FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

Patiently waiting for the Bighorns to come down out of the high mountains.

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Sorry for the lack of posts lately but my myasthenia gravis has been acting up.  Between the symptoms and the side effects of the meds it was a trying week.  But things are better now and fall is here.  The colors are fantastic, and the weather is fine.  Time to get back to some fishing.

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It Is Stunning

Way up on our drive yesterday.

The good road.

There are roads and then there are roads.  This one was exciting.

Some of the Aspens at the highest altitude are already shedding their color.

They often follow past avalanches.  They are also the most visible sign of recovery after a fire. 

Our photo skills can never reveal how amazing fall in the Rockies is.

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Mountain Stories

Our area has had several “issues” with folks using the woods.  The first was the 2 missing hunters right down the road.  After days their bodies were finally found.  There was no obvious injury and until an autopsy was done the cause of death was undetermined.  I told the Boss right away I knew what happened.  The night they went missing it stormed, and I mean shook the house and rattled the windows with huge thunder and lightning.  Storms like that are fairly common at this elevation.  It brought back a memory from Paramedic school, they were stuck by lightning, which is exactly what happened.  It struck a tree close to them, and they succumbed with no apparent injury.  Saw something like that years ago on the ambulance and it turned out to be what happened.  My condolences to the family.

Then last week a hunter had to be taken out as he died from natural causes while hunting.  With so many folks in the woods hunting, fishing, and viewing fall colors it brings home the subtle dangers when you are way out there.  The last road off the beaten path we took yesterday was just the place where trouble can start.  If we became disabled, it would be a long walk out as the chances of someone coming along would have been slim.  Being in places folks rarely go preparation is key. Respect the woods and it will respect you, treat it as a toy and you do so at your own risk.  Which brings me to this next moron.

West of here a little ways is Big Bear pass near Telluride which is top of the line for off roaders.  Let me put it this way I am not going to try it, it is high and life threatening dangerous, which brings folks from all over for the thrill. So here comes mister S.D. who rented a Telluride and headed out.  Before we tell you how well it went here are the basic rules of the mountains.  AWD is not 4-wheel drive.  And how about rental vehicles are not allowed on the pass.  And what about the signs saying 4-wheel drive only? Or high clearance?   So, this touron (if you are not familiar it is a tourist slash moron.) decides he knows best.  He then drives a short way off the road and not only high centered but is just a hair from a huge plunge.  So they have to close a popular pass for a couple of days until they can get a real mountain rescue company up there.  One slip up and the SUV would have gone over the side.  This idiot now faces a huge tow bill, those folks are not cheap, a bill from the government for violating multiple rules and possible habitat damage, and last the fee from the rental agency.

And one last comment on driving the mountains.  Those car commercials on TV showing folks slamming around in the great outdoors are nonsense.  Your “SUV” is not an offroad vehicle, just cause it does not have a trunk does not make it a vehicle to treat that way.  In fact, most are cars in sheep’s clothing.  Drive it like a bat out of hell on these roads is crazy and we see it all the time.

Now do not think I am a holier than thou guy.  If I had started this journey decades ago my behavior might not have been much better.  But old age and experience have fine-tuned my self preservation gene.  You live and learn, at least some people do.

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The Attempted Theft of OUR Public Lands Continues

Now the Trump has revealed a new plan to increase the production of coal by opening our public lands to mining.  For God’s sake.

• The Interior Department vowed to open another 13.1 million acres of federal lands for leasing — and at lower royalty rates.  (Here you guy my buddies, free to rape and pillage at a reduced rate.)
• There’s $625 million in DOE funding aimed largely at helping keep existing plants running.
• The EPA offered fresh plans to ease regulations, such as extended time to comply with wastewater rules and changes to regional haze policies.  (In other words, pollute till you are blue and we will look the other way.)

Coal is the worst polluter of our air and almost every country who has a leader with a brain have gone to other forms of energy.  Somehow this president knows more about the environment, finance, and medicine than anyone alive.  All I have to say it how is that working out for you?  Groceries cheaper?  Gas price cut in half?  The end of inflation?  Oh yea, the end of war in Ukraine in 24 hours.  Promises not kept or flat out lie, only you can decide.

But the real issue, like all corporations, especially those who have had eased regulations, they will abuse and destroy the land and air.  They can never be trusted to do the right thing when $$ is the bottom line.  So, you say good have at it, it will be fine.  Well, here are the relevant facts – There are 1,342 Superfund sites that are priority on the cleanup list.  The cost to clean up that according to the latest estimates is $36 BILLION.  And guess what?  The corporations that defiled the land have taken the money and run.  Under this administration they are going to do it again if we do not stop it.

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We decided to head up to a high mountain lake for a quick hike and to check out the lake.  We had been there once before but not with a rod in my hand.  We hiked in the 3/4 mile from the trail head.  It was a little tough on my part as I have bouts of shortness of breath thanks to old age and the MG.

Beauty at 11,000 feet.

Fall colors come fast and then they are gone so we are taking advantage of it while it lasts.

No matter where you look right now.

The lake has native brook trout, and I had it on good authority that there are really big ones, and from another good authority they are small.  The first mistake, the lakes are really down and there was no access to really deep water and since I took the fly rod and no waders I could not really get at them.

I did catch one on a hopper and missed another, both small and since the camera was in my pack I did not get a picture.  So, wish I had taken the spinning rod to get way out there and next time we are there I will not make that mistake.

The bigger point, the day was stunning and there was no better place to be than outdoors.  Though we are seeing few animals other than mule deer does, that will be changing soon.  There are still folks in the woods but winter is coming and with it our prime time viewing.  We love living right in the middle of it.

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The temps are dropping into the 60’s in the daytime and 30’s at night.  Snow is popping up here and there in the high mountains so time to get stuff ready.  Winterized the lawm mower and weed eater.  Made sure the snow blower is ready to go, getting new tires on the beast, and will be prepping the boat for winter.  This year decided to shrink wrap it instead of storage and will be dropping it off on the way to Yellowstone.

Next up in a couple of weeks is Yellowstone.  We are so excited to be heading back.  Last time we attempted to go was when we smoked the mule deer and our truck.  If luck is with us it will be grizzly, wolves, and who knows what else.

Tonight we are going to the town pig roast which is a big deal.  The town is about to switch from hunters and hikers to skiing.  The 4 seasons are so different and each has its own appeal. For us it is the photography and animal chasing that love so much.  I will be fly fishing more before the ice comes, and one trip to an area lake I have been wanting to fish for salmon.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines