Desert trout?

Not looking like one of my usual fishing holes!

So, spring break in Colorado.  We packed up the family truckster, loaded up the dog and headed for Mesquite, Nevada.  Some were looking for  green golf courses. Some were looking rockhounding locations. Some just wanted sunshine and to relax, while others just wanted a stick to chase.  Then there is me.  I figured there had to be a fish or three between Denver and Mesquite!

I broke out the old Utah road and recreation atlas and planned my assault on the trout of southern Utah.  First, I am going to state the obvious:  Utah's (at least the ones I visited) trout "rivers" are much smaller than my usual Montana fishing zones. Matter of fact most of them had about as much water as Garnier creek that flows behind our house in Columbia Falls.

First day, drove to Richfield, Utah and spent the night in the pet-friendly Motel 6, which smelled like Indian food and stale smoke.  Next morning, after buying a fishing license online we were off.  first stop Clear creek.

                                   Not so Clear creek!

Needless to say, my first utah trout stream left a little to be desired in the water clarity department. We are not quitters, so it was on to the Sevier river.  It was perfect, clear (but low) and a paved walking/biking trail parallelled the river for five miles. Julie and Maggie ran while i harrassed the local trout population, and actually caught a couple medium sized rainbows on dry flies.  All in all a great stop minutes from the interstate,  now its on to the bright lights of the Virgin River Casino.

                                              There has to be water around here somewhere!

                                                                            Utah is COOL!

                                                  Leeds creek, home to native cutthroat trout.

I am not gong to say Utah is teeming with trout (at least the southern section), but is a fun place to hang out, collect some cool rocks, and wade in some cold  trout water.

                           A black dog (with one white paw) in the desert, every one can dream!

                                                                           local flora

In our six days in the desert fishing the "rivers" of southern Utah we fished the Santa Clara river, and caught  browns. Leeds creek, which is home to Native cutthroats, and the Beaver river below Minersville Reservoir.  I am proud to say that I never got skunked, and caught three species of trout....................

                                                                                              Utah fishing hole

 and Yes trout do live in the desert.

Next stop Montana!

BETTER TO BE LUCKY?

          My wife is of the opinion that I am the one of the luckiest guys on the planet. This is mostly because she is a planner and I am not. I have always been of the opinion that things will just work out.  Needless to say, this rubs my wife the wrong way. The following story is a case in point.

          It's September in Montana. Our friends Jim and Teresa are in town from Duluth MN, so of course we need to spend at least one day floating the river. We arrived at our starting point, the wind tunnel fishing access known as House of Mystery (the real mystery is why a fish would want to live in so windy a place). We get ready to launch, rig rods, get the beer, etc... Jim, being the visitor, begins fishing first, so I put my rod onto the side of the raft and take the oars.  When one fishes, it is usually the case that where you want to fish is of course the hardest place to get to. This trip is no exception. We head for the gravel bar directly across the river.. rowing directly into the wind.  After a few minutes of casting and no action, I tell Jim to use my rod.  As I look to grab it... it's gone! Oops.  Knew I should have secured it better.  Not an auspicious beginning to our day... giving your rod and reel to the river deity.  Especially since the reel was my favorite and they don't even make them anymore.  

                Side note, not being one to give up so easily, on the advice of a local guide I later grabbed my mask and snorkel, and went on a recovery mission (too bad no pics of that day).  Unfortunately I got nothing but cold... time to officially give up on the reel.

                

        Now onto the reason for this story (donating my rod to the Flathead River is not an example of my luck).  So I went to work one day after the fateful loss of the rod, and my boss Kristin says, "Hey, I got a whole bunch of fishing stuff from my grandpa.. do you want anything?".  I looked through it and, to my joy, there were about 20 fly rods to choose from.  So I picked out a Sage 5 wt and a 10 foot Sage 7 wt (perfect for throwing heavy weight when nymphing  the high water that is Montana in the spring). My luck is slightly turning.   Now I am just out the G Loomis Venture 5 reel.  Oh well.

Maggie looks heavenward in thanks for the Sage 10' 7 WT we received from Kristin.

             A few days later I'm working at the bar and some dude is having a beer and I ask him where he is from (expecting "Anywhere Alberta, Canada"). To my surprise, he says Vancouver (yeah yeah British Columbia. right?). No... Vancouver WASHINGTON. Ok, turns out he works for G Loomis!!  I break down crying how my friend Jim from MN made me lose my rod in the Flathead, and how I didn't care about the Orvis rod (it was probably my sixth replacement they had sent me, shhhh).  But, oh... that Venture 5!  they don't make 'em anymore (more crying).  He says, "Yeah, it's the best $100 reel ever made."  Respecful silent moment for the lost reel followed.  Then, "Hey Clay, I think I can get you one..."  Long story not quite so long,  last week a brand new G Loomis Venture 5 showed up at our house in Lafayette.  So kudos to Greg at G Loomis; my new favorite person in the world!

The  G loomis venture 5,  best $100 reel ever!

                On the same big mail day when my reel arrived,  I also received another package.  This one was our brand new Olympus Tg 820 underwater camera! so look out once I get on the river there will be all sorts of funky pictures posted!

get ready for underwater fun!

Remember you are only as good as your mend.

... and always secure your rod in the boat.

Montana copper foam golden stone

What to do when the fishing is not so bueno!

I've been been checking my favorites list (kingfisher, USGS waterdata, snotel, etc.....) of fishing sites more and more lately. Guess that must mean spring is around the corner. Soon it will be time to make the annual spring migration from Colorado to Montana. I love when people ask me "how long will the drive take"? I have done it anywhere between 12 and a half hours, and 6 days, it depends on the river conditions and to a lesser extent the weather.  Without exception the longer the journey takes the better!  Soon it will be time to pack up all the fly tying stuff and head out. I have spent the better part of the winter becoming a foam aficionado of sorts, and have been experimenting with all sorts of colors and thicknesses.

the infamous golden peach

gotta go!

hook- tiemco size 10 6x long
bottom foam- brown 3mm craft foam
top foam- golden 1.5 mm craft foam
thread- coats metallic copper thread
wing- Montana Fly Company etha wing
legs- Montana Fly Company sexy legs
standard elk hair


 One of my favorite   creations is the "Copper foam golden stone" and have been tying them up like crazy.  It goes something like this:

wrap copper thread

poke bottom foam onto hook, wrap to secure

make segments towards eye

a couple wraps on last segment then trim of excess foam

wrap thread to secure the foam to hook

wrap backwards making sure to keep to the existing segments

wrap back to last segment

add legs to last segment (i like them to bow in towards the body)

advance thread one segment tie legs down and glue

add etha-wing, wrap to first segment

i use my large wing cutter, but , only go about halfway (it gets too small
at the far end), then cut as shown

getting correct foam length, make a mark with your thumbnail

turn foam around (thumbnail mark should be just behind the eye,
take one or two wraps to secure foam

advance thread by going under top foam to just behind the eye

secure with one or two wraps

take thread back two turns to in between second and third segments
(again, be sure to wrap thread in existing thread lines)

stack elk hair

trim off weird ends

check the length

tie down and trim forward ends

tie in forward legs

wrap forward to first segment and tie top foam down
(don't tie your legs down here! 

wrap back to leg segment, a little glue here (not too much or it will deform your legs)
tie top foam down with one wrap

i like to put an orange indicator on top, but if you have super vision..........

snip indicator foam

go fish!

bottom view

gold thread version

skwallaness

I have been experimenting with all kinds of colors and thicknesses these are just a few examples of what we do for the Montana spring stonefly season.

Go out and getcherself some!

Spring time on unnamed Montana river.

Up in Montana, The Dog likes the Mighty Whitey on the business end of his rod, and we like our dogs to carry a big stick.

I've yet to meet a brownie that wouldn't fall for a scrumptuous san juan worm!

                  

everyone found someway to pass the time

Bottom line water was high, as were our spirits because we were not at work and we were fishing in Montana. This is the first, of hopefully many posts on the joys of catching the wily trout on the fly, and the pursuit of adventure and where to find it!