FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors 

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Fishing this week.

This is a perfect example of the 2 trips results.

No real big story from 2 lakes this week.  We fished San Cristobal on Friday then I fished Beaver here by the house.  Both lakes were slow by normal standards.  It was only the second time fishing San Cristobal, so I have lots to learn.  My main reason was to catch a lake trout, but speaking of lots to learn that is one fish that still eludes me.  We caught a few trout but it was slow.  But as soon as the season is over it will be back there a couple of days.  I ain’t no quitter.

Beaver was up next and it was amazing how many folks were out.  Not too often there are 6 boats on the lake, 2 were drift boats being oared by guides as the river is just a trickle of itself.  The one boat was taking out when I did, and they told me in a 1/2 day they caught 7.   I stuck with trolling as I try to find the Kokanee but did not have any luck with them.  But it was fishing as it often is on Beaver with a bunch of trout trolling while trying to catch the salmon.   Though both days were slow I appreciate finally feeling good enough to at least get on the water.

On the way back to the house the road follows the creek.  I often fish it, and occasionally there will be someone else on the creek but today was another story.  With our ongoing drought and the creeks and rivers drying the fly fishermen are starting to fish on top of each other.  I counted 9 guys and 7 trucks, more than I often see in a couple of weeks, combined.  At least we got some sprinkles today with more projected as the week goes on.  Man do we need it.

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The Boys are Back in Town.

One thing about our area is we really get a taste of how things act.  The area was full of does and then they disappeared, followed by the return of the bucks.  We get to watch them grow from now until spring.

With a face only his momma could love.

A Piebald.  The Boss got a better look and said it went all the way down his front.  

This has been a good week for seeing some interesting stuff.  Piebald deer are fairly rare with a genetic condition.  Patches of white, brown mixed they are not a version of their albino brothers.  It can be a small area or all over, makes for some interesting looks.  In whitetails it is around 1 per 2,000 and did not mention mule deer.  But what a spot, can’t wait to watch him this fall.  This guy was with 7 full velvet bucks as they crossed the back yard.  From now until basically the rut we see the together quite a bit.

The real Boss got by before we noticed but these guys were not too bad.

It will be a cool fall as we see them grow.  Some get distinct enough to follow their development, and they seem to hang out with the same guys until spring comes and they head out for the summer.  But as expected each year is a little different and the drought may have a big effect before it is over.

The boys are out everywhere you look.

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Fisher -Another Critter Knocked Off the List

Our drives and hikes have let us see some interesting animals that are “new to us.”  (See above.) And then every once in a while, we score big time and today was that.

As we headed home from Lake City, we were on the stretch of the Divide when we saw this critter in the road.  He/she was definitely eating on a small roadkill.  Though we did not get a picture there was no doubt in my mind what it was and it ran off when we got close.

Basically, fishers are a very rare sight, I believe this is the extent of their southern range in the US.  Apparently, they are fairly common in some areas of Canada.  It was a beautiful creature and to me it is one of our great “spots” since we have been in Colorado.

Thanks to Animal Network for the picture and the list below.  Check them out, great site and the other pictures of the Fishers are cool.

1. Fishers can rotate their hind feet 180 degrees, allowing them to climb down trees headfirst.
2. They have semi-retractable claws, providing both traction and protection.
3. Fishers mark their territories with scent glands.
4. They are capable of traveling long distances in search of food and mates.
5. Their thick fur provides excellent insulation against cold temperatures.
6. Fishers are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk.
7. They play a role in controlling the spread of Lyme disease by preying on infected rodents.
8. Their scientific name, Pekania pennanti, honors the Pennant family who first described the species.
9. Fishers have excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell.
10. And my add: They actually eat porcupines!

Fisher – Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts

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Bass Fishing

The world of bass fishing is in a state of uproar at the moment.   There have been several high-profile guys in the upper echelon of fishing who have failed post tournament polygraphs and have been disqualified.   Another new video of a 5lber on a stringer under a bridge the day before the high school tournament just came out.  Cheating has been and always will be in fishing, people just suck.

And now Alabama is apparently going to enforce a rule where any tournament must register, while it is free, and it must be done 2 weeks before the date.  It will effectively end many, especially the weekly pot type tournaments.  There are just too many tournaments, period, and some of the larger more famous ones may have 4 or 5 on the same weekend.  It seems this is in response to the big uptick in tournament boating accidents including fatalities.

And FFS is creating lots of changes.  Some are no FSS tournaments, some may only use part of the day, and some use it all day.  Looks like Garmin is going to have some big advancement to announce soon.  Like it or not, and I do not, it is here to stay.

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Boat Drip

A spray on boat cleaning line, after seeing it online and reading I ordered 3 different applications.  It ran about $60 or so and included 3 spray bottles.  The deal was a bottle of restore, which I sprayed on the trailer with great results.  Then a bottle of exterior which I sprayed on the hull, and it looks like new.  The other bottle is for interior cleaning and will get at that soon.  It was surprising how little it took and there are many applications left.  Of course, time will tell but if this is the results from one application it will be a permanent part of taking care of the boat.

BOAT DRIP – Boat Detailing Products + Water Spot Removers

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It is actually thundering and lightning as I write this.  We need the rain, but lightning is often the cause of fires in Colorado.  We can only hope it keeps raining off and on for the next few days as forecast.

I am batching right now as the Boss is in Indianapolis for the WNBA Fever game tonight.  She actually grew up in a small Iowa town with the winningest girls’ basketball coach in state history.  Since we do not get that channel tonight, I will listen online.

So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors 

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The Fires Continue

We went out of town last weekend and the further away we got the more smoke there was.  We have been lucky with the smoke so far, at least until yesterday.  No wind it just sat here in the valley.  Today there is a nice breeze, and it has cleared out.

Out of our motel window looking west.

It was something watching the sun go down, but never forgetting folks have lost their lives and homes.

We have our go pile ready by the back door, just in case.  I think there are 6 fires now, some coming under control, others raging.  The Aspen Ridge Fire by Pueblo had over 600 firemen from 4 states with a bunch of planes and now helicopters.  It has burned somewhere around 100,000 acres and 250 homes.  But as I type this it is clouding up and we have a serious chance of rain over much of the state, but with that comes a wind direction change which is not in our favor.  There is far off thunder, no lightning please, just rain.  One thing you can say for Colorado never a dull moment.

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Rio Grande River

Being Tuesday after the holiday it was time to slip out and give my favorite hole a go, and while it was a little tougher than normal it was fun.  Leaving at 7:00 I figured it would be pretty quiet, but it was not the case.  The fly fishermen were already out and there was more to follow when I left at 10:00;

Loving catching them on 2lb test and ultralight rod.  With 1/32 jig head and 2″ plastic I figure it is something they have not seen before.

This one hit the Rapala.

I am not surprised it was slow.  A couple more should have come to the net but it was easy to tell they had a tough weekend.  A few did feed on top and I must admit I was to lazy to walk back to the truck and get the long rod and waders.   Not sure if it had the makings of a good bite but it sure is fun to catch them on top.

The second one on the Brown Trout colored Rapala.

Often when I am fishing there I might see another person or two but today it was a dad and son, dad actually worked in Springdale and have a house right down the road from us.  Then a kid walked by headed up the river to nymph fish, the only problem was he was crossing private property.  Whatever.  And last another guy came wading up the river fishing lures so for a Tuesday it was one busy place.

Last one on the plastic.

Of course, the real problem is water, there is not much in the river and in our travels around lately the creeks are drying up fast.

On a side note, if this country does not address the coming water disaster it could get ugly.  Just look up the Colorado river and lakes out west that are dropping like a rock and soon the electric generation, Mead to name a biggy, are not going to have enough water to generate.  When you see the lakes out west it is amazing how far down they are, and the talk on the internet is always about ramp issues.  It is time for a real accounting but with so many stakeholders a resolution will be tough.  But for God’s sake quit building golf courses in the desert for starters.  Good luck young folks this will be all on you.

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Going to head out on a drive in a few minutes.  Critters should be moving around as it has cooled off just a little and is cloudy and nice.  The Boss is going to show me the road where they saw all the animals the other day.  While the middle of the day is not always the best you never know until you go.  Where we are headed is way up there, but it will be nice to drive on a road without the dust, which has been horrible.

Other than all that the Boss is getting excited about her travels.  First up is the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis then in a few weeks off to Iceland with a few from her hiking group.  Since I am feeling a little better hope to start back to some serious fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors 

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Tucker Ponds

Unfortunately, the last 4 days I have been sick. Today (Tuesday) I got the Boss to drive me to Tucker Ponds just to get off the couch.  2 small ponds it is regularly stocked and fun to fish as they are cooperative.  Combined with the ongoing bug hatch it is a great place to have fun with a dry fly.

Small but who does not like one on the first cast.

A small one on my first cast confirmed it was a dry fly kind of day, that and about a million bugs on the water getting eaten.  I ended up fishing about 1 1/2 hours and caught a few.

This is way more like it. Fun on the 3wt.

Not being a fly fisherman obsessed with the names of flies one broke me off, so I tied on a bigger dry and ended up catching a couple of nice ones.  One thing that was interesting that day was the water was so clear I could see the refusals.  Funny how some would eat right away, others just thumb their nose at it.

The only other “good” one was a jumper.

While we were there the truck pulled up and offloaded a thousand.  The Boss was talking to them, and they said that would probably be it for the rest of the year.  The lake was down some, and it has been so hot the moss it starting to take it over.  Just another consequence of our ongoing drought.

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Myasthenia gravis

MG is a is a rare, chronic autoimmune disorder involving your nerves and muscles.  To make a long story short it messes up muscles and nerves, is incurable, and it just a real pain in the ass.  But what makes mine tough is it never goes away, some days are just better than others. Exertion on my part often has a price to pay, which might be a tough day, or 5 tough days, which is what happened after a trip out of town.  I was down for about 5 days and one of them was the worst yet.  Today I walked a mile and a half with the Boss so hopefully no repercussions tomorrow.  That is what makes this so hard, you just never know.  (Note:  I have now walked 4 days in a row and other than the pain later not to bad.  Maybe the medication change we just made is going to help.)

My regular doc is leaving, and my case will be transferred to a new more specialized neurologist who my doc says can better handle my “Difficult” case.  He said he doubted the new resident was quite ready to handle me.  Ain’t that special!  It just gets old after a while, but the only choice is to take it a day at a time.  We did do a slight medication change so it will be a few days until any changes may happen.

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I Might Be Laid Up, but the Boss is Rocking On

The Boss has been so lucky to find the hiking club.  These folks are serious and 2 groups go out a couple of days a week.  One does a lot of “bushwacking” and are a little more hardcore.  The group she goes with is led by our neighbor who has been doing this for 25+ years. And not only does she hike but she is a big 4-wheeler person and literally knows the area like few others.  The hike they went on this day was almost 6 miles but above 12,000 feet.  As you can see in the picture below that is the tree line where the high mountains take over.  Trust me, for a bunch of retired folks they can sure walk the walk.

The Boss and her gang of “old folks”.  Think you are in shape?  Try over 12,000 feet at the tree line in the Rockies.

Moose on the loose.  They scored on the wildlife.

Not only did they see this moose but on the way up they scored.  They saw another moose with a calf, a mule deer with a little one and an elk with 2 calves.  A paradise to raise their young, no wonder you do not see more of them at lower elevations.

Tons of wildflowers up high.  Food for the critters.

She said the area was full of blooming wildflowers.  No wonder the animals head that way.  A couple of miles high, plenty of grub, and only the occasional visitor.

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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Of course, we love fire and EMS folks, been there and done that. South Fork is beyond lucky as the FD here is super qualified in all areas, in fact some are out in California right now.  These folks are the real deal and with the fires around we take comfort knowing they are here whether fire, rescue, or ambulance.  So, when it was time for the annual fish fry to raise money folks come from around the area and they fed hundreds and hundreds.  See my plate below?  That is $20 worth of fish.

That would be $20 worth of catfish.

2 small pieces, you can tell these folks are not really big fish eaters or at least are not experienced fish fry folks.  That is like the appetizer, but the food was good and as usual we spoke with some interesting folks.  Turned out our lunch mate was on the crew in Yellowstone with folks we met there putting the wolves in.  Small world.

But no big deal, it is the best $20 I have spent on the government in a long time.  Last year we stood in line with one of the board members and he told us they have plenty of money, maybe this is why?  All kidding aside thanks for keeping this small town safe.  (And I appreciate the ambulance ride, we didn’t crash.) 

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Lake City

About 70 miles from here we love to drive there occasionally, today we had a plan.  (See below.)  We have seen some great stuff on that drive, but it is a little different right now.  The wildlife is keeping a low profile as thousands of folks descend on the mountains for what looks like will be a long crazy July 4th week.  The river and creeks are way down, though still fishable with a fly rod but it is going to be a long summer this year on the water.  And folks come here for the offroad ATV riding, which is giving me a case of ATV envy.  But if you stay in the woods long enough the critters will appear.

The Momma Boss ewe.

While we see plenty of sheep in the winter there are still a few who come to the water on the river.  But we rarely see a big ram this far down this time of year.  But I love seeing them no matter the gender.

We see this bunch occasionally.

I have really gained an even greater appreciation for Bighorns and look forward to early winter when the rut is on.  Love seeing them banging heads and harassing ewes.

The antlers are growing.

While not a great shot it is indicative of what the mule deer got going right now.  Living in an area that is loaded with wildlife it is so interesting to observe the comings and goings.  Right now, not a turkey to be had when just a few months ago we had hundreds.  And while just a few weeks ago it was all does, they have disappeared, I assume to have their babies and the bucks have arrived velvet and all.

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TEXANS

Like many cool places we have visited there is always someone from somewhere that folks resent.  Here it seems to be a draw between Texas and California. But folks here appreciate the business that comes with the summer Texans and visitors from the state.  But things do happen that just can’t be excused, and we saw that a couple of days ago.

We headed to Lake City to see if San Cristobal had any water in it and the ramp situation, which turned out to be all good, unlike some other areas of Colorado.  We then decided to make the loop around the lake and see if any moose were out and about.  After passing the dock there was a metal sign flashing to keep your windows rolled up due to a real increase in bear activity.  Which unfortunately with this drought will be an ongoing issue this year.  But I digress, the point is there are currently 4 major fires in Colorado with 3 firefighters losing their life.

As we eased down the road a small black car with some color on the fenders (The kind the kids like.) speed up behind us and we let them pass.  It had Texas plates and then the stupid POS held his arm out the window with a cigarette in his hand.   You have to be a complete incompetent moron or out of touch to not know what is happening here.  There are constant reports, signage, you name it extreme fire danger is the issue right now.  Combined with our high winds it is flat dangerous.

Colorado is a tinder box, homes are burning, lives are being lost.  Trust me we are watching our area with bated breath, including getting a jump bag ready just in case.  We are stage 2 fire restrictions which even includes a ban on smoking outdoors much less any fire of any sort plus shooting any guns.  So good luck to us and Colorado, this is a sad state of affairs, and it is only getting worse.

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Unfortunately, the water level on the Rio has dropped to the point where floating is over, maybe for the year.  Too bad as the rafting companies and fishing guides make much of their income in a few short months and unless we get some stunning rain it is over.  One of the guides I know says it will be walking/wading trips for the rest of the season but that is not quite the same thing.  And with that comes the possibility of the water temp really increasing making it tough on the trout which is generally covered by a no fishing after noon.  Good thing there are plenty of lake around here to keep you busy.

And on another note, there is a valley with a beautiful stretch of the Rio that looks so inviting.  So, I inquired at a local tackle shop about what they knew about it.  Several of the large ranches here have a day fee for fishing and I was interested in maybe giving it a go.  But no go, it is owned by a rich rancher and the only way to fish the river is hire the stores guides at their daily rate and then pay the rancher $150 a head on top of the guide service fee.  (Give or take a $1k by time you are done.) Since it is on the Rio way above where we live, I am sure the fishing is really good but as far as big fish no chance.  The real point of this is how the rich are buying up the west and closing it off parcel by parcel.

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That will do it for the weekend.  My life has improved quite a bit this last week, hopefully that trend will continue.  But hey I am 72 and still upright and taking nourishment.  We will be headed out of town overnight for a good meal and some adult fun.  So whatever you do be safe and enjoy the 4th.  Hopefully there will be some serious lake fishing next week so keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors 

Check out Micheal’s Facebook site.  He has been on a bucket list tour in Louisiana and Florida, and it has been epic.  The Knockin Tail has been smashing big snook, reds, and trout.  It has been one impressive trip and as usual the bait puts them in the net.

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Lake of the Woods

My old buddy Clyde just got back from 2 weeks on Lake of the Woods.  I have fished from the Great Barrier Reef, Belize, etc, etc, but I can honestly say that Lake of the Woods is the best fishing hole on the planet.  Muskie, lake trout, smallmouth, largemouth, pike, walleye it has it all.  And here is just few from Clyde’s trip.

Like walleyes? The lake has some real ones.  In fact, he said this year it was hard to find any short enough to be eaters. What a sad state of affairs!

And you never know when a random muskie will jump on.

And as far as lake trout go this will do!  They were really on the chew this trip.

A nesting pair.  There are lots of them and when they take the carcasses from the cleaning table and put them on a big rock they come from everywhere.

This is just a small representation of what you could catch on a trip.  With an unbelievable 64,00+ miles of shoreline and over 14,000 islands it is one big momma.  And here is a tip, just buy several gold Rapala Husky Jerk in the smaller 3 hook size.  Throw it out, jerk it ar0und and there is nothing that it will not catch.  Clyde and friends have fished the lake for over 30 years, and he has learned a lot.  As I slowly get to feeling better, I hope either late this fall or next spring to make another trip.  It is a beast and definitely a bucket list trip.

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Hey Boo Boo

So while Clyde and I are on the phone talking about the lake, it is around 11:00 in the morning, when here comes a bear across the backyard.  I just happened to be on the deck speaking with him and much to my surprise (Not!) here comes the 3rd bear in 2 weeks.  While we always remain cautious it is still a thrill to see them and with the way things are out here, I do not begrudge them looking for food.

It is dry here, real dry and in the 90’s today.  The problem is lack of food and berries in the higher mountains so here they come, attracted to the possibility of an easy bite to eat.  With the weather pattern we are in we can expect to see more of them in the coming months.  The PD comes out and cruises the area hoping to give them a shot of rubber bullets to haze them, and in the end hopefully saving their life.  Life in the mountains continues and we are so grateful to be living here.  But we never forget we are just visitors on this land, and while our lives are short in the grand scheme of things they will always live here, it belongs to them.

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Fishing Trolls and Karens

Having been a bass fisherman for literally over 61 years (The bike and Iowa farm ponds started the whole thing.) the “rules” have changed, both written and customs.  When I first started guiding it was 10 bass of any length.  Then over the years it progressed to where it is in most places, 5 over 15″, or even less.  And with that came the catch and release practice and it went from a way to build the populations in many places to some kind of “Karen” rule.  The “I am superior to you because I release them all” BS.   Which of course is an elitist attitude towards anyone who is following the law and wants to eat some.  The reason I brought this up is Colorado.

You want Karens, Colorado has them by the bucket loads.  The fly fishermen can be absolutely brutal to newcomers online.  That particular cult has unwritten rules for everything, and any violation of their rules leads to a haughty rebuke.  Of course, those delusional trolls were born knowing the rules or even take credit for “writing” them.  And how you handle the fish is a constant online discussion.  Trout are fragile but catching them is catching them no matter how.  If you are going to keep them what is the diff?  And just like the elitist bass fisherman it is even a cardinal sin to keep one.  It has always puzzled me why it is anyone’s business how, what, or when, much less the kind or style as long as it is legal.  If you do not like it work to change the rules.

Today I ran across a new one.  There was a catch/kill tournament on one of the good lakes with nice trout.  That particular lake has a website that is related to the tournament and marina best I can tell.  So a guy who fished it posts a picture of a nice trout in a pan, and it is rejected by the site and the tournament he fished.  You reject a picture of a dead trout headed for the stove from a catch/kill tournament you put on?  Absurd.  Way to stand up for the sport.  Fishing and hunting are what they are, and we are better served by supporting each other before it is too late.  Rejecting that picture is a tacit admission there is something “wrong” with taking and eating a fish.  Stupid.  Just gives the antis more ammunition.

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We headed to Colorado Springs to hear one of our favorite artists, Anthoney Gomes.  We first saw him 25 years ago at George’s in Fayetteville and were lucky enough to see him one other time in the old days.  His new album has taken off, and it is great that he is getting recognition he deserves.  It was at the top of the charts on release.  A great guitar player and just an all-around fun show it was cool to see him again.  So, if you like a touch of blues in your Rock and Roll check him out.

As we were trying to get to our hotel there was a large area of downtown blocked off.  We were close, a few blocks, so we stopped and asked an officer who said she did not know where the hotel was. Sure.  Turns out we were 2 blocks away and for a city officer to say she did not know where a tall major downtown hotel was just being a butthead.  They have long forgot the “serve” part of the motto.  But I digress.

The festival was the start of the Pike’s Peak race, and the streets were full of cars of all sizes and styles.  From Indie cars, desert racers, fancy foreign jobs and even old muscle cars it was something.  The race is a big deal there and maybe in the future we will attend the actual race, at least what you can see.  One thing for sure it was a crazy display of horsepower.

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My crazy MG road continues.  I had a couple of really bad days, one of them the worst in a while.  But today feeling good and looking forward to fishing this week.  The neighbor’s son in law is back and am looking forward to taking him and his son out.  He is the gentleman who sent me the great filet knife set for taking him out last year.  While not necessary at all it was a nice gesture from a 300lb just retired NFL lineman.  When he steps in the boat you sure know it.  Looking forward to a fun week.  So, keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors 

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Platora Lake

Platora Lake and the little village of Platora has been on my fishing list for a couple of years.  There are 2 ways to get there, highway which is around a 10 miles, or over the mountains 40 miles.  Of course we chose the mountains.  It has been busy and the animals are laying low though we did see a few mule deer on the way.  Our route was really rough and it took several hours but what fun.

Saw plenty of deer on the way.  The antlers are starting to grow.

Once we finally got there first up was the ramp and it was bad.  Looking at the Boss’s picture below it looked like the lake was a good 15′ down.  The ramp was way up the hill and the only way to launch would have been down the hill and off a rocky bank.  In my younger days I just might have tried it with help, but not now.  Not only potentially dangerous, this area is isolated high mountains without cellphone coverage for 50 miles.  More on that later.

The Boss lakeside.  Notice the water level is 10 foot+ down.

So we went into town to get some coffee and info on renting a cabin to do a few days of serious fly fishing.  There is actually a couple of seasonal places open but the whole “town” shuts down by the end of September.  Talked to a few folks and got the lay of land for what I hope will be a few days right before they close.  It will all depend on when I get back from catfishing on the Red River.  But I digress.

Fish on.  Even a blind hog.

As we were headed back the long way we made a quick stop so I could throw a few.  I chose a dry and caught a brown fairly quickly.  She took these with her phone from way above me.  But suffice to say the river looks great with lots of public access.  Definitely my kind of water and it looks like there is about 10+ miles of good public access so the plan is coming together.

Success a small brown on a dry.

Since it had been a long day, I was happy to just catch one so off we went.  We got a few miles down the road when she goes – I have no power steering, and the battery light is on.  I knew right away it was the belt, which on the 4 Runner is a 90″+ serpentine that runs the whole show.  Oh No.  I pulled the belt out and it was badly frayed, not sure what caused it but it was shredded.

So here is the picture, we are 30 miles from cell service broke down.  So I hitch a  One company said we will come get you what road are you on, sorry we are not allowed on that road.  Most did not answer though one said he might be able to get us in the morning.  ride and she stays with the truck.  A nice Hispanic man took me 15 miles to a small store with internet.  It is Sunday late afternoon and we are 60 miles from anything.  Thank goodness the owner helped me and after calling every tow truck in sight we finally found someone to help us.   One company said we will come get you what road are you on, sorry we are not allowed on that road.  Most did not answer though one said he might be able to get us in the morning.  Her husband even took me back the 15 miles to the Boss and the truck.  Meanwhile she had limped a mile at a time until the truck would start to heat and ended up making it 2 miles to a local resort area.

The company that said they would come were amazingly fast, we loaded up and barely an hour after we called we were headed 60 miles to Alamosa.  While we tried to figure out what to do, the 2 nearest Toyota dealers were over 100 miles away, the driver goes maybe our shop can help you and you can leave it with us in our lot tonight.  And by God they did that and more.

We called a friend who took us the other 50 miles home and first thing in the morning I called the mechanic and he said he made sure nothing was broken to cause it, just belt failure and he was going to get one put it on and call me back.  An hour later he was done and made sure it was all good.  The punch line it was $220, a Toyota dealer would have been way more than that and it would have taken a week.  The dealers have become such rip offs but that is another story.

So after owning them for 39 years this year for the first time ever I was left beside the road.  It was not a mechanical failure perse, just a bad belt.  So considering the whole experience we came out of it great.  Living where we do, and doing what we do is our choice.  It just comes with living in the middle of nowhere and even going farther in the middle of nowhere.  We are so prepared with “stuff” but some things are just out of our control.  But got the truck back the next morning good as new and will be headed back out fishing first thing in the morning.  Just will keep an eye on the belt in the future.  Lesson learned.

Boo Hoo!

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I Love Bears  

If you have read my stuff you know a couple of weeks ago a bear pounded on my back window wanting some delicious pork chops.  It was a cool close enough encounter and I figured that was it as the police chased him around.  But oh no, it was about to get closer with a different bear.

2 feet away from the screen door on my breezeway.  Hitting the road after I ran him off.  Yikes.

Today was garbage day.  We are religious about keeping our can locked up, getting it out late morning for pickup.  So after the truck came, I went down and drug the can up the hill and set it in the breezeway.  I left it there so I could get something else out of the shed.  So I go in the house to eat something and the Boss heads to the dentist, and then it happened.

All of a sudden I see a bear casually strolling right outside the screen door.  He goes right to the empty can, stands up, and tries to open it.  I meanwhile yell and scream and beat on the wall and he looks at me and scoots away.  I grab the camera and the shot above is him heading on down the hillside.  What made it interesting is he came not from the forest side but the street side, in broad daylight, between the house and garage in the middle of the day without a care in the world.

We love and respect bears and stay bear aware.  Today was a lesson learned, apparently we have the best smelling empty can around.  To have a surprise bear 13″ feet away, I measured, is an awesome, frightening, cool, crazy and anything else you can think of experience.  I called the police and they said they would be out; they usually haze them and if any bear needs hazing it was this guy.  After he moved away a few feet, he was not worried and if you look at his mouth closely in the picture, he appears to not be so happy.  Guess time to put a lock on the screen door to give me enough time to spray or shoot him if he tries to come in.  But like I say and truly believe, don’t want to be around animals then don’t move where they are.  They were here first and will be here long after we are gone. And man we love living here!  And the Boss was pissed she was not here.

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Got up early this morning to beat the rush at one of the small streams I like to fish.  By 8:00 they were coming out of the woodwork.  I managed to put 3 in the net, 1 on a dry fly on the  regular rod and reel, and 2 on the Tenkara.  Here is a couple.

Fun on the dry fly.

A beautiful rainbow on the Tenkara.

My fly rod journey continues.  It did not help that since I got sick last October there has been little fly fishing as walking and maneuvering up and down banks and rocks was no easy feat.  Thank goodness that is slowly changing as I get more and more back to my old self.  I really do like the bite on the Tenkara, and with some of our smaller streams it is all you need.

I have another big infusion early fall and if I make the same amount of progress it will sure help.  But until then I will fish when I can, but with the dropping water levels it might be an interesting fall.  While out government fiddles away the water issues in this country are going to come to a head and those worthless politicians will act like it is a surprise.

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Forward Facing Sonar

If you have read my stuff in the past, you know I oppose it for bass tournaments.   But after reading some disturbing numbers my opposition to it grows.  Unfortunately, I do not remember exactly which circuit it was, but it was one of the big ones and the weight average has gone up significantly.  Herein lies my issue with that.

Many of the larger fish being taken are coming from more open water areas where normally they would not be caught or even fished for.  With all the pressure from way to many tournaments now those fish need a break.  Suspending in open water gives them that break.  (Before you get you panties in a wad of course some move for forage.)  If the weights are up obviously many of those fish are the bigger ones who are just trying to rest, they have seen it all and learn the bank is not a safe place to be.  And with entirely to many bass tournaments the pressure is insane.

FFS has been termed spotlighting for bass, the same principal as for deer, which I think is a reasonable analogy.  So I am changing my mind some.  There was even a post (Take that with a grain of salt.) from a crappie guide complaining that on his lake the numbers are declining as everyone and their brother uses FFS.  I know why the major bass fishing organizations do not ban it, they are beholden to the electronic companies and even if they know it is not a good thing they will continue to kowtow to them.  As with so much of our outdoor issues it comes down to money and not often what is best for the resource.

I am stuck in my usual dilemma.  As long as it is legal knock yourself out and I would never criticize the individual legal user doing a legal thing.  The rules are the rules and as in so many areas like them or not they are the rules.  Catch them until you are blue in the face or the law or attitude changes.  And with that comes having to acknowledge that a bunch of folks do not like it, me included.  Stay tuned the issue is far from over.

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Thought I would post this now as we will be out of town for some music this weekend and there is a crew coming tomorrow for a couple of days to rebuild the driveway.  But the weather is fine and there will be more fishing and exploring in the days ahead.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines.

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors

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I am learning some hard lessons about this myasthenia gravis hassle.  When I fished the river bank the other day it laid me up for another day.  After using the weedeater I was immobilized the next day.  The pattern seems to be do some physical activity and expect to pay for it.  Very hard to describe how it feels and it is a learning process.  At least I beat the diabetes thing and have been taken off all of that hassle.  So times are slowly changing and I did some fishing this week with more to come.

The River

The wind has been blowing up to 50mph the last couple of days.  As the day goes on it gets stronger and stronger and is definitely not boat fishing weather.  Plus, with the season in full swing the river is covered up with rafters, wade fishermen and the floating crowd.  So I headed out early to get the jump on both the weather and the fishermen, and it turned out to be a good choice.

They were colored up today.

It was a rainbow kind of morning.

My favorite spot is a good deeper bank fishing spot usually full of Brown Trout, but not today.  On the Rio you can only keep 2 Browns and must return any Rainbows immediately and they are not all that common.  (I never keep any on the Rio, if you want some fish hit the lakes.) This morning Rainbows was the size of it, but they were some beautiful fish, and one of them was a real hoss.

They were smoking the Brown Trout color Rapala.

This picture does not due her justice.  This was a good one.

As I fished a drift boat stopped at the top of the hole to fish and it happened.  The one above went absolutely nuts when I set the hook.  It made a couple of jumps, and on the ultralight with 4lb test was a battle.  When I finally got her to the net it would not fit and then the fun began.  I always keep them in the water and while I was getting my phone out to take a pic she jumped out and I proceeded to drop my phone in the river.  Fish or phone?  I went for the fish.  After getting back in the game a quick pic and then spent some time reviving her.  When it is this warm and the fight is that long they need some time to get oriented.

That was the last fish, but it sure made my morning.  I would have preferred to not catch it while the guide boat was watching, but not because it should be a secret.  I just hated to have the customers watch me catch that size trout as it is far from common on the river.  I really enjoyed getting back to riverside and am trying to decide where I will fish tomorrow.

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The Boss above 10,000.

The Boss in the woods with her hiking club.  They get after it!

I have talked about it before; these folks keep after it.  Often going above 10,000 they knock off 3 or 4 miles anyway.  So, think you are in shape?  Try starting at 9,000 feet and cover another 1,000 up then back down, both tough in their own way.  Trust me it is work and they are “old folks”.  She is living her best life.  (Not counting my sick BS.)  She may be heading to Iceland this fall then the biggy – the Eagle Fest in Mongolia next year as this year is already sold out.  The girl likes to travel like I like to fish.

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Velvety Smooth

I happened to be cooking some breakfast when I looked out the window and here they came along the hillside.  There was 8 or 10 and by time I got the camera some had moved on.

A few of the boys who came through the yard this morning.

It won’t be long before we start knowing each one by their antlers.

It has been amazing to watch as they have really started to grow.  We do not see them as much right now but that will change soon.

This guy is headed towards wide.

To bad I did not get the big one.  He was already split twice and looks like he might be the star of the neighborhood.  But there is lots of time and growing to go and it will be fun to watch all the way to the rut when things get really interesting.

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Kockin Tails and the Glades

Wow!  Michael, the owner of Knockin Tail lures with a super snook.

He is on a multi-state tour from Louisianna to the Glades and has been tearing up everything from trout, reds, and some serious snook.  I have used that bait since day 1 and was happy to fish with it during the development phase.  I am proud to have had some serious input in the development and Michael continues to improve the product line.  The variety of fish that have come over the side on the Knockin Tail cannot be over emphasized.  If it has gills and fins it will eat a Knockin Tail.  Congrats on the trip so far.

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Beaver Lake

Hard to deal with the crowded waters.

I am really developing a love hate relationship with the lake closest to the house.  It is beautiful but at times the fishing confuses me.  It was supposed to have Kokanee salmon in it but last year I caught one in spite of giving it the old college try.  Last time I was at the game and fish office I asked about stocking and she looked it up and they stocked 20,000 fingerlings last year. So unsure of how fast they grow I have tried a couple of times this spring to catch one and the only luck I have was losing a small one at the boat.  So maybe next year they will be big enough.

Plenty of these but not what I was after.

But my problem with the lake this year is it looks like they stocked a bunch of smaller rainbows with small being the operative word.  It seems to be interfering with catching the better ones.  At Echo Lake this spring before they stocked the trout were nice and really solid.  So not sure what the Beaver issue is but now that I am finally feeling better will start to expand my travels. There are tons of lakes in the area and maybe the fishing is a little better in those.  Or maybe when things settle down on Beaver the fishing will improve.  But it does seem stupid to bitch when the problem is not catching what I want but catching plenty of fish.

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I really want to thank those of you who commented, you know who you are.  A little feedback is so appreciated as it has been a tough run.  But as long as I can pick up a rod and reel things are good.  So thanks again, your comments mean a lot to me.

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Otherwise, it is “sort of busy” around here but according to some folks I have spoken with visitation is down and it is leaving a mark.  This is the time many make that extra to get them through the winter.  Most attribute it to the price of gas.  How is that promised $2 a gallon gas working out for you?  But it is good to see folks hiking, fishing, floating, and 4 wheeling.  This area is God’s country for folks who love the outdoors as there is a world of things to do here.

Today is the city-wide (And I use the term city loosely.) garage sale and the Boss is out there without adequate supervision.  And as we all know there is always something that is just too good a deal to pass up.  I on the other hand am finishing this post, checking on a bid from a contractor for driveway work, then deciding where to fish Monday followed by some basketball.  Who knows, may sneak out in the morning for some fly fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors

I know it has been a while since I posted but my health continues to be sketchy.  One thing leads to another and much of it is related to my meds.  After the big diabetes snafu, which I am still dealing with daily, now it is a really tough anemia.  The last few weeks I just could not figure out why I was so tired, but lab work figured that one out.  So, another complication in a long line that I have had to work out but hopefully that will be sorted out soon.  It has kept me down some and every day is different but in spite of that we have been out and about some.

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WYOMING

We decided to take a short trip and so we looked on the map and choose a small town, Lander, about 2 hours from the park and 9 hours from the house which made it a good one-day drive.  It was in a great area to see wildlife, and it did not disappoint.  It was on the reservation, and the road north ran along the Wind River Range.  On the way up we saw literally hundreds of antelope but that was just a smidgeon of things to come.

The Tetons!

We headed out a to the park at daylight the first day, and it turned into a take your life in your hands kinda trip.  From living in Texas to driving the roads in Colorado I thought we had seen deer, but no, until it got full on daylight it was crazy.  It was a little over 100 miles to the park and the road was lined with farmland, and it was literally hundreds and hundreds of mule deer.  It was something.   And mixed in was a few elk and moose.  What a drive.

Spectacular!

The backdrop in the Tetons is amazing.

The elk were out and about.

Much of the park is still closed and the back way into Yellowstone was the turn around point; I think about 30 miles.  As we drove in and out it was hard not to reflect on the administrations ongoing attempt to open much of the public lands, especially adjacent to the parks for mining, drilling, and logging.  That we would in any way endanger our public lands like that is criminal.  It is always empty promises on how the clean-up will be done, which ends up being a lie.  All you have to do is Goggle Super Fund sites to see that industry cannot be trusted to clean up and restore the land.  There are 1,840 sites in this country that have to be cleaned up so don’t tell me they can be trusted to do the right thing.

We spotted this guy way off as he browsed.  What an old war hoss.

On the way back to the hotel we spotted this big guy browsing in the creek bottom.  Pictures do not do him justice, he was as big as our 4Runner.  Huge nose, big wattle, sway back, this was a real one and he was kind enough to keep a watchful eye on us but not run off.

We glassed him for quite a while before he gave us a look at his face.

Such an interesting creature.  They are a rare spot for us and we watch them as long as they let us.  In fact, on the way up that morning, we did see these guys.

This was the first moose we saw.  Nancy got it with her iPhone while I was shooting his family.

These guys were right by the road and real spooky.  We always keep in mind that they are wild animals and while many of the animals in the parks are habituated, the ones outside are wild animals that do what they want when they want to and you can never tell what is next.

Momma and her second year.  Our first “different” encounter.

And once we got close to the park, they had opened many fences and in one area the bison were on the roadside eating the new grass.  Wyoming was not as far along as we are and that new grass had everything prowling the roads and caution was the better part of valor.

The gate was open and the bison were feeding on the green grass roadside.

It was a successful couple of days and the fishing opportunities there are plentiful.  Unfortunately, many of the lakes were down as they are in so many places.  Many lakes here in Colorado are down significantly. In Texas Lake Corpus Cristi and Canyon Lake are almost dry and in Nevada Lake Mead is only 7 foot above the outflow which will cause some serious issues all the way to the west coast.  Water is going to be a real issue in this country if it is not addressed in some serious ways.  But don’t count on it, the politicians are bought and paid for.

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We took a look see drive yesterday morning and the critters were definitely out and about.  We saw probably 50 -75 Bighorn ewes and one bunch of 7 or 8 rams.  And surprisingly we saw a herd of elk on the move.  I got a few shots but as they were that far out, they are just too blurry.  And we wanted to check on the coyote den but did not see any movement around it.  We went a little bit farther when the Boss spotted a bush with ears and it was a coyote.  We stopped to glass it and another one that was close by got up and started moving.  They both headed back to the den area and disappeared.  Looks like we should see some pups soon.

Saw plenty of sheep today.

We were headed to an area called Clear Creek.  There are actually 3 roads in that area and only one was open.  The feds are sticking with the opening of the roads May 15th, so we took the open one.  I had driven it in the past and there is a great stretch of creek with an easy walk and wade so as soon as I am up to it that one is in the plan.

This young ram was collared.

We finally had a bear in the neighborhood.  It pulled a fence down across the street so it could get to the trash.  And speaking of animals down the street the Boss hiked a trail with a couple of friends which is close to the house, and they got real lucky on the way back as a momma bobcat had a little baby in her mouth as she apparently moved to summer quarters.  A few turkeys are still around, and one lonely gobbler keeps giving it his best effort and he actually had 2 hens with him the other day.  Spring has been spread out and with-it things have been different on the wildlife front, but living in South Fork every day is a new day and it never fails to amaze.

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BOUNDRY WATERS CANOE AREA

A long story short on the vote to allow mining on the border of the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.  First, it is a Chilean company with a terrible record that wants to mine the copper and sell it to China.  So here we go, America First? Hypocritical joke.  Why is that even an option as far as the company goes?  And then sell it to China, you have got to be kidding me.

Then there is the future disaster to come.  The proposed mine will be directly in the Boundary Water’s watershed drainage.  When a mining company says it will keep it clean just look up Super Fund sites, sure they will.  All I would say to their management; show me a mine, then take a water glass and dip it in your settling ponds and take a nice long drink.  Sure you will.  So as far as the environment goes it is not worth the risk.

And last, follow the money.  Somebody got paid and if you do not believe that you are delusional.  It is always a part of crap like this.  If the area has any ethical journalists the story is there to be written.  And if the DOJ was not full of worthless spineless punks, they should start an investigation but that is not happening.  The whole thing is wrong on all levels.

The fight is far from over.  We rallied some of the companies that rely on us.  REI, LL Bean, Sims, to name but a few.  Their profits come from folks like us who use and love public lands.  Time for lure companies, gun companies, clothing, etc need to step up.  Your profits do not come from a Chilean mining company so help us out.  The fight goes on and we must keep after it and explore every possible way to defeat this fiasco.

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Sorry for the dearth of reports and the disjoined nature of this one.  But things have been a little crazy around here.  The Boss will be headed to Portugal in a week and if things work out health wise, I will be headed to McPhee to catch some smallmouth and walleye.  But I am thankful for every day I get no matter how they come.  So keep stopping and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors

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Now that’s a fish!

As I began my reading on Colorado lakes ones stood out to me – Blue Mesa.  The 2cnd largest lake in Colorado, 2 hours from here, the pictures I was seeing of the lake trout, and the stories, had me really interested.  Of course, the last 6 months have been hard with the medical stuff, but I am feeling pretty good, spring is here, so time to hit the lake.

One thing that is always nice to do when going to a completely new lake, especially with the Colorado regs which often seem to be written by someone who is relatively clueless, is get the lay of the land.  In my research I came across a website for GSO a family company in Gunnison.  They usually give a complete lake and fishing report once a week and it gives anyone with half a brain a good place to start.  So I kept up with them, and the last time we were in the area even visited the store to meet all of them.  Trust me on this, they are the real deal, and it was only a matter of time before I hired Andy to fish the lake, and boy was that a good decision.

A bucket list fish.  40″ 31lbs.

When he pulled it out of the net we just started laughing, what a pig.

The big laker pattern and catching is a early spring or late fall thing and since it was ice out a month early time to go.  He decided to fish an area that the ice had just left, and I am a good customer, listen to the guide.  It was supposed to be calm, and as fishermen all know the best laid plans, but he had it under control.  Andy uses a pontoon boat, not only good for putting more customers on the boat, but his method requires plenty of room and good electronics and a trolling motor that would pull a semi.  I just want to say this before I go on about him and his guides, they are great.  In this era where everybody and their brother thinks they are a guide GSO is a cut above.  I have fished with guides in many places in the US and abroad and take my word for it, he is one of the great ones.  He worked hard and his attention to detail put them in the boat.  Nice to fish with a real pro.

All the big ones get measured and weighed so there is no confusion, then released.

His integrated system with downriggers and FFS, combined with his knowledge of the lake pretty much guarantees something will happen, and boy did it.  The first bite was the biggest of the day, and easily my personal best lake trout.  Out of about 40′ of water, it felt heavy, and when he slid it in the net we both started laughing.  I do not care who you are, a laker over 30lbs is a whopper.  It was tough with the wind, but he handled it like a real pro, and we managed to add a couple of brown trout and one pup laker.

Then a bonus fish jumped on.  34″ 24lbs.

When we were getting ready to quit this one jumped on and absolutely put on a show.  It fought way harder than the bigger one.  A real bulldog it put up an epic fight.  All I have to say about the morning, it has me fired up.  The lake is full of lake trout, browns and rainbows, which happens to be the lakers favorite meal as they get bigger.  And as a side note there are tons of perch with no limit and catches of hundreds are not uncommon.  Plus, the pup lakers are plentiful and can be kept.  Blue Mesa is a fish factory.

Andy knows how to hold them.

For what they do at GSO the pontoon is the way to go.  Really comfortable on a windy day.  And you can take the kids; all they have to do is reel them in.

In fact I spoke with him today and he had a family out and they ended up boating around 4o, mostly browns.  The big laker pattern is for the hardcore, no guarantees.  The reason I bring that up is what a great way to take the kids and let them catch fish.  The boat can handle a crew, and he is the kind of guy who will take care of the kids.

We did catch one “pup” lake and a couple of browns.

This is a perfect example of a pup laker that can be kept.  With plenty of trout and perch a good sack full is not out of the question.   I cannot tell you the amount of useful information I gleaned from the day.  It was so refreshing to spend time with a fisherman, as in multi species guy who has fished lots of lakes and tournaments, even fished Bull Shoals, so we were good for the morning.  A word of thanks, he squeezed me in with his dance card full.  But he has a bunch of serious guides that work with him any of which can take care of you.  So take a look at his site it would be hard to recommend him any higher.

GSO Fishing  –  GSO Fishing – Premium Tackle & Guided Fishing Trips

The Boss is headed out of town late next week and I will be watching the weather closely and if it cooperates I can take the boat and fish 3 or 4 days.  Until then the rivers and creeks are all opening so the fly rod will be out along with at least one more trip to a different lake before Gunnison happens again.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My CoastOutdoors

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The River

With the warm weather we are having the ice is really starting to melt on area creeks, river, and lakes.  After a little drive yesterday to confirm where it was fishable the Rio Grande looked pretty good so that was my choice for a quick trip this morning.  Once I got to my favorite hole it was hard to believe how low the river is.  I was able to see the whole bottom there, something I have not seen before.  But it was clear why they are there on a regular basis.

They were all basically the same size but fun on the super light equipment.

But guess what?  They still bit after I choose a micro jig and hellgrammite plastic and threw it on a true UL rod and reel with 4lb fluorocarbon.  It did require a perfect cast to the rocks, which not only was a product of the clear water but the 40mph wind did not help.  Too bad as I was wanting to throw the fly rod, but the wind was way above my abilities.  But good thing about the brown trout on the river they are aggressive and love lures.  As soon as the wind lays it looks like it will be a dry fly period until and if the water comes up.

These are a few of the 8 or 10 I managed to catch.

So while it was good this morning it looks like it is going to be a different year.  We need water desperately but not sure we are going to get it.  There is still snow on the big mountains but not near what is needed.  It could be tough on the guides this summer so will have to wait and see if the water comes.  Snow is the life blood of this area and no matter the reason things are changing.

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The Lake

This lake is full of fatties.  Smoked trout pics to come, they are pink.

I fished the lake twice since posting last and they are still eating it up.  There is not much they won’t eat and whether trolling or casting the bite is good.  Rapala, rattle bait, Knockin Tail, basically anything else thrown at them.  And it has been enjoyable to use a good graph, still learning the side view but it sure is cool.  While the fishing on that lake is fun time to move on as more water opens up.

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Lenticular Clouds

The alien clouds of the San Luis Valley.

We saw several different ones driving back from Pueblo.  

A weird cloud it is common in mountain areas with wind blowing over them.  There are big tales of aliens here in the valley, so who knows, but they are cool looking.

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Random picture.

This view at both sunrise and sunset is a common occurrence here in the valley.  Pretty to look at but also the witching hour.  A mule deer or elk just might jump out and rearrange the face on your truck.  But the view never gets old.

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 There is travel in our future next week we are just having a hard time committing.  In 2 weeks, the Boss will be heading up north for a week to visit her family and mom which opens that up for me to go to wherever.  Then at the end of April, she heads to Portugal on a 10-day hiking trip, which again leaves me foot loose and fancy free.  I think McPhee will be on the list then.  Any lake with no limit on smallmouth and walleye is my kind of lake so doing the research now.  No matter what I am fishing somewhere different next week.  Retirement is a thing of beauty.  Good thing the boat is mobile on a moment’s notice.

Things are going good on the health front, but I am sick of doctors and medicine.  On the other hand, it is keeping me alive and feeling good so little complaint in that department.  And the insurance company sprung for the fancy blood sugar reader which has eliminated sticking myself 4 times a day.  All I have to say on that front is thank God for great insurance, it is criminal how expensive medical care is, but our government is unable to work together to fix it.

Enough of that.  It is beautiful out here right now.  The only complaint would be the wind has been howling for days and looks like it will continue a couple more.  Besides the warm weather the wind actually plays a role in breaking up the ice so there is that.  So, keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines