Rain, Rain.

Alarm went off and I'm laying there thinking, "Do I really want to go today?" In my defense it's been raining a bit here in Central Utah, not anywhere near Colorado but enough to dirty our streams. I really wasn't ready to go, didn't have any food or anything ready.  Didn't have anyone else lined up to go with. Just when I thought to heck with it, the little voice in my head called me a wussy and I was up and getting ready to go.

Even with the decision to go out of the way I still wasn't all that motivated, which made for some cool pictures en route.

Fall colors are starting to show

Mist & Reflection

After a short hike I was fishing, and was quickly into a couple of Cutthroat Trout on a BH-Pheasant Tail. Finally I was finding the motivation I needed and decided to make the long hike to the prime area.

First Fish

Nice place

You know it's been wet when you start seeing
 mushrooms on hilltops

Definitely worth the hike

Nice

To say things "picked up" from this point on would be a huge understatement.  It was a mixed bag of Brown Trout and Cutthroat Trout.  Caught on both dries and droppers.  For the Dry Fly I was getting good action on a Chubby Chernobyl (black with a single white wing, maybe I'm the only one who ties them this way?) after I switched to it from a Hares-Ear Parachute that was drawing a blank.  The droppers that worked best were a red Copper John and a red San Juan Worm, though I did get some on a couple of other patterns on and off throughout the day.

First of many chubby browns

They can't all be huge

About the average fish for the day

Dark one in the rain

Water's getting dirtier

Seemed like every thirty yards or so I'd come up on another hole that would produce fish after chubby fish.  In between I was picking up some in the pocket water.  The action stayed hot even through a downpour until suddenly I wasn't picking up hardly any fish.  Knowing that time was short I began making the hike out.  A different perspective made it very clear that the water clarity had taken a turn for the worst, luckily my day was done anyway.

That was a lot clearer before...

Such a fatty

So glad I decided to make the extra effort.  This was easily the best day I've ever had on this stream, with more fish and bigger fish.  Hopefully you can get out and enjoy the water.

Out with the Boys

Nothing like following up long distance fishing trips with one a little closer to home.  So on friday Atley, me and my brother met up early to hit one of my favorite streams here in Central Utah.  After gearing up at the trailhead, and spotting several deer, we headed on down the trail where we stopped to look at a herd of elk that were a few hundred yards away.  Amazingly, one bull elk could be heard bugling.  A lot of people don't know that Elk can bugle at anytime of year, and even though it isn't as powerful as during the rut, it's still a really cool to hear one when you're out and about.  After putting in a couple miles (about) we were anxious to get our flies in the water and were greeted quickly by some trout.

Chubby Brown

Nice Cutt

Pretty Cutt

Where'd the fish go?

It's good to be home, and good to share the water with family.  This day everything seemed to be just right and Weston was catching fish left and right, which was awesome to see.  I was enjoying the day trying to show Atley some things about a slightly larger stream (so far he's only been on smaller water) and playing guide as much as him and Weston would let me.  Atley hooked and landed 2 Cutts completely on his own which was pretty exciting.  Unfortunately, when we tried to get a pic he dropped the fish at the most inopportune time (the above photo was the result).

One for Wes, one for me.

Best brown of the day

The fishing was pretty consistent, and we even encountered a nice Yellow Sally hatch, until the wind became too much of a nuisance and we called it a day.  Lots of fun with some great company.  Hopefully you can get out and enjoy the water.

Summer Evenings

My school district has been kind enough to send me to a professional development conference up in Logan Utah for the last couple of years.  Besides being a great opportunity for me to work with some really great music educators, it's also a chance for me to hit some northern waters that are usually off my radar.

It's always very humbling to go to unfamiliar waters to try your hand.  There are times when you absolutely don't have any clue what to expect.  The Logan River was that way for me this trip.  I was in-between hatches, the water was still just a bit high and fast (or it seemed that way to me!), and I only had an hour or so to fish.  All these factors (excuses) combined to give me the first skunking I've had in quite some time.  I had two fish on, one was only on for a moment and the other ran downstream where I couldn't follow him.  Tried everything I could think of, even to the point of pretending I'm good at entomology and started looking under rocks to no avail.  Oh well, at least this was only the first night.

A look at the Blacksmith Fork 

The next evening I decided on heading over to the Blacksmith Fork, which in the past has been much kinder to me.  The fishing was definitely easier for me, and I was quickly into fish.  Tan and Black Chernobyl Ants seemed to be the ticket on top, while a #12 olive Hare's Ear seemed to be what they wanted down below.  As the light began to fail, I switched over to a yellow St. Vrain Caddis and continued picking up fish until dark.

Nice Cutty.  Notice the Risen Fly Ichthus Reel, I'm still lovin' it.

Crazy Eye

Chubby little brown

There have been many times when I've gone into a flyshop and felt like the staff there was less than helpful.  In fact, there are a lot of times when I feel like they are very condescending and unwilling to help (unless your looking to drop a lot of $$$).  That's why it's so refreshing to go into Roundrocks Fly shop in Logan and have someone behind the counter that wants to help you out and is more than willing to talk over where to fish and what to use.  I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just giving props to folks who know how to do right.

The last evening I was able to fish, I again chose to go to the Blacksmith Fork but this time I decided to fish up the canyon a bit further.  (I guess have to make my attempt for redemption on the Logan another time)  I started out trying the caddis pattern that had worked the night before, but to no avail.  So on went an olive Caddis Pupa Emerger and it was fish on.  First came one of the most beautiful whitefish I've ever caught.  A lot of fishermen look down on the whitefish, but I think they have a subtle beauty and fight like maniacs.

Ended up catching more fish, in more serene surroundings, then anyone really deserves.  It's good to be spoiled.  Hopefully you can get out and enjoy the water.