FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
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Thursday
I was up early and at the river as it cracked daylight. It was barely 40 degrees and the wind was blowing. The wind kept up all day. The morning was a little slower than it has been, and only 2 browns hooked up on the streamer. A couple others missed it, and it appeared I had worn out my welcome. Of course I threw the book at them when the sun came out but it made no difference. But that is not what is important this trip, it is really in the doing, and where I am doing it.
Love how they smack a streamer.
I stuck with it until 10:00 tossing assorted other stuff without any success. One area of my fly fishing that is sorely lacking is knowing the “bugs.” Surely there are particular bugs at different times of years, and obviously I am clueless. My success has been fine, and the fish have cooperated on everything but nymphs, which leads me to the conclusion time to do some reading. With Alaska coming next year anytime I can have with a fly rod in my hands is a good thing.
After stopping back at the cabin to eat something time to head to Big Meadow road. The Boss and I were there once a couple of years ago, and I wanted to drive the whole road. And the sign below says it all about why I wanted to drive it.
Ok. Hold my beer!
Here is the view as you climb up. The road itself is not as rough as many but it is an interesting drive. This area had a large fire and is just starting to recover. It passes Big Meadow and unfortunately ends at Shaw Lake. The road is blocked at that point which was to bad, Looking at the map it looks like a heck of a ride way into the mountains and ending at Hunter Lake.
This is what they were talking about.
Shaw Lake. The second lake on the drive, the road was closed above this dang it! Only one small rainbow.
I stopped and fished Shaw and other than a small rainbow not a bite. I gave it the old college try but no dice. So headed back down to Big Meadow and put the hurt on a bunch of stockers. If it was fish fry time it would have been easy.
Lots of these little guys on Big Meadow.
It was a little tough fishing as the wind was blowing as hard as I have seen it in my visits. But even then if you could get the bait down to a 10 t0 15 count you would get bit. The Rooster Tail was the ticket and changing colors made little difference. As soon as the Boss gets here and we get in the house some of these stockers better look out. After amusing myself with these guys it was time to call it a day.
This was a cool drive way up. Elk hunters everywhere.
But on the way back saw a sign for a Forest Service road I had not been on so I could not help myself. Left my topo state map in the cabin so it was just a see where it goes thing. Another stunning drive, it took me high in the mountains and there was this huge meadow. Can you say elk? So did the folks camping all over this area. I finally called it a real day and headed to get something to eat after being out all day.
It has been a 4 wheeler and camping extravaganza this week. After talking to several hunters it has been tough with the high temperatures and the hunting pressure, which is considerable. Sone if the places they are camping are just amazing and as hunters know, it is not all about the kill, the camp is part of it and some were pretty elaborate.
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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.
For all your wading needs.
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I did something I have not done in years, I picked up a hitch hiker. Now before you go all crazy on that let me tell you why. First he looked just like my Austin buddy Todd and was about the same age. (Not that there are not serial killers who look just like Todd!) Second, he was outfitted in what I know for a fact was “the stuff”, expensive stuff. Bush hat, 2 walking sticks, LLB from top to bottom, high dollar pack, this was not your average hitch hiker by a long shot. He looked like the classic trekker. How not average? A geology professor from out East, he was hiking the Continental Divide trail when he hurt his hip. (Sure he was in rock heaven.) The plan was to take a train back at the end of the trail, but being unsure about finishing he got off the trail and was hitch hiking back to the Durango airport. Interesting guy, he has travel extensively and we had a good chat till I dropped him off.
And then a funny thing happened to me later when I went for some BBQ and brews. It was early and no one was in the bar until another gentleman came in. He started off asking me if I liked football? He was in his RV and not happy about not having the NFL channel for Thursday night football. My answer was I am a Razorback and I am loving last weekend. His response: Me not so much. Turns out he is a retired full tenured professor from Austin. He is also a fishing nut so we had plenty to talk about. What do you know? A double dose of professors today.
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Friday
I am just taking it easy today. I have burned the candle at both ends in the woods and time to sleep in. Plus I have a little shopping to do before I pick up the Boss early next week. When we come out here the carnivore in the Boss comes out. We stop at the Elk USA and load up on elk, venison, and bison. And since I was headed that way would stop in the grocery store and pick up a few things.
The lady asked what I was up to and told her fishing and animal chasing, We talked elk, they have captive elk including cows and a 9 by 8 bull at the store. She told me that right before the season started their bulls started bugling, and elk came down out of the hills in response. But as soon as the hunting started, and with the temps still higher than normal, they went right back up on the high mountains and have not been seen since. If anyone knows elk it is these folks.
The rest of the day will be spent on the porch swing reading my book. Tomorrow will do a little fishing before heading to Pagosa Sunday.
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Off Topic Rant
As I travel around the country, and the world, opinions on Texans are as varied as the colors of the rainbow. But those 3 pieces of human excrement from Texas who like a pack of wild animals assaulted a 22 year old hostess at a NYC restaurant take the cake. Her crime? She was complying with the law and they just did not like it. My opinion may sound harsh, but it is the behavior of wolves, coyotes, feral dogs, not human beings. There is no excuse. WTF is wrong with people? What kind of upbringing allows for violence on innocent folks as the answer to a simple interaction? The world is getting crazier and crazier.
Having represented some of the worst of the worst over the years there is one thing I have learned: We are putting some of the wrong people in prison, and not giving long term sentences to violent criminals. So what is my distinction: Is it a crime of physical violence against a stranger? If you commit a violent crime involving injury like these shining examples of humanity did for no reason, you need serious jail time. Things happen between family, friends, etc, and while not excusable, I have always felt it is functionally different. None of us should be afraid to do our job, enjoy an evening walk, or any other activity, or live in fear of random violence from a complete stranger. Sorry for the rant but this kind of nonsense drives me nuts.
And to let you know how serious I feel about this it led me to turn down some really great job offers in the day. I was offered both state and local prosecution jobs by several jurisdictions. My favorite after I turned one down: But you get a badge and a gun. But seriously, here is the real reason, which I truthfully disclosed. If I were a prosecutor I probably would not have lasted to long. My reasoning, see above. I would have been way to soft for some folks (The police departments.) depending on the crime, but commit a violent felony against a stranger and no mercy for any reason. And have a prior? I am going to take it to trial and let a jury tell them what they think of it, no offer of a plea bargain. Of course the system would collapse, which ultimately is part of the problem.
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That will do it for the next few days. I do have some comments to share with you and will get at that soon. When the Boss gets here it will be back to up before sunrise and back at dark. And she will finally be getting her kayak in the water, which will keep her busy while I fish. I might even be glad to see her! So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
