FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
The Wade Right Fishing Belt
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The Best Wading System on the planet.
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Colorado
Opal Lake Trail – 9500 feet – last hike
The Boss crosses the creek on the way to the top.
Here is all I have to say about Colorado. This is the first time in a week I have turned on the computer, I let my phone die day 1 and never carried it again until today, and no tv ever. What could be better than that! Really nice to unplug occasionally, we should all try it. And as I learned as a medic, most of the things in this world will wait, no matter how much we fret over them.
This is our third visit to Pagosa Springs in Southern Colorado, and as usual we loved it. We have been up some (Lots!) mountains, hiked trails every day, and ate lunch at the top of the world looking out over the Great Divide, sweet. On one of our hikes way up in the mountains the man who had the lease for his cattle there came by on a 4wheeler with his wife and friends and chatted us up. The folks up here are so easy going, a real change from our everyday life. The weather is nothing short of fantastic, though going over one mountain area we got snowed on, which makes this place what it is!
The view of the Continental Divide from 11,00 feet. Stunning.
As usual we are staying at Motel Soco. Owned by some folks from Austin it is laid back to say the least. I love their one big rule: Don’t be an asshole! (To bad that is not a life rule!) Which says it all about staying here. Right outside of town, close to plenty of eats, and gateway to the San Juan Mountains, it is my kind of place. Plus you can do a little hatchet throwing if the mood strike you. And they have a bar, nice for the nightcap without having to go anywhere. If you want the Hilton, or some high dollar candy on the pillow, don’t bother. If you want great folks, no tv, great location along with that laid back atmosphere this is the place for you. Plus if you are here and in the motel not sure why you are here. (If you ever head this way read the reviews on TripAdvisor, you will get a feel. And the fool that said there is nothing close – town is an easy walk or a 2 minute drive, and great restaurants are a couple of miles up or down the hill. And the horror, they made their bed frames which caused one woman great consternation. Huh? You sleeping on it or buying it? There is no pleasing some folks.)
Pagosa Springs is centered in some of the best hiking, skiing, horseback riding, fishing, 4wheeling, snowmobiling, and anything else you want to do in the outdoors. And you can basically camp over the whole thing, and we saw lots of folks way up in the mountains. If you can not find something to do in over 1,800,000 acres time to stay at the house. Suffice to say we just love it. Tonight we are heading to a friend’s cabin high in the mountains which happens to overlook the Divide for supper, what a way to end the trip. I will have more when I get back but at least wanted to let you know I am upright and taking nourishment.
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I may be gone but the fishing goes on. As you know I am not all that big on dead fish stringer pics, but Steve sent me this bunch they caught the other day. They are biting on the bay!
Now that is a pile!
Steve reports they were all caught on croaker, no surprise there. Most caught waist deep or shallower, with the big trout coming in calf deep water and his big red in knee deep. I wish people would quit doing that, now I am going to have to finally give croaker a go when I get back. Never to late for an old dog to learn a new trick.
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Bastrop Beatdown
My buddy Aaron fished with friend Terry on Bastrop last Sunday and the solids were coming over the side.
Aaron with a good one. That is a fattie!
Terry was slapping the taste right out of their mouth!
As you know Aaron and I have fished quite a bit together, but I have not had the pleasure of fishing with Terry. He is an accomplished tournament fisherman and reps some of the biggest brands in fishing. Nice job boys, guess I need to head that way one day!
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The new bait is coming. Michael is headed to ICAST in Orlando for the unveil and it will be out soon.
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And did I say Aaron is a fishing fool? He fished Saturday on Baffin and they laid the smack down on them. He estimated the 3 of them caught around 80 with approximately 25 keeper size, no big fish this trip. He reported using plastics, then later trying my (Glen’s) little bobber technique. They wanted it reeled/moved fairly slow and they stayed with paddle tails. So Aaron’s weekend would be a complete success. The boy can fish.
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This is the first time I have been at the motel during the day. We have been up and gone at daylight everyday so I am sitting on the patio at the bar writing this waiting for her to get back before we head up the mountain. The Boss wanted to hit the arts and crafts fair downtown, which I respectfully declined. Hope you all have had a great week, we have, and I look forward to getting back in the boat in a couple of days. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
