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2024

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2025

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September 11th,   (Lets never forget) 2024

          Woke up about 7 and lazily made breakfast and sat down with the Word. Filled online orders, took a good dump, gathered my fishing stuff laying on the porch where I left it the day before. Piled it into my high milage vehicle hoping it would once again make it to the stream..... and back. Hit a deer two weeks ago and can't afford another decent beater.  Eased out the driveway about 10.  It was an easy drive to the canyon.  I like to show up late, after the big hatches have finished, and everyone is leaving; because the fishing is no longer easy. Checked the flows. Running at 260 CFS, nice flow for this time of year. Seeing the trucks head out brings a smile.  I do love being on the water without humans, quiet nature.  Thank you Lord.

          I started the day, out on the upper tailwater and caught the end of a Trico hatch. Water temps were good. I slowly put on a new leader (7X).  There are a few people above me and below me 'nymphing', 'during a hatch'.   I went to a Trico and caught those still rising (two nice Browns 15-17")   After about a half hour the hatch was over and I was alone (grin).  A joy that never gets old. The fish were down now, they were tired, tired of eating, tired of getting chased around by humans, tired of yahoos mishandling them.  I slowly work my way down stream changing flies, trying to get sight of any showing.  I worked closely along the banks and rocks, once in a while I encouraged them to come up and look.  Thankful and always admire the fish that I catch. The day was not a big numbers day, I only caught a few, that is, landed in my net. Water was cold and clear, completely clear, totally clear, like an aquarium. The water flows have been great this summer for the wildlife, for the environment, mostly for the fish and bugs. The water was full of nice, beautiful, bright fluorescent green moss, that waved back-and-forth under the water, and kept the nymphers away. Took me a few hours to fish the water down to the big turn.  I sat on the bank and enjoyed my PB&J, and the wonder of it all.  Walked the beaten path back around the stream.  The conditions changed in the last few hours. I fished my way down the same stretch of water.  A few fish were rising and the fly selection changed, I fished for a few more hours. Fish continued rejecting the flies I presented.  Thank you Lord for the day and all the things that You showed me. Headed back to my car, offed my gear, was thankful the engine started. Quiet ride home (except for the political robo text messages, seems like its very important that I get out my vote for Harris and Trump) to a little cabin on top of the mountain, it was a good day.

September 12, 2024

          It was a crisp fall morning. The sun is out, at 9,400' up, you notice when the sun's out. Headed down my driveway about nine in the morning hoping to catch some of the Trico hatch. The days are numbered now for the Trico's.  I'm sure it will be asses to elbows fishing. The Aspen's in the high country are starting to turn gold, it's good to be alive. Radio is playing 'again light rain' by Taj Mahal as I wait for the deer to pass. I find myself driving way too fast on an old dirt road somewhat anxious to catch the remaining hatch.  I put on my theme song, music to put me in to that magical mystical frame of mind. I come around bend, looking for my favorite parking spot and unbelievable there's no one there. I arrive on the stream and there's a few fishermen on the water, but no bugs, no risers. Nothing going on. Sitting on the bank waiting, waiting, waiting, then lo and behold the hatch starts again. Rises in the bait water. Catch a nice rainbow and I notice over under the ponderosa, by the bank, a lunker is making a lot of noise feeding. Long cast to the noisy one, inspects and wakes my fly away, changed to a smaller fly, same pattern, seven casts, with a long drift, nails it and dives into the long moss. I go to untangle. Success, working into the thin water, into the net. Yo very nice brown, fat with great color and about 19 inches. (The nymphers we're all holding hands and circling the deeper pools singing Kumbaya.) Sun disappears, and so does the hatch, the wind picks up. Soon the water is mine, and I can't get a rise. For hours wading downstream. Put on a big caddis, its late afternoon, in some fast water.  Watching my fly drift in front of a boulder, a big mouth appears, set the hook, splash and gone. Broke off. Reminder to self: put on a big fly in fast water, don't stay on 7X.  Another fish stuck in my brain.  It was a good day. 

September 18, 2024

         Sorry got lost in life for a few days......... Getting my beater (Scuby Blue) fixed again, sometimes being poor is inconvenient, but wouldn't trade it.  Mornings are getting cold now. Last night Full Moon was one worth being in. It was a TRIPLE some say, a Full Moon, a Super Moon, a Blue Moon, and a Partial Eclipse. That was fun, I like fun.  Sorry.... Fishing.... is back on, and as I said the mornings are getting cold, I don't like cold, so I'm slipping out as the sun's getting higher in the sky. Flows are starting to head down now (111 CFS today) in Fall and the Fly 'Fisherpersons' are becoming fewer in number, and nymphing is more prevalent. But, still time to catch those few on top, looking to get FAT for the winter. 
Heading out at 11 o’clock.  Break out the winter clothes, the forecast has snow. Did I mention the BIG Full Moon? That means the fish were chowing down all night.  It’s noon, 58°.  Gentlemen that was just leaving said the Trico was still coming off, but the fish were not rising (Moon). It's actually very nice out with a few layers.  Found a nice run down to a boulder. A few fly 'fisherpersons'. (So I ask you, what do you call a person that is  Fly Fishing now???  it's XY or XX.... and it's not ok that you think you're a cat today, the masculine and feminine run throughout all creation. As Louis says "gender is a reality and a more fundamental reality than sex...a fundamental polarity which divides all created beings".     Wow...   Don't see any hook ups.  Only see one very occasional riser.  He takes a Trico, another nice brown.  The few humans there, disappeared.  So quiet.  Not a lot to talk about today, (except the wind),  just beautiful, the fish were sleeping it off.   It was a good day. 

September 20, 2024.
         Heading out to catch the evening hatch. It’s a beautiful day.  A lot of moon last night, consequently….

Time is 3:00, 107CFS  69 degrees, Friday.  Parked... out-of-stater appears, asking to buy a water.  Gave her my frozen water.  She 'drank'.  Not seeing any Fisherpersons.  Start out with a Griffiths Gnat to nothing rising. Went down to a #24 Adams. Headed downstream. Is this going to be another fish don't want to play day?  It is amazing here, all the colors are showing off.  Went to a Caddis.  No rises.  Went to a BWO #22.  Took off my 7X, and hit the rapids with an Adams #14, if they won't take interest, I'll hit them over the head.  Time 5:00...  Off to the side was some skinny water, floated the big boy down.  Boom, game on.  Long run into moving water.  My 3wt was doing well.  Tried to wear him down. Patience is a virtue. Note to self: get a bigger net.  He was a brute, Cut-Bow, lined him up to 22".   It's hard to get a good photo.  Thank you Lord.  Well my day just got better. Eased him back in.  Moved to the other side up the bank and laying in the mud/grass was an enclosed tube about 30" with 'WET FLY' on the side, had no idea what might be inside (oh be a great bamboo rod)....  Pulled out my apple, honeycrisp, great this year.  Loud splash behind me, Osprey  (sun in my eyes) snatching a nice trout.  Cool. Very cool.  Continued down, looking for another Cut-Bow.  Nothing, nothing rising. Headed upstream to get into the sunlight.   Gentleman downstream came up to chat.  'What the heck are they taking?' he inquired.  Did not have a good answer for him.   Nice guy in his white cowboy hat.  A pastor in the city, knew the church.  We both shook our head as the sun was setting, and headed out.  It was a good day. 

September 24, 2024

         Went to a pig roast this weekend, saw a pig in a hole, covered by dirt, cooked for most of a night/day.  Great food, good people and a few beers.  I want more of that in my life.  Snowed a little last night.  Read a quote over the weekend 'If you can't fish Dry Flies, You're missing the point'.  Liked the way it sounded.  The fish are getting very picky on what and when they eat.  The flows are low, the water slow and very clear, and the moss is turning brown and above the water. Where you previously could cast, is now very difficult and the fishing is technical at best.  The earth is turning, days are shorter, yesterday was  the full equinox. Fishing is slow motion now, colder, slower takes,  fewer humans, kids in school.   Arrived on the water at noon.  No one around. 107CFS and 54 degrees. Sun was out. It was drop dead gorgeous, the trees are bright with color. Unbelievable the things of God. There were a variety of small bugs passing by.  And every once in a while a rise. Hooked a bunch, and netted a few.  Once hooked they were deep in the moss breaking me off.  It's spring creek fishing.  Spent a fair amount of time just looking, watching, taking pictures.   Around 3:00 over by the bank was a layer of moss/grass out of the stream flow, a blanket of protection from this mad, mad, world.  The shadows and sun were playing tricks to the eye, but I noticed a slice of sunlight underneath the moss and a very nice trout  periodically eating on top.  With my phone I videoed the hansom lad.  The zoom took me right in....nice.  I then videoed my presentation.  He took, got it on video.  Cool.   Fun, I like Fun. The lad was a 18" Cut-Bow.  Headed out about 6:00.   It was a good day.

September 25, 2024

        Woke up to a beautiful Indian summer day.  Reading the word today.... 'At His word, these ritual cleansing jars, the -utensils of legalism- become the vessels of abundant life'. My friend whom I love, asked to go with me today to enjoy the beauty I shared with them yesterday.  My antenna immediately starts to twitch, I'm always concerned when something like this messes with my normal routine. So I said sure that would be great and they asked me what time do you wanna leave?  I said 10:30 would make it easy for everyone. You should never ever be late for dinner.... or fishing. You know what I'm about to say;  it's now 11:15  and my friend is coming up the driveway.  Finish loading Scuby Blue, (included a chair for my friend) headed out.  On the way I noticed that most local men are doing the ZZ Top thing.  Feeling like a host, I said things like 'on the right is my favorite boulder'.   Its Noon, 71 degrees, 107 CFS.  Feel like I need to explain everything I'm putting on.  Brain is engaged way to much here.   Pointed to a trail, and headed the opposite direction. Ok, follow this path, at the Y stay left through the bushes until you hit water, I'm the person in the water. Enjoy, look around, please.           Fishingggggggg..........a few rising, surprised to see a hatch at noon time.  I was at the infamous ROCK,  hooked a nice rainbow, then hooked a whopper that took me for a ride, jumping, running, guy down stream hooting, boom, gone in the moss. BIG fish!  That was fun.  Then,,,,, my friend showed up, 'hey catch a fish so I can video it'. Now disoriented, my leader gets tangled.  Explained that I was going to move downstream. Got another tangle.  Sat with my friend and enjoyed  lunch. An osprey hit the water upstream and flew off with a nice trout......Thought this was catch and release water.   It was a good day.  (Woke up last night mumbling, 'big fish big fish'.) 

September 27th, 2024

        Hurricane Helene came through Anna Maria Island, last night.  My place there was sitting in five feet of water. The island was devastated.  The Gulf joined the Bay, waves coming over the island. Quote from the local paper 'The island's southernmost city on Sept. 29th was surveyed. and it was determined Bradenton Beach was 90%-95% destroyed.  The city was deemed a "catastrophic area" '.  But God..  Fishinggggggg.........   Was another beautiful day here.  Folks coming off the water said the hatch was incredible, and all the fish were rising everywhere..... Even a Texan could catch one on a fly rod!  I was fishing back a few, and a Texan asked 'got some of that fly bait' ?  I didn't have a good answer for him.  Hatch was done and the fisherpersons have all disappeared, texans were the first to leave. The Texas version of Bigfoot is known as Wooly Booger, sounds about right.  Sun was on me and it was raining, I was standing in a gold medal stream with no-one around ,  very nice sensation.  Not a fish to be seen.  Sat down and ate my apple, under a short bush, Fuji, good apples this year.  Headed upstream and walk out from under the cloud.  The rain stopped and the sun was warm.  Give me just a few rises!  Did not catch a single fish today, skunked.  It was a good day.  

October 2, 2024

       Every day you fish adds a day to your life. Awake early, Indian summer won't last for ever.  Is there still a morning hatch?  On the water at 8:10, and its chilly, 45 degrees, 102 FPS.  Sun has not reached the water yet in this section.  Only a few fisherpersons, a few bugs, a few risers.  Caught all browns, a few little guys, nice to see them populating.  Bugs were few and disappeared quickly.  Met a gentleman, Dave, (another white cowboy hat) that spends the winters in Arizona, and he ties his own flies. Showed me his #28 Tricos (tachi hooks), he ties them with 12" of 7X tippet tied on, and covers the eye with thread. Little buggers. Saw him downstream hooking up. Warmed up by noon, but the fish were not rising. Tried a variety of flies with no action.  Do I have to start nymphing?  Nope. Trees are losing their leaves. It was a good day.    

October 6th, 2024

        Headed out late Sunday afternoon.  Don't expect much to be happening, just nice to be out.  Sun was out, not people, I was alone. (grin) 64 degrees, 124 FPS, up country the flows are running at 51 FPS, so I know lower flows are a coming.  A few VERY SMALL bugs, and a few rising.  ( I have a lot of friends named Mark and one of them found this blog.   He id'ed some grammatical errors, and was hoping for a shout out in a few places, rightfully so. I'll make an effort to do so.. (love you Mark)  I flunked English all the way to my degree.)  Anywho, was having fun picking off some browns, rainbows, cut-bows on a #24 Adams.  I spent an hour staring at two medium size rocks over by the bank, one in front of the other,  in-between them was a whopper feeding.  Could not get a good drift,  great spot dude.  Things slowed down about 5:15, then 6:00 the sippers were active and I caught 10 rainbows in quick order, all the same size (12-14").  Guess school was out for the middle schoolers.  That was fun, I like fun.  Sun was down, headed home. News reached me that 'Milton' was quickly intensifying in the gulf, (water temp is 86) and had a bullseye on my candominium.   It was a good day.

October 9th, 2024

         Up early to join a friend and hike into a high mountain reservoir (11,700').  Car access was shut down a year ago, maintenance being done.  Big body of water incased by huge Ponderosa and Aspens, watering the people below.  Beautiful, clean, clear.  Lots of bear tracks and scat full of berries.  I've been trying to get my friend hooked on fly fishing for years, he's trying but it doesn't come easy to him.  Was hoping the fish would be cooperating for him.  No humans.  Saw a few rises.  Put on a stimulator and the second cast caught a nice rainbow.   The only fish we netted all day.  They were sipping something very small.  We tried a variety of flies.  Even used a spinner with a bobber and 18" of tippet out to the fly, to get some distance from shore.  Nothing.   We saw them cruising the shoreline, but would not take.  Great buddy time.   That was fun.  Clouds moved in with rain, glad no hail on the miles hike out.  Hurricane Milton was on my mind; prayers for all my friends in Florida.  Turned my phone off, don't want to hear all the noise about the storm. Whatever the Lord has for me, is where I want to be.  It was a good day. 

October 11, 2024. (TGIF)

         At the ROCK.  NOON. 59 degrees.  Hatch coming off.  Medium rainbows were eager, and sipping most any very small bug. (Browns were off making babies)  Went down to a 7X, 75 FPS.  A good 'Lefty' dry fly fisherperson fishing down below hooking up. I respect these purists, enjoying the elements.  I like fly fishermen, their outlook on life, their conversation or lack there of.  They went to eat lunch.  I worked my way downstream.  Presentation is everything today.  Being able to see your tiny fly and leader.  Floating that fly gently on the surface, leading the way downstream in a natural flow. That's fun, I like fun.  Lipped 4 nice trout, ate lunch (no apple). Fished until 4ish.  Heard my home on AMI was still there ! Thank you Lord.   Had a scotch and went to view the aurora borealis in a 'Dark Sky' location.  Too much moon.  But close by was an elk rut, a herd of about 50, and the bull was bugling!  It was a good day.  (Added a day to my life)   

 October 14, 2024  (Columbus Day)

     She had crazy red hair.  Said 'this place is very spiritual'.  I said 'yes all kinds of spirts here, be careful'.   She was driving a new Porsche with California tags. I went to the stream. Hey what do you know, she was right, God is everywhere.  About noon again and a small hatch was on.  Trico again.  Don't these fish ever eat anything else.  Would love to see some vicious takes on a large fly.  Not a fisherperson around, just some hikers. Been fishing the same water now for 3 months. Getting to know every subtle change in the fish, water, bugs, weather, people.  Starting to name the fish.  Like one eyed Jack.  Rocky at the ROCK.  Pond under the Ponderosa.  Sweet Cuttie under the moss/grass. (Best I could do on short notice)   Wonder if they will be here next year.  Trees/bushes --> Buds to Blooms to Color to Brown to Naked, repeat.   Caught a few nice cut-bows and rainbows. I'm missing the browns.  Warm days are disappearing fast. Election just days away.  Everyone is freaking out.  The late John Prine said, 'half an inch of water and you think you're gonna drown'.  Sure do miss John.  It was a good day.     

 Taking care of Mark's fish while he's in Italy. (yes another Mark)  He said I can't test my dry flies in his tank.  

November 9, 2024

        I started this Blog late in the summer of 2024.  I'm packing things up to head out of here before winter sets in and go thin my blood, in a place I hope is still there.    I will return to the mountains next summer for more......                         'Dry Fly Fishing'.

It was a good summer.