FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

It is so good to be back in the mountains.  The weather is beautiful, the aspens are in full color, and all is right with the world.  Yesterday after doing a few things around the house it was time to make a quick trip right down the road to check my brown trout honey hole.  Suffice to say it was all good.

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Brown Trout Beat Down

This was a stud.

Since I have not gotten the fly rods out yet, that is going to happen as soon as I share this.  Though the river is down some it is not terribly low and it should be good with the buggy whip later today.

You can’t beat this guy for color!

Since I was at the “honey hole” it was the old standbys – small floating Rapala in the brown trout color and the hand tied olive jig.  Both produced in the usual order, catch a few on the Rapala until they get tired of it then back up with the jig.  It works like a charm.

They come in all sizes and colors.

It was 6 or 7 and as an average they were nice and the 3 above were solid.  It is so fun on 4lb line and a UL rod, they put up a great fight.  Today a couple exploded out of the water and put on a show.  It was everything that drew us here and when it is just right down the road from the house who could ask for more.

What in the Sam hell is this?  Turns out it is a white sucker.  Hate to say it but it fought like a bulldog, and I was disappointed it was not a brown.

I felt one on, never felt the hit, and the fight was on.  It stayed deep and bulldogged and I had visions of a really big brown.  As it headed into the net it was like what the heck is that?  So after a little reading it was a white sucker.  The mouth was obviously a sucker fish and apparently they are fairly common in the rivers.  On that note I called it a real success and headed back to the ranch.  Time to get the long rod out and have a go at it tomorrow.

************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Can I please finish my breakfast for God’s sake?  I guess not.

Every morning it is the parade of wildlife as the turkeys come down the mountain off the roost, and the deer just come from everywhere.  You can tell which turkeys roost together as they come in bunches headed to the feeding hot spot close to the backyard.  Every morning it is 20 – 50 as they pour out of the mountain.  But today it was nothing short of a mule deer extravaganza.

10 feet from the kitchen window.

Feeding under our windmill.

These were all taken while my breakfast got cold.  They just kept coming.  There were plenty of does and the bucks followed.  While they interact some the rut is not in full spring, but man were the bucks in the backyard.

Hey!  Did you hear that?

Looking for the girls.

These were all taken out the kitchen window.  I forgot the spare battery and charger for the good camera, so these were taken with a 200mm on the Canon, which is no downstream camera.  When all the action takes place feet from the house it will do.  Why having two is important, you never know what might happen, so it pays to be prepared.

Marking my territory.

Breakfast.

Observing so many mule deer give me a chance to start recognizing individuals.  The does still have their young of the year with them and seems like most have 2 and unless one has adapted a spare there is one doe with 3.  And during all this one fawn had a serious case of the zoomies.  At first I wondered if it was being chased but after 3 back and forth trips it was just having a big time.

The boy showed up in force this morning.

A stud!  There were plenty of does this morning but I am horn obsessed.  

The last couple of mornings a buck who has been by himself as he walked up the hill.  He has an obvious limp on a front leg.  While not really bad it is nowhere as bad as the doe that was in the yard yesterday.  As she headed up the mountain she could barely put down a front leg.  It is a tough world out there and there is no way she make the winter.  In fact, as there were a couple of lion kills above the house last year she may not make the week.  But the circle of life continues, and it is my absolute pleasure to see it unfold right in front of my eyes.

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Lions

Those of you who read this know that I am a big public lands guy.  I love the wide-open spaces for all to use, and if it is legal have at it.  So I am watching the Colorado ballot initiative where the state will vote to outlaw the taking of lions and bobcats.  In Colorado lions are game animals that have a season and require a tag.  The vote, and it only takes a majority to pass will outlaw any method. There is no debate that there are thousands of lions in the state.  The game and fish have not taken a stand, at least not publicly.  It seems to be based on nothing more than they do not want them hunted, no real scientific justification.  But that is what makes Colorado what it is, the vote for the wolves is a perfect example.  I would vote against it, but I have always believed that all the stake holders should have a say, so just have to see how it comes out.

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I did not plan on posting today but decided to get these up before heading out.  First stop is the store to pick up some leaders for the fly rod, then maybe head to the lake and catch some supper.  We are so lucky to have scored this house.  The Boss kept an eye on our options for years and we could not have gotten any luckier if we tried.  So until she gets here next week I will run wild, I am one lucky guy.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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