FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors
The last 7 months have just plain sucked. From 2 medical evacs to ICU stays things have been nothing short of a real hassle. For the last couple of months I have felt like crap as the medicine has done its work. The good thing is it has finally settled down. For the last couple of weeks things have improved greatly and I can honestly say I feel better than I have since October. But with that said I have definitely dropped the ball as far as the blog is concerned.
The stuff below has been sitting around for a while and I just did not “feel it” but today time to turn over a new slate. So without a big explanation here is that stuff that has been ignored.
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It Is Colorado
Just a little 4″ dusting on top of Wolf Creek Pass in late May.
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Spring in the Rockies
Along with the occasional late spring snows it is time for the bears to be out and about. They have had a long winter and are hungry and a little irritated. I have been waiting to see the first one in the backyard and today was the day. It was “by” the house. I prefer they are a little further up the hill and definitely not quite as close as this one was.
Not a Runt by any means.
Pork chops was on the menu and man were they good, maybe a little too good. I fixed a plate and got in my chair to watch the news when there was a knocking on the back kitchen window. And there he was, standing on his hind legs trying the window. It took me by serious surprise and managed to not a get a picture. And this one turned out to be a little bigger than those last year and was the first all-black bear I have seen in the yard.
It headed off down the hill and lo and behold he came back through about an hour later. During that time a sheriff’s officer was slowly circling the area so I am sure he had already been a bad bear and got reported. Last year they would haze them off with rubber bullets, safer than something happening and them ending up getting killed. But it is a real experience to get to see them occasionally. Plus, lately we are seeing lots of elk, mule deer, and coyotes.
Last year we found a den with pups in it and our first look last week we did not see any pups. But we did see 2 mature coyotes, one with a messed-up leg, that as soon as we stopped and glassed, they eased over to the den and disappeared. So, looks like we should get some good viewing soon. One of the reasons we chose this area was the wildlife and it rarely disappoints.
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Elk
As I have been here the last 3 springs it seems nothing is quite the same with the elk. Once it warms up they just seem to melt away in the forest and unless you see them way up they are not a common sight, at least until this year. We rarely go anywhere without seeing them somewhere.
This year the weather has been nice and they are still around. So what is the difference? One is the nice green grass and lower pastures where we are seeing them. Is the weather just fooling me into thinking they should be gone but is this just the normal time they leave. No matter what it sure makes drives go faster. One thing for sure the pregnant mommas will be headed to the high timber to have their babies.
Supper on the hoof.
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I had 3 bites that day wading. Landed 2 snook this size and jumped a nice tarpon. This picture is from a trip to the Everglades with Michael the owner of Knockin Tail Lures. We worked the ICAST show which is a tackle show for distributors and manufacturers. The public is not allowed but it is something with a who’s who of the fishing world. Even met the captain of the offshore boat where I caught my first marlin off the coast of Puerto Rico. Small world.
This was the other one. A gill rattling head shaking good time.
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Don’t want to make it seem we have not been out and out and about. Have made a couple of short hikes with the Boss and on one of those hikes found an elk highway, along with deer and bear tracks. It is in the over-the-counter area close to the house so if I keep progressing like I have a few sitting sessions will be in my future. Here is a few pics just have not posted as I try to get back to business.
Nothing says Colorado like a high mountain lake.
See a road in the San Juans? Drive it!
While things have been tough we still drive the mountains looking for whatever we might see. Now I a ready to start up and the fly rods are in the truck cause you never know what cool stream you might cross. Then out comes the Tenkara.
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Let the games resume!
That cleans up a mess and I will start new tomorrow. I really appreciate those of you who have stayed with me. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
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