FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

Can’t we all just get along?

This little girl bedded down about 20 feet out the kitchen window.  We had seen a few young bunnies hopping around and when I looked out this morning there were 2 right next to the doe.  Our yard gives us so much pleasure and every time you get up you have to stop and look out as you never know what you will see.  The does with last years fawns have now separated and they are on their own.  And the bucks are starting to grow some new horns and it will be a great fall watching them grow.

And speaking of horns when we were in Canada I used the term horn for a whitetails antlers.  A pompus college professor corrected me and I let it pass.  What I wanted to say was come to Texas and say you saw a fork antler, see how that goes over.

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What A Trip

They opened most of the mountain roads this week getting ready for the holiday weekend.  There is a small mountain town, Platora, that is not that far from here by going over the mountains so we took off.  While the gates are open it does not mean the road is actually “open.”

Who doesn’t like a marmot?

It is probably about 20 miles or so over high mountain roads but that turned out to be a tall order.  With the cutbacks the services do not have the funds for a real cleanup of the roads and before it was over we were able to get over one down tree, past another, but the last one was to long though I tried to winch it out of the way it was caught between 2 other trees.  So when i winched it started to bend like a bow so we stopped that, nothing like getting a blow back in the face.  And at this point it started snowing.

A male grouse looking for the girls.

We took a couple of different roads including to a small alpine lake but there were big drifts still blocking the road.  One thing you learn, at least most of us, is this is not to be trifled with.  You realize there is no help coming and without cell service in most places you just might be there a while.  The whole back end of my 4Runner has plenty of stuff to keep us safe, but the biggest way is just don’t be stupid.

Strutting his stuff in the Lek where they call to the females. 

After a few hours we realized there was just no way over so we headed back out to the highway and went the long way around.  Platora is a good 20 miles off the highway, longer if you take the other way around, which we did.  It started snowing again and it turned into a blizzard.  It was a cool drive but other than a few deer not much was moving.  After an hour of driving we came to a road closed sign, so went down to investigate and they were working on a new bridge.  It was clear they were driving across it to do the work so we backed up and took a run to get across.

So you want to go for a ride? 

At this point we had been on the road for hours and finally made it to the top and started down to the small town and the lake, which was the original purpose of the day trip.  And there in the middle of the road was a big Expedition with a couple of guys from Kentucky trying to fix a flat tire.  It was definitely the old monkey and football thing.

The Boss took this out of the back window.  There is no such thing as to prepared in the high mountains.

Of course, we stopped as leaving someone that far in the middle of nowhere is out of the question.  They had at least managed to get the lugs nuts lose with that stupid thing that has taken the place of the 4 way.  The only problem they were havinf, they could not find the jack or the spare.

I opened the side compartment in the back end where the jack usually is, and then showed them how to open the plate to reveal the place to crank down the tire.  At this point it is snowing to beat the band.  I got the 4 way out of the 4Runner and they finally managed to get the tire on.  They had hit a rock, duh, and the inside of their tires was bald, clearly no rotation for them.  Then the great question:  Is there a place close to fix a tire?  OMG!  So I gave them a piece of good advice, turn around and head to the highway and the next town, there is only a worse road ahead and not a soul in sight.

So what was going to be a few hour trip turned into 9 hours, most of it in a snowstorm in the big mountains.  I am not expert at these high roads and isloted mountain passes but I am cautious.  Like so much in this life, it is often not what you know, but what you don’t.  But part of living here is the adventure and we are taking advantage of all the Rockies have to offer.

Great Hike

Halfway around Big Meadow.

Big Meadow is a lake close to the house which I fish some and we occasionally hike.  It is exactly 3 miles around and is a stunning hike.  There were a few folks around but that changed yesterday.  From a quiet mountain town to full on outdoor world it is game on.  The roads are full of campers, boats, 4 wheelers and everything else you need to have fun in the woods.  While we enjoy the quiet, our little town and many of the folks here rely on tourism, and with a 4 month season it is get it while the getting is good.

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The Boss getting ready to take off on another 5k.  And what a backdrop to do it.

We went up to Buena Vista for her 5k and like always the amount of wildlife was amazing.  Elk, sheep, deer, turkeys and even a moose to name a few.  Every drive no matter where we go can be an adventure.  And a great thing about retirement is instead of the 2 hour drive home we took the long way.  We crossed the divide twice, saw some new country and stopped at Blue Mesa to get the lay of the land with ramps etc.   It has fish to beat the band and has an interesting exotic invasive, perch.  They are some of the best eating there is, bascially a midget walleye, and best of all, there is no limit. So a trip for a few days of fishing is coming soon.  A freezer full of vacum packed perch sounds great.

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The Grandkids.

We took a quick trip to OKC to watch Ben pitch and spend a little time with the kids.  Ben is the younger one and she is really getting into fast pitch softball.  She is the pitcher and while her team leaves a little something to be desired in skill it sure was fun.

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That will do it for now.  We are loving life and spending time it the outdoors.  The weather is stunning, 30’s in the morning and 60’s – 70’s in the daytime.  We needs some rain here as we only hit around 40% of the usual snow fall.  IF we do not get a more the floating/fishing season will be shorter again this year, tough on the guides.  I have still been fishing and catching trout. my learning curve on the Kokane is still high but who cares.  When you look around and you are surrounded but mountains, no assholes blowing by at 70mph all is right with the world.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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