FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

“SAVE OUR WATERS”

*******************

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

Brought to you by

Check out their new CFG Madre Sling!

With the last day looming we were up real early and on the road as it barely cracked daylight.  The plan, head up to see if the road to Chago’s place was open.  If it was we would take a high mountain road through a beautiful aspen area and finish the day at the lake.  What a decision!

Just Stunning!

********************

Stop in and pick up a couple of bags of the Knockin Tails at Anglers Anonymous in Katy.  Tackle Town in Rockport.  Fishermans Place in Corpus.  Serious Tackle in LaMarue.

********************

On the way up the mountains the mule deer were out in force and we saw several large bunches of elk.  This trip we have seen literally hundreds of elk, but it was hard to tell bull vs. cow, today that changed.  The large bunches have been a little lower in altitude but as we climbed today there were lots of big elk in groups of 2 -4, and they were the big boys.  Don’t know much about the migration but it would be interesting to know if the cows calve a little lower, while the bulls head up earlier.  Not matter what it was cool.

Once we got up to the road to Chago’s the forest service had opened it.  We checked out his house and million dollar view of the Continental Divide.  All looked good so time to hit the high road.  On the way to the turn this guy crossed in front of us, little did we know that it was mating time for the Dusky Grouse, or as Jeff Todd a former resident called them, Spruce Grouse.

He was big boy.  And in full strut.  The Boss said he looked like a tiny turkey.

With spring in full bloom the Aspen were beautiful.

We went for the Aspen bloom and ran right into a “lek.”  That is the area, often in the Aspen, where the grouse gather every mating season to display and drum, and boy were they doing it.  They were spead along the road doing their thing and our timing could not have been better.

What a cool thing to see.

Not only did they let us get some great pics we were able to just watch and enjoy.  Funny how we only saw males.  It was much like turkeys strutting in a meadow, in this case they were on the gravel road.  They would strut with tail up, then stop and drum, exposing the red patch on the neck.  So thankful for our good fortune.  The reward for getting up and gone before daylight.

Showing the goods.

A unforgettable experience.

One would think this would be the highlight of the day, it was, but we had a couple of experiences to top off the trip.  Once we got to the lake it was apparent the river had gone down just a little, and the water was just a tiny bit clearer.  So we hiked across the dam and down to the river so I could give fly fishing one more try.  When we got to the river we witnessed behavior I have seen on Coleto a lot, an osprey giving an eagle a hard time.  Cool bird fight.

Mutual Combat for the spillway hole.

This guy was sunning on a warm rock.  But he was not near as big as his cousin.

As I was landing my last trout this guy was at my feet.

When I noticed this guy I touched him with my rod tip and he did not want to move as it was still cool out there.  So I pushed him to the waters edge and he stuck his head in and turned around and hit the road.  Obviously that cold run off was not to his liking.

It is real apparent my fly fishing skills are sorely lacking.  While the river was clearer it was still moving right along.  And it did not take me long to realize I needed a new leader as enough of it had been cut off the last couple of trips.  As the water was hauling I needed some spit shot to get the fly down some.  Suffice to say I did not get a bite.  Time for some reading and research to be better prepared next time.  Time to really learn a new way to catch fish.  I did catch the last trout of the trip on the Rooster Tail and we called it a day.

Turn out the lights the party is over except it will live in my dreams!

This was my favorite mountain trip yet.  The wildlife was moving and every day was something new.  The mountains call to us more and more.  The beauty, the wildlife, the solitude, all so timeless and stunning.

One of the joys/pain in our life has been change.  From guiding, then both of us medics kicking butt and taking names, then the big change moving to law school and then a practice, followed by the Boss to PA school and moving again.  Change has been constant in our lives and it has really has been a nonstop adventure.  I have always said you only get one run at this life.  You can squat in your warm and fuzzy spot or you can get after it. So the discussion begins.  Where it leads is to be determined, but change may be on the horizon.

On the home front it will be back to the bay in several contexts.  Looks like the guided redfish fly fishing trip will be on, and a day or two out of POC.  Time to go put stuff away from this adventure and start dreaming about the next.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading our stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines