FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

*************

Just a few minutes from the house.

It had been a while since I fished the river, which is 5 minutes away.  It was that or head up in the mountains to a high lake, but the Boss was not feeling it so the river it was.   When I got there it was a little higher than it has been and had some color.  It was the old standbys, Rapala in Brown Trout color and my hand tied 1/8th olive jig.

A big wild brown trout from the Rio Grande.  Quick pic and off she swam.

The bite was not exactly fast, but it was steady and I finally landed a real one.  It hit the Rapala, but it was not a real hit, it just stopped.  In the current with 4lb test it was fight.  It took a little to keep her from jumping, and finally in the net she went.  It definitely made my morning.  As more and more folks leave there is tons of water with not near the people there has been.

And she had friends out and about.

And the whole morning it was raining Aspen leaves, beautiful.

It was at least 10 and the average size was great.  They were located at the head and end of the hole, which I think was related to the water flow.  These just came from the bank without waders so next trip it will be the full fly-fishing monte.  Would love to land one that big on the fly rod.

There are as many color phases as there are browns.

With luck the ice will stay off for a good month or more.  To be able to just get in the car and be on one of the great rivers in America is a blessing and from now until winter will keep fishing until it is frozen solid.

*************

It is a beautiful fall here in Colorado.

Hard to capture how beautiful it is right now. Thanks to the Boss for these 2 pics.

True Love

A little blurry but it is tough with a point and shoot and long distance.

There has been an eagle at the lake this summer and it looks like he got a new friend.  When I saw them he took off and did the coolest thing, he brought her a big branch, and she placed it on the future nest.  Of course, it is not nesting time but looks like we might have a new nest next year.  The only issue is there is also a big osprey that is really aggressive and has hassled him before.  But can’t wait to see what next year brings, hopefully some chicks.

Just plain stunning.  This was what it was like on her last hike with the gang.

As we were chowing down on fresh rainbow trout last night I realized I took no pictures other than the eagle.  They were actually not to bad size as the fall feed appears to be on.  And todays trip to the river seemed to confirm it. Tomorrow it will be back to the lake to see if that is right.

*************

And speaking of the lake it will be interesting sharing the boat with the neighbor and his son.  Dad is a 9-year veteran of the NFL, 5 with the Colts and the last 4 with the Eagles.  As a side note he got his ring with them.  He tore his Achilles and has been rehabbing and is close to ready to go. He is just waiting for the call.  He is a big fisherman, and his son loves it so we shall troll up a limit and feed the crowd next door.

*************

That will do it for today, just wanted to let you see the fishing is still happening and the next few weeks it should be getting even better.  It will be one of those periods where the choices are the problem.  Lake or river, high up or low, small or big the options are endless, and I am happy to fish as many as much as I can.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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

************

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.

************

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.

************

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.

************

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.

************

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.

*************

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

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

**************

We have been doing mountain stuff.  We ended up getting a basically free trip to Estes Park to scope out some elk and see the rest of the park we did not see years ago when we were there.  How the world has changed.  You had to make a timed reservation to join a few thousand of your closet’s friends.  But that is the way it is going, we are loving are parks to death.  (So quit proposing to sell any public lands.  We need what we have and it is a legasy that would be forever lost when sold to corporations and friends of donors of the folks proposing it.)

No Better Time in the Mountains

The Aspens are a lot farther along north of here.

The Aspens are a harbinger of winter and with it comes the great colors.  It is cooler 5 hours north of here but ours will be happening soon.  And with that is the wildlife on the move.  And never forget the mule deer, on the short trip to the park we had 2 smaller mule deer bucks cross the road probably looking for love.  But up there the elk are hard at it.

Our first bunch of cows.

Right outside Estes Park proper this bunch of elk were close to the road so we stopped with a few other folks to watch.  Turned out they had a boyfriend and he was no downstream bull.

Then this boy reared his head.

Awesome to get to watch them.

Then he finally got nervous with folks watching him.  

That is what I thought at first but looking at the pictures I am not sure this is the same bull.  The first one has some mass, this guy not so much.  According to that I have read there is often a hard bull, then maybe a satellite bull, and this guy just might be it but the Boss says it was the same one..  But no matter, great to watch all of them.  Elk are one big cool animal.

My skills were never do justice to the mountains.

Going completely through the park is something.  Above the tree line to the tundra, huge canyons and lush valleys go on for miles.  There was snow way up on some mountains and there was big chill in the air.

These girls were way out there.

This bunch of cows were way out there and they were headed to the woods off to the right.  Finally a bull came out after the cows went to the right and if I was guessing it was also a satellite bull, but still a nice one.  All of a sudden, he took off running to the right away from the cows so who knows, but fun to watch all the same.

And of course he was close by.

I wanted to see the river so we took a short hike to see what it was like.

The Boss on our short hike to see the river.

The Colorado River way up in the mountains.

It was definitely the type of water I prefer to fly fish in.   Small pools and runs, easy wade and absolutely stunning views.  And best of all it was quiet.  In the area of the park there is tons of streams to fish and now I have a clue next trip the fly rod will be in play.  We just had a half day in the park this trip, but it was free.

When it comes down to it the drive itself through the Rockies is just to cool to not enjoy.  Great old mining towns, critters, and views just to spectacular to believe.  Yellowstone is next but I sure hope to get back to Estes.  Stopped at a tackle store and he was really helpful, I am a tackle store junkie.  Once he learned I like the small stuff in the woods he turned me on to an out of the way creek that produces 20 – 40 fish a day with no traffic.  Places like that still exists and it is on the list.  The trip was a success and the Boss is looking at Yellowstone lodging as I write this.  But I know one thing for sure, no one day trip there, 4 or 5 days might get it.

************

Park Rules for Tourons

1.  Why the hell would you drive from California, Vermont and everywhere else and then speed through the parks?  We see more and more of this wherever we visit.
2. Animals are not just standing there waiting for you.  They can be very hard to see, and you have to look if you want to see them, much less all of the good stuff our parks have to offer.
3. See Rule number 1.

************

Insane Turkeys

Turkey Fight!

Other than a couple here and there the turkeys as usual were gone for the summer.  Just last week they started to show back up.  Some toms first, then a few hens.  In a few days around 20 appeared and it took another day or two for them to spend time together.  Then all hell broke lose in the backyard..

Trying to bite his head off!

I do not profess to know anything about turkey interactions, but when we looked out the window the battle was on.  They were fighting, chasing each other and acting super aggressive.

It was mass chaos.

The boys tail feathers were looking a little rough.

Not sure what the problem was, but clearly the big boys were fighting what looked like some first year jakes but there were hens involved.  The hassle went on for almost 10 minutes in the backyard and continued as they went along the hillside.  Fall is here and there will be many more to come as they spend all winter here.  Not sure if the question of who is the big boss was settled but can’t wait to see what is coming this winter.  And by the way, there is some snow on some of the higher elevations and our turn is coming.

*************

Rocky Mountain High

The Boss hangs with the hiking club that goes on hikes 2 days a week.  I fish then but she is learning so much more about the area.  Where they went on this hike is not that far from an area we spend lot of time in.  One thing about the real woods, the road goes on forever and the party never ends.

Above 12,000.

An alpine lake on the Continental Divide Trail.

And lucky dog on the way up they had a big bull moose cross the road in front of them.  She always comments on animals crossing about how they are able to “disappear” when they hit the wood line.

Think you are in good shape?  Hike back down!  

The Boss:  “Just a little hike today with fellow hikers. We got up to 12200 ft after about 2 miles of incline from the trail head, some of it was the Continental Divide Trail. It was spectacular!”

************

General Outdoor Stuff

My condolences to the families of the missing hunters in our area.  2 young experienced out of state hunters were missing for a week.  After a weeklong huge rescue mission their bodies were found 2miles from their car (All their stuff was in the car.) at the trailhead.  No real information except no outward injury so an autopsy will be done Monday.  It is a real mystery with a sad ending.   Until Monday just no way to figure out what could have possibly happened but the one factor that might have been an issue was that night, we had a real monster storm with tons of big lightning and thunder that shook the house.  These mountains are stunning but you can never forget where you are.

*************

That is it for today.  The weather here is fantastic and I continue to fish and the Boss keeps hiking.  Some moves we make are for work, money, family and a host of other reasons.  In our case it was to spend our retirement in the woods and we could not have made any better choice if we tried.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

*************

Tying Flies

Lets get this out first thing.  I am a terrible fly caster.  Second the flies I tie do not look like those fancy things on the internet.  But that aside after my last trip to the lake to fly fish out of the boat I actually had a little insight, tie a couple of bunny strip leeches with a heavier head and maybe that will work.

The first brown out of the lake in a while.

The big take away from this summer, your flies do not have to be pretty, good thing.  It still comes down to one thing first and foremost whether salt or fresh, catfish or trout, location, location, location.  If I could only cast, I might be dangerous.  Ugly or not they liked the leech and thank goodness it is an easy one to tie.  With Myasthenia Gravis close work with small stuff can be a hassle.

Look how different the look.

It is different fishing the lake with a fly rod, depth is a whole other consideration.  I am just driving the boat to the mouth were the creek comes and drifting out.  There are several grass beds and a great defined channel lip. S0 for now I can live with the results.  It is about to change around here, the crowds will be gone, and the fishing pressure drops to basically nothing. The hunters have arrived and are out scouting of the bow opener next week, that is  the current outdoor activity around here.

The best rainbow of the morning.

One thing that I learned the last couple of weeks is the need to really concentrate and make better casts.  After just changing fly lines it is still a little bit of a struggle especially out of the boat.  But would assume that comes with practice, and lots of fishing.

**************

Labor Day Drive

11,000 feet.

The plan was to head way up in the mountains at a lake known for nice brook trout.  It is a cool hike in and since it was Labor Day afternoon I thought most folks would be headed home but boy was I wrong.  There were 5 cars in the parking area so we called that off and just headed way up in the mountains.

A good one.

This area had a major fire about 20 years ago and there is lots of burnt trees but no real forest as it slowly repairs itself.   (See above.)  It is not the area I would expect to see big mule deer but shows what I know.  The Boss made the first spot of the one above.  While we watched him, she saw some horns sticking up.  Turns out there was 3 bucks, 2 were bedded down just watching us.

One of his buddies playing it cool.

Things are changing around here and as far as the backyard the deer are not back down here.  I did see a doe with twins farther up but after seeing these guys it is a clue where they are right now.  But one change the 2 tom turkeys that hung around all summer now have their first company.  A hen showed up and wandered around but after a couple days started hanging with the toms, then another 5 or 6 appeared so it is about to be turkey time around here.  And it won’t b long until the elk  and sheep start showing so bring on fall.  My favorite time here.

************

Some Folks Will Eat Anything

Foraging at 11,000 feet.

Every year South Fork offers a couple of free foraging classes on both mushrooms and other stuff.  We went along and learned quite a big but for me still plenty to learn before I start eating stuff we pick ourselves.  But it was interesting and informative so will definitely take them both next year.

The group.

For me of course it was looking for sign, checking out the trails, and picking up bones.  While I may never hunt here food sources are excellent places to find stuff whether hunting or photographing.  There is lots of rose hip berries and on about any log or stump you could see the results.

Chipmunk party.

Folks picked lots of assorted stuff and were going to meet today to make things out of the finds.  One of the principals had a advanced degree in plants and we learned a lot about the woods in general.  Cool way to spend a morning.

***********

Flip Pallot

There are many reasons I started saltwater fishing, but most were trivial, Flip gets all the credit.  The music would start, the plane would circle the island and the fishing would begin.  With that The Walkers Cay Chronicles began, and I admit I was enthralled.  Never fly fished, much less caught snook, tarpon, bonefish, and a host of others but he drew me in.  From that point on I chased them all.  His style was one of a kind and he will be missed.

************

HUH?  Guess we are the suckers.

This whole thing with Trump and colleges is stupid, but that aside there are some different views out there.  Discussing student loans with a PHD college professor we could not been any farther apart.  We did our part and until our one small one was paid no vacation, no new car, etc.  She was ok with not only the loans being forgiven and she also said it was no one’s business what you did with the money.  So, you can spend it on cars and vacations like some of my younger classmates did in law school, and then we should pay for it so they can be forgiven.  Well, sorry you pompous asshole, it is all of our business if you want the government to pay it back.  Real responsible.  Our party should realize this is the kind of bullshit stuff that got us beat.

************

What a beautiful fish.

Monday morning I made a quick trip to the lake.  The brown above was the best of the morning but there was a happening, I lost a kokanee salmon.  While it jumped off the point is I found them and will give it a serious go tomorrow or the next day.  So the fishing remains good, so many places so little time.  The Boss is hiking 2 days a week with the hiking club so we remain active in the mountains.  Every day is different and our decision on coming here for retirement is a home run.  And with the rut starting there will be lots of pictures to come.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

**************

The Bite Was On

I never forget to just look around at just where I am.

After spending the weekend watching sports and letting folks fish in piece it was Monday and time to fish.  I had not even made up my mind where or what when I went to bed.  When getting up it was 45 degrees and dead calm.  I have been meaning to head north of Creede and fish a pond then a lake, plus the road to the lake has produced several moose and even some sheep.  On the road before 8:00 the pond was first but it was a bust.  Used several types of flies without a bite so shortly it was off to the lake.

This one smoked it and jumped a bunch.  A good fish.

While I saw no animals, it is busy right now in the woods, it was calm and warming when getting to the lake.  The dam seemed a logical place to start and ended up finishing the morning there.  First it was a wooley bugger, which actually produced a couple of bites, but they were halfhearted.  During that time I noticed what appeared to be some trout feeding on some kind of hatch.  They were not exactly on top but they were feeding.

Half were this the other half smaller but they were in full bite mode.

I changed over to a smaller dry fly and something unusual happened.  Though I used flotant it wanted to sink super slow.  Just put on a new fluor #6 leader and it was actually pulling the fly under.  So I just started stripping it fairly quick and they started smoking it.  It was maybe 4 or 5″down and they smacked it.  And what made it fun, beside the fact 3 were good ones, is they immediately jumped and fought to beat the band.  On that light leader it was a tussle and the fact that I caught 6 or so without breaking any off was combination of luck/skill.  Fighting fish of any sort is simply a matter of feel.  After catching everything from marlin to bluegill it comes second nature.

And I learned something with this one.  What a pig.

After whipping on them in a pretty small area the bite slowed down.  So I started stripping it slower and caught a little one.  So next cast I just let it sink super slow and one just smacked it and was another good one.  On that one I called it a day.

There were lots of folks fishing today.  It will get busier as the week goes on with the 3 day holiday this weekend.  Think I will get out first thing in the morning for the next couple of days then leave it to them.  In another week things calm down considerably and the Boss and I will be hitting a few lakes further away.  Today was great and I am starting to get the hang of it.

*************

Smoking

Smoked Bacon Cheeder Meatloaf

Since we got the smoker there has been some cooking.  As I am batching it this week a meatloaf seemed like something I could chew on for a few days.  Trust me this may not last that long.  It is seriously good!

*************

The River

The plan was to take the boat and hit Beaver Lake.  There are some great weed beds near the creek coming in that sit in about 5′ right now along the creek channel.  It looks like a great place to fly fish and with the kokanee headed up the creek on the fall spawning run you never know.  But that did not happen.

The Rio Grande – 5 minutes from the house.

It rained some yesterday and when I got up it was raining off and on so the boat plan was out the window.  With some many folks fishing I decided to cut to the chase and hit the river.  Even going out before 8:00 there were a couple of folks already fly fishing but they were not a problem.

This is a good one.  Every single one is different.

This guy was long and had a fat little belly. 

Best of the morning.

It is a tough ol’ world out there.  

It has been so nice having the river right down the street.  To be able to go for a few minutes are hours whenever and however I want it is a bonus.  And as soon as the crowds leave I will be spending more time wading but with som many options just deciding which one is often the problem, a good one to have.

*************

Beaver Lake

The first one from the boat.

It was drizzling when I got up but the radar showed the clearing was coming so off to the lake.  After thinking about fly fishing the creek coming in the lake time to do it.  The lake like the rest of the local waters is still falling and the water temp was 73 degrees but clear.

Another part of the learning curve.

Basically it was just drive until running out of water at the creek mouth and then drifting out until the water depth exceeded 20′ and then do it again.   First up was a jointed fly that looks good, but the few bites were very light and not a one committed, or I missed them.

One of the great things about South Fork, plenty of different fishing opportunities.

So I switched to the old go-to, the wooly bugger.  That finally did the trick though I should have used it earlier as 3 jumped on in 2 drifts then unfortunately the sind came up and that was the end of my morning efforts.  But I learned some and will be back soon, as maybe in the morning depending on the forecast.  No matter what the 3 days of experimenting has taught me quite a bit.  One thing that definitely needs work is my casting but that will continue to improve with practice, oops, I mean fishing.

***************

The Boss will be gone for a few more days so there is still fishing to come.  The weather is stunning and fall is slowly creeping in.  Next month it will be back to chasing animals as things in the woods calm down.  But until next week folks are enjoying all the area has to offer and I hope everyone has a safe holiday weekend.  So keep stopping in and thank for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

************

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

***********

The Backyard always comes through.

We are so looking forward to fall and into winter as we get back to chasing animals.  But at least the backyard keeps us entertained.

Buck-a paloosa!

Finally shed the winter coat and horns galore. 

What makes him interesting is he and his buddy have stuck around all summer, unlike the rest of them who will be on the way back in a few weeks.

On the way to the lake saw a doe with twins on the edge of the creek.  I stopped but to much brush betwee me and them for a picture.  But fall is coming and a few Aspens are changing, so we are looking forward to that, it is stunning.

************

After my poor showing at the river the other day headed back with the Rapala and at least I figured out where some are.  The question will be whether I can figure it out on the long rod.  They sure are fat and sassy right now.

It took me a bit to figure out how they wanted it.

And where they wanted it.  This guy was solid.

Funny how the smaller ones jumped but these just stayed down and fought it out.  Most of them were right near the bank in a little deeper water.  A slight twitch a little off the bank or no bite.  With the big fall on the river it has slowed them down some.

Keep them in the net, quick unhook without touching them and back in they go.

On the long light rod with 4lb test they put up a good fight, no reason to hurry.  So after I go to the lake and get some for the smoker it will be back to the river.  Plus have some tying supplies coming and can tie some stuff that will work.  And with the Boss hitting the road for over a week fishing will be the size of it.

*************

Juniper berries from the Boss and her hiking club at 10,000 feet.

*************

Beaver 8/16.

All to myself.  What a view.

The mission should I accept it is to catch a limit of trout for smoking.  No particular size or flavor, just as long as they have a tail.  But all that aside Beaver is close to the house, and they cooperate.   There were very few folks fishing, nothing like last month but that will change next week with the holiday as the official “summer” ends in South Fork.

A good pink one headed to the smoker.

It has been interesting the last couple of trips as the body of the fish have moved.  A few weeks ago the heaviest concentration was the dam area, now they are on the lower 1/3.  The water temp is still in the 60 range, but the lake has dropped some with an algae bloom of some sort.

Headed to the smoker.

It was very nice out and while the fishing was not fast by any means it only took 15 minutes to catch the first 3.  Then as I headed up lake the bites just stopped but I went ahead and covered it anyway before heading back to the fish.  Fun to see them on the locator and make a turn where one side rises and ones sink, which is when the bite comes.  Around 11:00 it clouded up and started raining some, not hard but cool, so since I had a limit time to head to the house.  There is still so much to learn and it is enjoyable every time I learn something new.

***************

Trout Candy

So sweet and tastes as good as it looks.

This was my first attempt with the new smoker with the guys above..  We used a pellet grill before but this time went with the electric and I am real happy with the results.  It tastes as good as it looks and will be added to the regular diet.  Not sure how it could be any better so happy with the first results.  Wish you could smell it, so fine.

************

I am about to be batching it for over a week as the Boss heads to Iowa to hang out with her family.  Then they are all off to Indiana to hopefully see Kaitlan Clark play.  But even if she is not back on the court, we are all fans of Iowa’s women’s basketball.  Growing up in Iowa the girls drew bigger crowds than the boys at times.  But back then the girls had 3 on the offensive side of the ball and 3 on defense.  They could not cross the center line or dribble more than 3 times.  But the boys sure thought they looked hot with their bouffant hairdo’s and makeup.  Times they sure are changing.

Another fine week has passed in the mountains.  Caught some fish, the Boss is still hiking with her group and the weather is fine.  The mornings are inching into the 40’s and below and fall cannot come soon enough.  It is so nice to not have AC, it might get a little warm a day or two but the electric bill sure reflects it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

************

Tucker Ponds #2.  The smaller of the 2.

On the Boss’ hike last week she said when they went by Tucker Ponds that folks were fishing.  So our Sunday drive confirmed fish were rising and it looked good to me.  I check the CPW website and it said rainbow trout stocked catchable size.  So with my still water/lake fly fishing knowledge at zero seemed like a good place to try this morning while the Boss was on her hike.  2 small ponds, they probably freeze solid every winter and are restocked for folks to catch fish.  And catch fish I did.

Hopper fish.  The first of many.

I started with a hopper on top and managed to catch several.  Next it was the hopper dropper rig with a nymph style fly beneath the hooper and it caught them.  Then just for knowledge tried a wooly bugger and they ate that just as good.  Both ponds are easily accessible, and I fished them both.  As evidenced by the number of folks who came after me the Ponds are clearly a place for folks to come and catch them and they were fishing eggs, spinners, fly rod and who knows what else.

The real reason I wanted to try it besides the stocking history was it was nice and flat so there was no real problem fishing the fly rod.  It allowed me to not only try different stuff but to get in a little long distance casting practice.  I still have a lot to learn but it was fun to catch a bunch on the long rod.  When I left the parking lot it looked like a Texas used car lot.  They come from far and wide to fish the Ponds and I can see why.

************

FIRES

There are several big fires burning in Colorado and we finally had one close.  The smoke started last night and today it was heavy though the fire is now almost under control.  Today I was looking for a limit for the pan and as usual the lake produced.

Beaver Lake – The smoke is still lingering from all the fires in Colorado.

This is from a fire 65 miles away.  There was a mandatory evacuation as the fire got to the housing areas west of Pagosa Springs.  Our topnotch fire crew from South Fork were there for the assist as they do throughout fire season.  We are so lucky to have serious firefighters here, a certain amount of comfort as both sides of the pass are dry as a bone.  Like all over SW Colorado things are changing.  The river is as low as I have ever seen it.  The floating companies and guides are calling it another short season.  But one thing about the lake, if you want a few for supper it does not disappoint.

Fixed my plate when the Boss reminded me I wanted to take a picture of the days catch.

I am happy to report there were no survivors.  From the water to the pan.

Since it was a meat run decided to keep it simple and troll.  It is not are you going to catch them on Beaver, but how long to boat a limit.  I kept it simple with spoons and Rapalas flat lined.  It is really something how much trout like the Brown Trout color small floating Rapala.  As I learn it is important to keep experimenting as each technique and fish is different.  But when you want your plate to look like the one above the Rapala gets it done.

*************

Nothing says fall like big bucks in velvet!

I happened to look out this morning at the right time as several nice bucks worked their way through the backyard.

We have the best backyard.

This guy is getting there.

Want to get a feel for how wide they are?  Look at them from behind.  This is the guy above and he is wide.

They are still in velvet and growing.  Have not seen any shedding it yet and a few of them we are seeing are heading to big.  The neighborhood has been pretty quiet in the wildlife department.  The does are just gone right now, and other than a couple of toms not a turkey in sight.  But like all seasons that is about to change.  It won’t be long before the bucks are sparing and the Bighorns come down from the high mountains.  Fall is the best.

**************

It is hard to prognosticate the weather but the times they are a changing.  While the days remain fairly warm, nights are starting to drop in the high 30’s to low 40″s.  There are Aspens in some areas starting to turn and the horns are growing.  The fishermen are starting to disappear and the floating has ended, but not all outdoor activities are over in the mountains.  The 4wheelers are still having at it and the hiking is in full swing.  Next up in a couple of weeks are the hunters.

*************

Last week ended up a real bust.  After Tucker Ponds I got a snot slinging, stomach upsetting cold, it was tough.  It was 3 days before I got off the couch and a couple more to actually start feeling better.  But this week is off to a good start.  It is tough getting old.

Yesterday morning I spent thigh deep in the river and had one interesting non-productive day.  To simplify the story I fished 2 areas and managed one bite in each.  One was a halfhearted pass at a hopper, the other a quick nip on a wooly bugger.  The river has fallen so fast and hard that it has had a real affect on the fish.  Of course hard to feel like I did not fish that well, but the areas were perfect, or so I thought.  Time to rethink the plan, the fly fishing learning curve is exactly that, curvy.

************

We are finally getting a little rain as I write this.  It has cooled it off nicely, but hope the lightning did not start any fires.  We have only mowed the grass twice this summer and will do it in a couple of weeks just to clean things up.  Rain is the lifeblood of the valley farms and the tourist season in the mountains and we sure need more.  Other than that things are good.  The Boss is hiking up a storm and I am just doing the retirement thing, which I am very good at.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines 

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

*************

Sunday Drive

11,400′ in the area of a big past fire.

The plan was to head up the mountain so I could see an area with a couple of lakes.  The Boss had hiked there and said folks were fishing.  We took off at daylight hoping to see some wildlife on the drive before the 4 wheelers got out and about.  There are plenty of folks here crawling all over the mountains and it has definitely kept much of the critters away from folks.  Add to that the folks camping in the high mountains and there is a  little bit of traffic.

When we got up there it was 2 nice smaller lakes with good access and there was some kind of hatch going on.  As soon as folks leave it will definitely be on my list.  After that it was early enough we decided to head to another lake way the heck up there and take a look.  On the way we went through a big area that burned off years ago and is recovering.   On the way we passed 2 lakes and the second one was almost empty.  It was fairly big but defintiely drying up.  Will have to ask around and see why.

 11,000′ plus at the top of the tree line.  Will not be back without a fishing rod.

When we got to the parking area it was just a short half mile hike into the lake.  We had heard about it years ago as a good area to see moose, and we hoped to get lucky but off all things it was not a moose but a hiker.  She was hustling right along from a different direction than we hiked in.  Turned out there is a 4 mile trail accessible from a different trail.  But no matter it was beautiful up there.

The Boss checking out the shoreline.

After just sitting quietly and enjoying where we were it was time to head back to the truck. We happened 2 meet 3 local guys headed to fish the lake and I learned a lot.  They said a friend of theirs catches big 2 handed brook trout.  He reported it was a little difficult to fish, but if there are brookies that big I will definitely be back.    My still water fly fishing skills are nonexistent but ater doing a little reading can’t wait to give it a go.

A Redtail giving us the side eye.

There are lots of grouse in Colorado.

Not the best picture, we took several and none are all that.  But the interesting thing about these guys is it looked like it was mom with 5 or 6 young of the year.  We see them fairly regularly and who knows, may just get the shotgun out this fall.  The areas we see them are fairly clear.

Our 5-hour morning drive covered some of the best this country has to offer.  As we expand our range, we find more and more great places to go.  That our government is trying to screw us by selling even 1 foot of public lands puzzles me.  Seems to come from basically 2 views – You got your “Texas style” which is we own it and only us rich folks get to use it, so we fence it off to keep the common guy out.  Or the politician view, camping out is the golf club spa on the taxpayers dime.  Either way hands of our “PUBLIC LANDS.

*************

Creede

We headed to Creede to visit the mineral show like we have the last few years.  I had an ulterior motive, to see what the amulet that I brought back from the Andes was and to see what the rock masters had to say.

Headed up the canyon to the mineral and rock show.  The opening in the pass to the Bachelor Loop.

The Bachelor Loop is a cool drive through the old gold mines of Creede.  It takes you way up and is one of those drives if you are in the area you need to take.  The show was at the beginning of the drive with most of it in an old gold mine.  So I figured if anyone could identify it for me it would be these guys.

I bought this at 13,000′ in Cusco Peru.  The guy told me he found it on a dig way up in the Andes.  You could tell it was worn many moons ago as an amulet and had a groove scratched in it all the way around it so it could be tied with leather or cord.  It only took me a short second to buy it, it just had the look and for some reason it is one of my pride possessions.

Turritella.  Front.  One cool rock.

Back.  Full 0f shells and fossils.  You can see the wear at the bottom from being worn around the neck.

Just to make it interesting I asked 4 different sellers what it was and 2 out of the 4 said Turritella.  They agreed that it was a rare color as most found here are dark or black like many at the show.  None looked like this one.  And a little research revealed it was believed to have assorted mystic and or healing properties.  But they were all in agreement it was one cool piece, why for some reason it called to me.  So instead of just leaving it with some other treasures time to get it mounted and wear it.

************

We headed over to Durango to pick up a smoker and a few other things.  Since we did not bring the smoker with us from Texas, we have realized just how much we used it.  The interesting part of the story is the temp was 85 in Durango but as we approached Wolf Creek Pass things were looking dark.  When we got to the top it was raining and 46 degrees.  And to top it off this morning was barely 50 and it looks like rain, which we need badly.  Hopefully it will help with the fires.  (Sunday morning it was 36 up in the mountains.)

As a side note as we walked up to the mineral show there was a dusting of snow on a high mountain.  Just one of the little reminders we live in the real mountains.

*************

Velvet Days

Needs to get a little farther past the ears to be a big boy.  But plenty of antler growing to be done this fall.

As you saw in the last post the big boys have returned.  This guy was in the front yard and I waited for him to turn his head.  These guys are all ears, which makes it easy to start to tell regular from big from giant.  It needs to get way past the ears to qualify, and it will be interesting to watch him this fall.  Not sure how a hardcore mule deer hunter judges them, for me the ears are a good start.  As it is only early August, he has a good start.

*************

This week should be all about the fishing.  The river is back down, need to hit the lake for some to put on the new smoker, and I want to spend a little time learning to fish still water.  The Boss will keep on hiking.  I really like this fly fishing learning curve.  No matter what you fish for if you get to set in your ways and your “spots” it can get a little stale.  Now chance of that here.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

Be sure to click on the link and see the new products that Michael has introduced to the market.  The loudest shrimp on the market, a real improvement on the classic popping cork along with several new varieties of Knockin Tail plastics.  The punch line – if it has gills and fins they eat the Knockin Tail.

*************

A Quick Trip

A Beautiful Day with Rain Coming Over the Hill.

Loading the Lund due to the trailer configuration has been a little bit of a hassle so I picked up some Slick Stix to potentially fix the problem.  Of course, to get them on the boat has to be off so time to head to the lake and maybe fish a little first.  I was there a few days ago and it was a little tough.  Several things contributed to that. One there has been a major hatch of some sort and second the water level is dropping fast.

A Fattie who flopped out of the net.

The fish have definitely relocated.  Today they tended to be 20′ and not all the interested in eating.  The few bites I did get were all near the dam, and farther down lake just did not produce.  I wanted to be sure so after catching 4 or 5, and with rain coming over the mountain time to head back down to the ramp and put the Slick Stix on.

It only took about 10 minutes to put them on the bunks and boy was it worth it.  When putting the boat back on the trailer it slid right on, and just to know backed up and it slid right off.  It is one of those procrastination things that should have been done a while ago.

And speaking of doing stuff my stainless-steel table and sink came in and I spent the day getting it mounted behind the house.  Living in South Fork does have the occasional downside, like getting the plumbing additions to set it up just the way I want it.  In Colorado it is against the law to clean at the lake so as long as I am doing it might was well get it right.  After all these years it will be nice to have a place to clean, and keep clean.

*************

Fall is Coming.

He has a chance to be a really big boy.

When I got home and started working on this got up to get a cup of coffee and there was a nice buck in the backyard.  When I looked up there was some more, it was all horns.  We have seen just a few this fall but this was the first bunch of big boys.  Several times last fall they came through together and here they are from up on the mountain somewhere after being gone all summer.

No 2 exactly the same.  Then I looked at little up the hill – Jackpot!

Nothing but horns.

They are all being good friends right now which of course will change in a few months.  It is always cool to see them in this stage of antler development.  The velvet makes them look so much bigger, but it is easy to see who is headed towards being a whopper.

They had munching on their mind.

Thanks for stopping by.

(And then when I got done writing this and took the card out of the computer to put it back in the camera hanging by the window there was a bigger one yet.  I got a good look in the binos but by time I got the camera loaded he was gone over the hill.  He was a really wide 4×4 but when he turned, he had a big sticker on both beams right at the top split.  When counted with his big eye guards he was a good 6×6 and still growing.  It is going to be a great fall!)

*************

Fozzie the Bear

The Boss saw a post on Facebook and immediately recognized the street, as in a block from the house.  She hopped in the truck and there he was.  (The second time she has scored a bear that way so guess I will start tagging along from now on.)  We have seen him several times now and when the kids were here we named him Fozzie.  Now Fozzie is cool to see on occasion, but he just might be wearing out his welcome.

This is Fozzie the Bear, a regular visitor the last month.

Fozzie is ready to go 4wheeling.  Nancy said while she filmed it scared him or she would have honked before he made mincemeat out of that jeep.

That will be Fozzie’s last hurrah if we see him again.  This is broad daylight in the middle of the day so he is obviously not worried.  In the end he can’t just stroll around and cause mayhem, so it is all fun and games until the warden comes.  But is sure is crazy to see a bear strolling around, it is Colorado.

*************

From a reader.

Hmmm. Scaring up hoppers and you’re using a Rapala? Hard to beat hopper flys when those fish decide that’s what they want. Kind of like when those speckled trout want that topwater. The TX coast was good earlier but the water is already hot. Time to make sure the A/C is in good working order until early October. Now if I had that cold running water close by I would be trying a hopper! Sounds to me like you’ve got things covered! Hope you have continued success with your “new” fishing.
Colby S

You are so right.  The problem was I did not bring a fly rod with me (Stupid on my part.) as it was just a quick water check which turned into a catching trip.  The hopper will be getting a serious workout the next month.  This fly-fishing thing is a whole new can of worms, but I am learning.  And while I miss a big spec smoking a topwater I do not miss the heat.  In fact, we do not even have air conditioning in our house.  So thanks for commenting and good luck this fall and winter when the bay really turns on.

*************

Everything else is keeping us busy and with the river back down time for some hopper fishing.  We are having random rain and thunderstorms every afternoon, and we sure need it as we are in a period of high fire danger.  The rain has missed us for the most part but the temp dropping into the 60’s with the front is so nice.  The Boss keeps hiking, and I keep fishing.  Life is good in the mountains.  So, keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

************

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

************

The Rio Grande

As the river falls and the fishing traffic subsides it was time to check out a couple of spots on the river which turned out to be a success on several fronts.  The bite itself was fun and the average size was good.  But best of all, with the water down the wade fishing will really turn on.

The bite was on.

One thing about Brown Trout that I learned back in the 70′ on the White River, feed them a shallow running Rapala in their color and hold on.  I really was not expecting it to be that good and was only checking out the wading potential and it looks great.  Combine the hoppers that kicked up on the way back to the car and you have the makings of a cool bite.

Not bad for a couple of hours.

First up was the old sure thing honey hole, and it turned out to be a bust.  Not even a bite.  But moving to what ended up being 4 places the bite got better as the day warmed.  It was 54 degrees with a cold wind when I started but warmed up fairly quick as it does out here.  Since this was just a look and see trip I did not wear waders and even with it so shallow was still able to catch them.  While it is shallow the river is still wide but it put the fish right where they should be, at leas the ones I could reach on the cast.

The average today was a great sign.

They were smoking the Brown Trout color Rapala.

There was nobody out when I started at 7:30, it sure is not like the early rush all those years on the coast.  Of course, this time of year it may have more to do with letting the water warm some which gets the bugs moving around.  My knowledge of the bug thing leaves much to be desired but the learning curve goes on.  If they are willing to eat on top the next few weeks should be fun.  And the crowds are already declining here I am sure looking forward to the rest of the fall all the way to ice up.

This was the best of the morning.

Keep the Rapala barbless and try to not touch them for release.  It helps to hold them in the net and keep your hands off.  

The mornings trip was a success all the way around.  Waders and a flyrod should be good, and if it does not rain to hard tomorrow morning will be fun no matter how it turns out.  But if this mornings success was without waders which limited the places I could reach who knows how it might turn out.  So time to get all the sruff out and ready, like much of the fishing here, better get out while the getting is good.

*************

The Next Day

With the success of yesterday I was really looking forward to a serious wading adventure today, but that did not happen.  It was obvious the water had come up, and I mean way up.  As the Rio comes out of the Rio Grande Reservoir it is used for irrigation all over the valley and my intital thoughts were that they were letting it out of the lake.  That turned out to be faulty thinking.  The water was the result of rain in the mountains.  We have been getting some, but elsewhere there has been flooding.

That is the first time I have experienced that here and it will not be the last.  The punch line, I caught one on the fly rod.  That was the result of not only high water but my partial spin out.  The plan intially was to fish the best looking spots that were clear with the water down, today that was not possible as it was running to beat the band.  So right away I changed the plan to a streamer and caught one on my second cast.  As it was barbless it flopped off while I was trying to take a picture.  Everywhere I caught them the other day was completely different but I tried fishing what I could but the current was to strong.  A couple of new places produced one big bite and another fish broke my line.  It was just one of those days.

Today it will be back to the river to assess the water level.  It is just part of the learning curve.  But no big deal, the water will come back down shortly, and it will be a great fall.  Plus, where else do I have to be?  Retirement is a great thing.

************

The Boss

The Silverthread Hiking Club.

Nancy joined up with these folks which are a large group of hikers.  They hike twice a week. most of it at elevation and an average hike is around 5 miles into the mountains.  Hiking is a big thing here and she has seen a lot of new places.  This group even continues in the winter though obviously a lot of the summer folks are not here then.  But she puts me to shame so I fish when she hikes, it is the same, right?

************

The next few days involves money, our money going to other folks.  The recessed overhead lights in the kitchen need replacing and they are coming tomorrow to let us know when and how much that is going to be.  (I would do it myself, but it is a little too involved and has to do with regular to LED so will leave that to the pros.)  Then at 10:30 going down the street where the Amish are working on a garage to get a bid on the car/boat port.  Getting things done here can be challenging and when I stopped and talked to him he said they are covered up like every other trade in the valley.  But the good thing is what I want is maybe a couple day project for the Amish, they get in and get the job done.  And it does not hurt that they also mill their own lumber and build trusses, the only problem is getting them here.  Other than that little thing all good here in the mountains.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stufff.

 Tight Lines

************