FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Since there are so many pictures this post will just be the rest of them.  It was a great trip and the pictures themselves will tell the story.

Beautiful.

Another great trip.  The first was just me fishing the Rio Gande out of South Fork as I attempted to expand my fly-fishing abilities.  The progress is slow but sure and a couple of good runs made the week.  Then the Boss and her sister Barb and bro-in-law Steve showed up and we headed to Pagosa.  We did our cruising in the mountains and some hiking.  Steve and I fished some including with a guide.  That part of the world never ceases to amaze and is just a plain old good time.

And please remember that the quality of the pics at times is not the best.  The ability of a 600mm lens to reach out and capture stuff at long range.  But the price is at times camera shake when handheld on wildlife who just refuse to cooperate.  But to be able to record stuff I could never reach is worth it.  So fuzzy as some may be they are memories.  Those of you who are regulars here know good or bad they are just part of our ongoing story.  Hope you like them.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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There are no words.

The first real snow on the mountain.  Headed up to 12,000+.  The only other tire tracks were an elk guide who had set up camp and I am sure was scouting for the up coming season.

The hike to Opal Lake.  The aspens were nothing short of spectacular this year.  Our timing could not have been better.

It was easy to see the turkeys had a good year.  We saw huge flocks on almost every drive the last week.

The mule deer bucks were on the prowl and the rut came to a big head while we were there.  We saw lathered up bucks chasing does and several fights.  It seems one of the differences between whitetails and mule deer is the muley bucks seem to hang out more during the rut.  Getting up and doing a little sparing then off for the does.

My bro-in-law and I had a day on the Rio Grande with a guide.  We basically jerked and stripped streamers to nice brown trout.  The tactic was keeping the boat close to the bank and making short fast casts and ripping it back.  A machine gun pattern to get as many casts as possible in the money spot.

The Lewis’s woodpecker was discovered on the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805 and are known to hang out in family groups.  There were 4 in the tree and looked as big as a medium hawk until you notice the beak.  They are not big “drillers” but are big nut eaters.  Their diet is big on acorns and they are known to store them in a crotch in a tree.  Cool spot.

We did not see any elk early but after the first snow we saw a big bunch with a herd bull and several satellites with a bunch of cows.  Then we saw some one evening and the next morning more were on the move.  I am sure it is game on as I write this.

This is the house next door.  This guy beds there regularly and looks like a statue.  In all my trips out there this was the top for bucks.  They were on the mountains and next door in town.  Lots of chasing and fighting, just plain cool to see.

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On my efforts at fly fishing got this comment from Rusty, who is a real pro at fly tying.

Glad you are enjoying fly fishing, it is very challenging, but the reward I think is worth it. Certainly a lifelong pursuit
Fished Keller today with decent results. Very high tide this morning with 12-15 mph winds making it tough but worth it. Have fun in the high country!😎

Actually, catching some nice browns sure has helped spur me on, it is tougher than it looks.  But it is another area of fishing that I am happy to explore.  No one trick pony in my case, adding something new just increases the experience.   And really looking forward to fishing it this winter on the creek.  And congrats on Keller, the wind there can be a hassle, but often you can basically have it to yourself without all the Majeks running over you like POC.

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And Ross sent this comment along.

Sounds like you are having fun up there! Keep it up! I am headed back to the Chandeleurs with Capt Howie and the Southern Belle on Sunday….

Your trip has me thinking of a mountain trip next summer with the wife and kids. Haven’t looked at it hard yet, but Pagosa is on the list. Enjoy reading about all your different fishing trips. Have fun and keep up with the fly rod…that is some of the most fun fishing you can have.

Good luck in the Chandeliers and tell Capt. Howie I said hey.  We are headed that way in the middle of the month and as usual I am really looking forward to putting the hurt on them.  Plan to finally do some fly fishing on this trip, great place to experiment, there are plenty of reds.  My boat partner last trip is a serious fly fisherman and his last red was something.  It was time to end the trip and as I headed over to get him with the boat he hooked up on a red.  Then a giant black top exploded on his red.  A real “topwater” bite!

The great thing I love about Pagosa and South Fork is the massive area to explore with plenty of lakes and streams to fish.  In fact, in the next couple of days will be fishing some salmon eggs in one of the local lakes to put some stockers in the pan.  As I write this it is Saturday morning, and I am packing up the South Fork cabin and heading to Pagosa.  With a little time to kill before I can get in the house will be stopping at a couple of lakes on the way.  Then it will be another week of it.

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While watching college bass fishing one of the announcers was talking about fishing Bull Shoals and getting a hook stuck in him and having to go to the ER.  And they mentioned the board, the same one that has been there since the Boss and I worked there.  It has lots of baits and other things that get taken out of folks.  My favorite was the 2 guys who came in together.  Guy number 1 gets a hook in the ear, then guy number 2 trying to take it out gets hooked in the hand so they road to town hooked together.  Fun in the old ER,

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Of course, I have more pictures that I will share until it is time to move on.  And I will do a separate post on our day with the guide.  We learned a lot and Steve was able to experience a different river and technique.

And time to start thinking about the annual trek to the Chandelier Islands.  That trip is always a good time whether the fishing is so-so are off the chain like it was last year.  On the local fishing front will be off to the lake Monday to see what is going on there.  The bay is also on the schedule somewhere.  I really appreciate everyone who reads this drivel.  As it winds down it is what it is and has been a great ride the last 10+ years.  This is 1,570th time I have posted, which is amazing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines