as possible. Hope you can get out, be safe, and enjoy the water.

- Kidder

Low light just makes these trees glow

Wish you could hear what this hawk had to say

Scouting

The Wife has a black powder deer permit that starts next week, so we thought we'd head out and look at some new areas to hunt. A quick ride up the hill to make sure the gun was still sighted in seemed to be in order as well. So we combined the two, threw in a few fishing rods for good measure, and made the most of our Saturday.

What a bullet looks like after it's been shot

Once the shooting was done (the gun seems to be just fine) we headed in a direction that we usually don't and found a nice little lake right on top of the world. Del reminded us all how good she is with her powerbait while I managed to miss the one fish that would hit my fly. 

Workin' it

These little guys gave her quite the fight

She put on quite the clinic

We found some beautiful country, and it seemed like everywhere we looked warranted a picture, but only saw a solitary doe. 

Kinda cool effect

Lots of water in this canyon

Cool trees

Can you spot the critter?

Nice panoramic

Could end up being a rough hunt, but maybe we'll get some more fishing in? Hope you can get out, be safe, and enjoy the water.

- Kidder

Busy

All Summer long I was meaning to get back up to another one of my favorite streams (they all seem to be on that list) but I was too busy with other lakes, other streams, other fish. Finally, I decided to bite the bullet and just get up there and I even talked Atley into going with me. When we arrived at the river there was quite a bit of mist coming off it and some elk screaming up on the hill. Great way to start the day. 

Mist & Bugles

I love hearing elk bugle and there always seems to be quite a few around this stream. It means that some of the best fishing of the year and hunting season is upon us. It also marks the beginning of the end in a lot of ways. Seems like from here on out Mother Nature starts taking options off the table till you're adding more lead on your leader with shaking hands while fishing some tailwater or staring down through an icehole. I like both options to get me through the Winter but it doesn't compete with what the warmer months give us. 

Wishing I had my elk calls on me. They were calling up on the hill.

Didn't get any fish on nymphs out of the first hole and I was starting to think the somewhat off colored water was going to be our downfall when we found a pod of rising fish. On went a Purple Haze and it was fish on! Loved to find a couple of Cutthroat to start the catching.

They do seem to love the dries

Then I spotted a nicer brown feeding just above them. I may have gotten a little excited, because I totally blew the cast. Overshot him and the shadow of my flyline put him down. No big deal, these aren't the pampered fish you have to deal with other places, these are the blue collar fish that we love and after a quick break to grab a granola bar and a sip of water he was back and willing to try a purple treat.

Hooker

Next came a pair of Rainbows that fought like they were twice their own size, and didn't want their picture taken.

Escape artist

Atley worked his nymph rig to perfection (couldn't get close enough to the risers to get a shot) and pulled a couple fish to hand.

The photog got in on the action

The only sport fish missing from this one hole was a tiger trout. (Though we did end up catching one a little later in the day)

Still lots of Chubs around

Unbelievably good fishing from that spot. Caught a bunch more before deciding to move up stream. It was about then that we ran into another group of anglers and I was pining for the days of Summer when I could avoid weekends. Turns out they were some nice guys, and the only other anglers we'd meet till heading back to our car. After jumping out and around them (they were heading downstream while we were heading up) I hooked into a great fish that made Atley get all excited. Put some serious bend into my rod as it ran upstream, then turned and beelined down. I managed to keep the slack out of the line but when I tried to put a little muscle into it and steer him to shore the hook popped loose. I won't guess how big he was, but I can honestly say I wish I didn't have to wonder. Oh well. Land 'em or loose 'em and then move on. I found more willing fish soon enough.

He was fun to wrestle in the rough water

Atley's last of the day

Surprised he can still see anything

We reached the spot where it seems I always finish up my day of fishing and found another pod of rising fish. Unlike the fish of the morning, however, these fish seemed to like looking at my flies rather than take a taste. So I started cycling though patterns, dropping my tippet strength down and all that jazz. Finally I went with plan 'B'. A small deer hair beetle went on and I finished out the day with a beautiful brown.

Plan 'B'

Unbelievable day out on the water with my boy. Nothing like raising your favorite fishing buddies. Hope you can get out, be safe, and enjoy the water.

- Kidder