The River Damsel

Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover ~ Friday's Grab Bag

2012-02-24T18:48:00.001-07:00

Well it's a Friday night and I am all tuckered out from my fishing day... What kind of day, you ask? Tune in tomorrow for Sunday Tippets. Until then, I have a little book review in the good ol' grab bag!

A few weeks ago, a fellow employee came over to my desk to tell me that he was planning on selling his house and moving to the other side of the state. I was surprised when he asked me if I would be interested in some fly fishing books that he had collected and no longer wanted. Now, why would I say "no"??? When he came in the next morning, he had a stack of books...Not bad, eh?

Of course, it was one of the longest days at work. I kept looking over at this pile of books, wanting to browse each one! Finally, I had to put them under the desk. Haha. (I'm very bad about presents under the Christmas tree too!!) Well...it didn't help that he told me that there were notes and directions in the "Guide to Utah" of all his favorite fishing holes. : ) When I got home, I did a quick glance with each book and decided that there was one that was pretty fun. One that was different than all the rest... I found a book that would be perfect for anyone that is just getting into fly fishing or that wants to increase their knowledge about it.

The book is entitled, "Catch That Fish"...The Essential Guide To Fly Fishing Tactics. Sounds kind of silly, doesn't it? Well, friends...this book isn't silly at all. In fact, it is the best deal I've seen at $7.99 (special value price that my friend paid a few years back) and even a better deal as I got it "free"!! Peter Gathercole is the author and his insight and knowledge are very well illustrated by the brief write ups on fly selection and techniques. He talks about everything from what equipment and clothing is used to species of fish to how to tie some of the most common fly patterns. What is a rainfed river, a chalkstream, a spate river? I'm still pretty new to all of this I guess...I had never heard of those names...So, I have really been enjoying this "drop in my lap"! It even has tips on how to fish stillwater; small and large lakes and reservoirs. The hardcover book was published in 1999. But, I don't believe that it is outdated by any means...And the hints to matching the hatch and where to cast are going to be tested by this River Damsel very shortly! Hey, I always welcome improvement...

My favorite part about this book has to be the split pages!! Each section tells you how to fish that particular area of water on the top half and then gives you helpful "try these first" flies on the side of the page. Then, all you have to do is flip the bottom part of the book to that fly to match up... Ok...I like interactive books, I guess! I know, this might sound "elementary" to some, but it is a great way for someone to learn about fly fishing or just brushing up on their skills. The fly patterns are very large and colorful and really bring the fly to life. You can really see the detail which is great also. You can pick up this book "used" on several sites on the internet. If you want to add a book to your collection...give this one a try! And you can get it on the cheap... What's better than that?? : )

Oh...and that wasn't all I received from my friend who was tossing things out. Are you ready?

Hmmm...Where to put these?

Oh, No You Don't!!...Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2012-02-19T14:51:00.005-07:00

I really don't know how to better describe the events of yesterday's fishing trip, except to show a few pictures. I believe that they will tell it all. In the end, I decided that I need new fishing gear... Knee guards...or just better judgement.

Minus the hocky stick, of course.

There is this term called "Combat Fishing"...it usually relates to the density of fisherman on the river. But, in my case, it means...one River Damsel in a stretch of stronger current with one 20 + inch brown trout. (You will have to forgive the missing picture of the actual battle...needless to say, there wasn't time to take a few pics!

A freshly fallen 8 inches of snow welcomed me as I started my journey...

I was excited to try out my new 10' 4wt fly rod...

but, because I left my Lamson reel at home, the low cost back-up had to be used.

The first catch of the day was this "teenager" of a Brown Trout.

The new rod had been "initiated"...

Then, I had it in my mind that there would be bigger fish down by the bridge.

And I was right.

BEFORE...

Then, this is where the story goes...downstream!! In more ways than one.

I really want to blame this mishap on the lousy back up reel, but it could also be the angler involved. : ) This reel was supposed to come with some sort of drag system! I couldn't tighten it up...And all of a sudden, it was reeling out of control with a 20 plus brown on...He showed me his head and yellow tail once as he pulled away yard by yard. Oh, I wanted this guy!! But, he was determined to go back down deep. My rod had a beautiful bend in it...if we are looking for something postive about this experience! Sooner than expected though, I was to the backing of my line. Now, it was nervous time. He was too far away from me going downstream and the shear force made me stumble over some jagged rocks underneath. My knees screamed in pain. Still holding on to my fly rod with every bit of strength I had left, I tried to reach back for my clippers. I was not going to lose a new rod by golly!! But, before I could find them and cut the line...

Mr. Brown...broke off. Insult to injury! : ( Well, at least I saved my line, I guess!

AFTER...

And my suspicions of what might happen if I fell hard enough one day were answered. Patagonia makes a good wader. But, I totally believe in reinforced knees, which my first Cabelas waders had...I wouldn't have had the holes, I don't believe. Now, hopefully the patch kit fixes them...

And finally home to give it a rest...a few scrapes to the hands and a few bruises to the knees and ego. Whether I could have brought that fish in with a different reel is beside the point. The "reel" factor was that I wasn't in an area that I should have been in. Yes, it was a spot that had a lot of boulders and pockets water. Good holding spots for trout. My sense of balance is not as good as others. And the current was stronger than I should have ventured out in. So, my tippet today would be to fish in those waters that are in your comfort zone. Don't risk your safety for a silly ol' fish! (even 20 + browns) Hindsight. I think it's time for the hot tub.

Bear...Errr, Bison Watch At The Lamar

2012-02-17T00:00:00.003-07:00

Last year, I had a Picasa failure with my pictures that were connected to about three months of posts...vanished, gone! So, I am re-creating a few of my favorite posts and applying photos once again! For those who already commented on the story, thank you! And for those newcomers that might not have read this story about one of my times on the Lamar River in Yellowstone...one of the most perfect habitats for fly-fishermen...enjoy!

Another segment in my Yellowstone series...We move on to the Lamar River!!...In the summer of 2010, I had the opportunity to travel once again to Yellowstone National Park. It is one of my favorite places to visit and I usually try to make it an annual/semi annual trip. I went with a couple of friends and out of the 8 rivers that we hit in the 3 day period (yes, that was crazy), the Lamar River has to be one of the favorites. For sure, next time I go to the Lamar, it will be a full day wading this beautiful river. The most amazing thing was the emerald green of the water. And the rocks...absolutely beautiful. The Lamar River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River. It is approximately 40 mi. long and is located in the NE part of Yellowstone.

It is known for bears, bison and wolves in the area. When we entered the park, they had told us about the "Bear Watch" that was active in the Lamar Valley which was our destination...I always figured that the bear spray wouldn't help much because if the bear was close enough to spray, it was already way too close!!! Do you know what I mean? Well, I guess it does work, so I hear...We headed up in the late morning after stopping at the Gibbon River. As it was a little ways up the road and with the construction going on, we hoped that it would be worth the trip. It was!! My friends got started before me on the river...which is pretty usual as I am a lagger!

So, I am getting changed into my waders next to the car when I look in the side mirror and see this rather large bison coming towards the vehicle behind me. Now, I know not to harrass or get too close to Mr. Bison. I have seen them many times before on the roads up there. So, I figured that I better get inside and wait until he passed and was on his way down the road. While intently observing this animal, I was amazed at the massive body. I waited for Mr. Bison to change his direction and go across the road and up a hill before getting back out! You bet I did!! He didn't look like he wanted to play Monopoly, you know what I mean?

As I got out of the car, I looked down into the Lamar Valley and it was just breathtaking! A gorgeous place for sure. It is one of the most pristine places in Yellowstone and probably has the most wildlife to view (from a distance is better sometimes!) Bison were herding in the field across the road. Now, there was this "Bear Watch" that I was still a little nervous about. But, being with friends, I felt some comfort there. But, I was still going to be mindful of it... Did you know that bears love to fish too????

Well...it was time to fish! And fish, we did. I brought in a few cutties and a nice rainbow too. I love the rocks and rills of this river. Very picturesque. And there was an added surprise...little ducklings. They were adorable and very brave! They were right at my feet in a little pool of water and then, all of a sudden, off they went! Across the riffles to the other side! I don't know how they swam across the current, but they did. It was a rather warm summer day and I almost was ready for a swim myself! Ha. A lot of Caddis and PMD's...hoppers as well. Darn it all, if I didn't have one of those Lamar River Chernobyl's on hand! I hear they are the ticket...As you go towards the canyon, it gets rockier and a little more treacherous. But, the fishing is great. Heaven on earth is here at the Lamar. The river has deep pools, runs, and undercuts that are packed with native Yellowstone Cutthroat. The Lamar''s upper end has few fishermen, as you can tell by the way the cutthroat rises slowly from the bottom of a deep pool to snatch your fly! A few more bears, wolves and animals with teeth also!

So, we didn't go too much farther up, as we had excellent fishing where we were. The heaviest fished section of the Lamar is between Soda Butte Creek and the canyon. There is a wide open valley of about 7 mi. Even though it has the most fishermen visiting that part of the river, it has excellent fishing. The stream has some large boulders, plenty of riffles, runs, and lots of pocket water. We fished in deep pools too...we loved it all!! Trout in this section and the lower canyon section, where we were, are mostly cutthroats averaging from 12-14 inches and some up to 18-20 inches. There are also some rainbows and cutbows on the Lamar closer to the Yellowstone River. The river is just the right size for fly-fishing, big enough to hold large trout, but small enough so that even novice fishermen will have a pretty good idea where the fish are holding. And the sunsets...ahhhh.

Well, I am happy to tell you that even though I was looking over my shoulder most of the time for that bear that they told us about, there was no sign of him anywhere... Or maybe he just hid well!! I just had to put up with my friends who thought it was funny to make "bear noises" at me...RRAAwwrr!!!

Footnote: The fishing season in Yellowstone runs from Memorial Day to early November, but the best time to plan your trip is between July and September. Especially, if you are going to the Lamar...runoff usually takes until middle of July for the water to be at a good level.

My River "Scary"!

2012-02-13T22:34:00.007-07:00

The Outdoor Blogger Network (OBN) had a writing prompt this past week. They wanted us to write on our scariest moment outdoors. I have several to choose from, but the one that stands out the most was when I went fishing with some friends on my birthday a couple of years ago. I got quite a response from it the first time...so we will re-post it once again for this writing prompt from OBN...Enjoy now with a few embellishments...

Do you ever have the desire to try something new, not knowing what to fully expect? Usually, I will venture out and do something new as long as it's safe...Well...a few of my fishing buddies wanted to go do some night fishing. And it was my birthday to boot! So, it sounded like a fun time...I bought a headlamp and I thought that I was ready...Oh, yeah, I also grabbed some mice knowing that this might be the first time that I could actually catch a fish on one! But, no! That wasn't all I needed...as I was going to find out. I needed a secret service agent. Or a bouncer...or, Owl Jones! Yeah, that would have been more like it.

It was a nice summer evening in August. The sun was just starting to give way to shadows on the water. We had caught a few fish and were having a good time. As the darkness approached, I grabbed my headlight and adjusted it where I would need it. One step at a time, I carefully went into a pool of water just deep enough to give me a little apprehension, but the current was slow. I was a just a little nervous, being the first time on a pretty big river at night. The moonlight glistening on the river was quite beautiful. This river is famous for Brown and Rainbow trout. And the night fishing is supposed to be some of the finest that you can find.

I was quite excited about it all, until we hear, "Splash"! "Splash"! "Splash"! WTF(udge)!!! Rocks were being thrown at us from up above in the trees. The section of the Lower Provo has elevated banks that have thick brush and trees. We couldn't see who was throwing rocks, but this was not very funny, indeed! I really didn't want to get hit in the head. You couldn't see what direction the rock was coming from...so a pretty helpless feeling, if you know what I mean! We yelled back at them to stop the throwing...but, to no avail. So, here we were in the middle of a dark river, and nowhere to go as the missles were being fired at us, so to speak!

Ralphie would have taken care of things!

We called the Sheriff, as we stood in the river and they said that they would come and check it out. They were about a half hour away though. We thought about walking out, but then thought that we were actually safer where we were. We didn't want to get into any scuffle with them either. So, we stayed put. Rocks were being hurled at us and above our heads about every five minutes. It was not fun. I will say that. My legs were cramping up standing in one place. In the dark of the Provo River, I never thought that my birthday would be so adventurous! Or scary...I just wanted to throw a few mice. One of my friends, yelled out that he had a BB gun and he wasn't afraid to use it! (Although, he didn't have it on him at the time) Oh yeah, that did it. Silence...five min...ten min...were they gone?

We heard the Sheriff yell out to us that they had arrived. The combed the area and no one was there. So, we all waded out to meet the Sheriff and his search and rescue dogs. Ha! We gave our report and the last thing the Sheriff said to us, was..."If you are going back in to fish, have a good time!" Yeah, right! This night was finished. We all laugh about it now and have a code word "Splash" that we say between us when we fish on the river now. So, I guess that you could say, that fishing with me is...well, interesting! Adventure in every riffle...errr...pool of water, whatever! (And my term, "Incoming" is not related to this night in any way!) We all know the only "Incoming" yell is for brown trout being reeled in...don't we?

Hey...I swear this was in the Provo River...not in Mayberry.

This is more like it...these were the guys...

And for Jay and Howard, who commented before...no, those weren't woodchucks chucking wood!

The Secret To My Success...Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2012-02-12T05:00:00.004-07:00

Ok...who is kidding who? But, stay with me here. I've been trying to figure out why I have been struggling with winter fishing. And then it dawned on me... There was something that I haven't done for quite awhile...In fact, maybe not since I had my last good fishing day! Call me superstitious...but, it was time to find out if this one thing, this one little quirk (which has actually been a question in my head for awhile) ..could land some nice trout for me. So, I share with you...the secret to "my success".

It has something to do with this...

Having a BAD HAIR DAY!!

And something to do with this...

Going all NA-TUR-AL!!

It was hard to get out of bed and not put on the make-up,

do the hair, and "frost" myself just a little...

But who really needs to impress the fish anyway...right?

And here's more proof that it is me.

Nanner, nanner! No one has nails like I do!

Seriously, it was time to put up the hair and get down to business...

Like catching summer trout on the Madison River...

Yep...It turns out, that when the hair is up, the fish are too! When the hair is down...the fish stay down. It's crazy, I know...Now, this is just the secret to "my success". I'm sure that is doesn't apply to many other people. (At least I hope not!!) Sure, I can probably catch a few fish with long locks. But, as silly as it seems, I have much better concentration and focus when I don't have hair flying in my face. Haha. So...back to the basics for this River Damsel!! I was so ready to hit the river. After being skunked last time, the water looked perfect on a mildly pleasant, winter day.

And after twenty minutes..."INCOMING"!!!

The partridge soft hackle that I was swinging across stream, pulled up a BEAUTIFUL 16 1/2 (hey, I could have said 17, but I'm honest!!) Brown Trout! And here is where the story gets sad. In all the excitement of landing a nice, winter fish...I reached out and picked him up with my hands and removed the fly before reaching behind me for my net. A few wiggles and he was the next one to escape from Alcatraz! So, no glamour shot for my best catch of the day...I really need to learn to net first, hold fish second!! Lol.

SUNDAY TIPPET: This really isn't the secret to "my success". Fishing success...maybe! (We will have to "unfortunately" test this out a while longer...haha.) But, in life... My success comes from those around me. My family. Watching my kids grow up... And we capped this week off in high fashion!! A new chapter awaits the River Damsel in off line life. She has evolved...and soon...she will be hearing the words, "Gramma RD, will you take me fishing?"

My daughter Tammy and husband Brian had their first baby...a healthy and handsome boy, named Dillon!! Hmmm...MT?...Now, if you don't think that I'm going to tell this little guy about the Big Hole, Madison, and Ruby Rivers...Ok...maybe it's a little early. ; )

Hanging In There!

2012-02-06T23:01:00.029-07:00

Almost everything that happens in our lives teaches us some sort of lesson. Failures, twists and turns, and adversities might break us down and lessen our morale completely. But, we can make it through if we take things in stride. And learning from the bad experiences help make us stronger down the road. (Want to see my muscles?!) . Perhaps one should learn from every kind of experience whether good or bad. I believe that the happiest people don't have the best of everything...They just make the best of everything! : )

People who keep their chins up even in the most testing circumstances, can always end up making a lot out of their lives. (Even fly fishers...ha!) Sometimes, we have to put on a fake smile in rougher times, yet wishing that someone would look closely and see how we were really feeling. When you have a hunch that someone is having a bad day...go with your instincts! And act upon it. You could make all the difference. Even a simple act of kindness goes a long way. You can help make someone's frown go upside down... : ) A Snicker bar will do the trick for me!

Nothing happens by chance or luck. I truly believe that. Unless I hit the lotto or something!! (Well, yes...there is probably a reason for that happening too, but highly unlikely that I will ever find out!)

The people you meet effect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience in relationships can create whom you are. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally. Open your heart and see the little things. Appreciate everything that you can. If someone hurts you, forgive them because they have taught you about trust and the importance of being cautious when opening up your heart. Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there. I have had many of those moments in my life. These people can teach us lessons and help us find out who we are and what we want to become.

Yes, I have many thoughts in my head tonight...But, here is what this all leads up to... I am one that keeps trying until I succeed. Winter fishing... I have tried my darndest and have barely succeeded. One here, one there. Do I give up? I don't know. Tomorrow is Fish Tuesday...well, it could be Ski Tuesday if I was a smart girl. But, you see, I have this belief that "things happen for a reason". And I finally have a warm enough day tomorrow that will maybe make a difference. Maybe some fish will rise for some bugs!! Maybe I will be rejuvenated... I'm laying all the cards on the table. And if I come up empty handed...it's all good, because my skis are waxed and ready to go!

When To Take That Super Bowl Break...Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2012-02-05T08:39:00.035-07:00

My favorite...Meatballs and Smokies (recipe below)

Let's be honest...what is the one dilemma that we all have when it comes to the Super Bowl? It isn't what to serve to your guests for the big game...that's easy. Even though Super Sunday is the second largest eating occasion behind Thanksgiving, we find it pretty simple to stash away pretzels, chips, dips, beer, soft drinks, chicken wings, and pizza roll ups. And will you be part of the $4 million pizza orders for this day? No, the bigger problem is finding a moment to walk the hallway. We certainly don't want to miss one of the commercials! And you never know if there is going to be that play to turn around the game when you "head" off!

And in honor of Troutrageous's new little family addition...

Sunday Tippet: So...when do you take that break? Let's be honest here...most people watch the Super Bowl just as much for the commercials as the game itself! Oh, and if you thought that you could take your potty break before the game...well, you are defeated there too, as those pregame commercials are often just as good...My only solution to when the best break time is (outside of the boring halftime entertainment), would be this...When it is a total "blow out" (talking about the game!) or you make a realllly quick break at the beginning of a commercial that you know that you don't care about. (In time for the next commercial) My guess is that more of us will probably rush to the bathroom during the game so we don't miss the Doritos or Bud Light commercials. Just a hunch...

Now, back to the more important item of the day pertaining to food. You'll have to excuse me now, while I go throw those meatballs and lil' smokies into the crockpot!

3-5 lbs frozen cooked small meatballs or 3-5 lbs Lil' Smokies sausages...(I like half of each)
1 (32 oz) grape jelly
2 (12 oz) chili sauce (I use Heinz)

You can half this recipe very easily ! Then, it is perfect for 4-6 people.

Cover the meats with the sauces and leave for 5-6 hours. If you don't have that much time, defrost meatballs in microwave and then cook in crockpot for about 3 hours...Yummy!

RMNP FRENZY II...In The Works!

2012-02-02T01:11:00.003-07:00

Oh, don't let these guys scare you off...They are just part of the scenery at the Rocky Mountain National Park in CO.! And they are waiting to greet all of you fun loving, fly fishers to the RMNP FRENZY II !!!

Now, most of those who attended last year, were from the local vicinity of where the Frenzy took place...Ft. Collins, Co.! But, for some of us who have to travel, it might be nice to kind of calendar this event right now and start planning a bit. Who's with me?? If you participated last year, I hope that you had a great time. By most accounts, I believe that those who came out to meet, greet, eat, and fish (oh, yeah...that too) had a memorable experience. Of course, there are things that need to be tweaked a little bit and new places to pick out as well. And re-evaluating the spots we fished last year. Soooo many choices in this neck of the woods! The Big Thompson and The Poudre are waiting...Maybe the Colorado? The format will be the same...we will be fishing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Well. of course three days... that is why we call it a "FRENZY"!! Last year, I fished six or seven different creeks or rivers. : )

What's on my mind right now is the Frenzy II DATE! And this is where I need some feedback. I have everyone's emails from last year that attended last Oct. 1st. I have heard from a few people that want to join in from out of state and would like to come during the late summer Aug/Sept...Now, I know that since our get-together, there are even more bloggers from Colorado that might want to join in the fun... So, spread the word!! And if you are a newbie in joining us...and you think that starting the day with a group breakfast and ending it with a bent rod is your idea of fun...please drop me a line! There is an email link over there on the sidebar. Hope to see all of you there!! It's everyone's input that will make this year's event even better!

Take A Lift...Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2012-01-29T10:20:00.005-07:00

10,000 Ft. Up!

What comes up, must come down. Yes, this is a true statement...especially in snow skiing. I have skied now over 20 years...And I can tell you that there is this thing called gravity. If you didn't have gravity, skiing would be a carefree activity! No big deal...no effort! You could hover around for awhile... But, there is this gravity problem. In fact, there are huge amounts of it. And for most people, it takes many years of practice to skillfully tackle the gravity dilemma. Your ski areas are located smack dab on the top of giant piles called "mountains". Most ski resorts use snow makers, blowing the white stuff...errr...gravity at night! In fact, they are full steam ahead this winter since Mother Nature hasn't been too cooperative.

After the gravity is put into place, silly people like myself head up the canyons looking for fun in the sun...or clouds. We tackle powerful forces that are always trying to suck us into large fixed objects! We learn that the One Rule of Skiing Safety is: ``Never go up the mountain without knowing how to come down". And take lessons from a professional! I speak from experience on that one. For some of us, falling down in the parking lot and sliding off the chairlift at the top is the natural thing to do! Haha.

Relatives and friends always have the best intentions on teaching how to combat gravity. But, it truly is best to have a trained instructor to teach a skill that requires the upmost safety rules to do it properly. Back when I first learned to ski, four friends had good intentions...but, I got going a little too fast and out of control. The only way to stop was to find one of those large fixed objects! No, not a tree or another skiier (fortunately), but a large mound of gravity (snow embankment) that stopped me in my tracks...ugh. The pain. The embarrassment. Day over. Doctor visit. Knee out. Crutches. My first experience with gravity and this is the white stuff that they call fun?

Sunday Tippet: For those not so brave, here is the best tactic for you... Never go DOWN the mountain. Always go SIDEWAYS, which involves less gravity. You will want to creep laterally along the slope, like a giant parka-wearing crab, until you reach a safe place, such as Orlando. This can take months but it is better than going straight down the mountain like I do most of the time!! Nah...that wouldn't be any fun! Just ski the "fall line" (going downhill) with me. But a warning! If you stay behind me too closely, you just might enjoy the spray of powder in your face!! : )

I did a short video of my day at Alta yesterday...pretty boring stuff. But, of course...technical glitch, so I bring you the following ski vid to give you just a little taste of powder. Just imagine this is me until I get that funny, little cam on my helmet going! (Ok...who's kidding who...I'm not this good!)

Can You Say Ouch? Friday's Grab Bag

2012-01-27T05:24:00.001-07:00

Another great fly fishing video by Kelly Galloup...with a few surprises!!! Makes you wonder if those big fish are worth it...mmmm...ok, the answer is yes! Fish eating indicators...funny stuff.

Because I Feel Sorry For Him...

2012-01-25T04:00:00.021-07:00

Guest Post: From Howard Levett, Windknots and Tangled Lines

As many of you know, The River Damsel did a guest post on Windknots & Tangled Lines. Let's be clear...I asked her to do it. And a good one it was. Thank you again Emily! Let's also be clear...she did not ask me to return the favor. Hmmm...

So, if you're reading this on Windknots it might be because The Damsel knows it's not a fair trade-off because I don't know a thing about cold weather fishing, warm weather fishing, fly tying, skiing or tiddlywinks.

If you're reading this at Damsel's place, it's there because she feels sorry for me because I don't know a thing about cold weather fishing, warm weather fishing, fly tying, skiing or tiddlywinks!

So, without further ado-do is my list of things to do in Utah when it's too cold to fish.

10. Go visit the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! Whether you like hip-hop, country or rock, these folks are not to be missed. I don't know how they manage to all stand so straight and tall...their impressive.

9. Find a Utah Highway Patrol Officer and ask him if you can bum a smoke...

RD: Honestly, do you think that this guy is going to take time to give you a smoke,
when he is in the middle of his doughnut routine??!!

8. Go to a bookstore and ask for a book on making wine in your home...

7. See how many statues of Joseph Smith or Brigham Young you can find in a day...

RD: Ya know, I didn't find any of those, but we do have a fine UHP female officer with her kanine friend!

6. Take a drink out of the Great Salt Lake...

5. After you do number 6, ask to be taken to a Jewish hospital...

4. Stop by the River Damsel's house and ask for a cup of hot cocoa...

RD: And upon request, I might even top it off with marshmallows!

3. Stand on a busy street corner and yell, "I Believe!!"

2. After you do number 3, ask the arresting officer for a smoke...

1. Ask a local where the nearest mosque is...

Well, now that I've alienated every Mormon, Muslim and Utahan in sight...my work is done.

RD: Howard, I'm not sure if you have alienated this guy though...just sayin'!

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"Clean and Cast"... Together!

2012-01-24T06:16:00.001-07:00

I wanted to put this story onto my website, as it was previously posted over at fisherous.com

If you have already read this...go on over to Brian's blog...where real trout pictures hang out...unlike here : )

The "CLEAN and CAST" ... Collecting over 15 sacks of garbage with a group of fellow conservationists (and friends).Enjoying the rest of the day fishing together! That is what I experienced the first time that I went to haul in garbage with the UFFC (Utah Fly Fishing Club) last year. What a great way to get some karma! There is nothing like doing a good deed. And when you are a fisherman, it feels really good to give back to the passion that gives you so much enjoyment. I am a Fly Fisher...plain and simple. I will always be. It is not something I do, it is who I am. Those who knew me before I started fly fishing three years ago, often question me with "Why and How"? It wasn't to be an escape, but rather somewhere that I felt that I belonged. And when I came across groups of people like the UFFC, it told me that I had found a very good thing.

Being involved with an organization such as this, helps you appreciate the rivers and streams that you frequently visit. Conservation, education and participation...is all part of fly fishing. At least, I believe that it should be. You always get more out of something when you put more into it. Plain and simple... And if you can bring a great group of fishers together to enjoy the experience and build friendships...it's even better! So, we "Clean and Cast". We clean the river beds and surrounding areas of debris for a couple of hours in the morning and then take a lunch break and fish in the afternoon. We pulled out tires to lawn chairs from the banks...then, we took this picture by the dumpster with our great finds! It makes a great day! If you don't have something like this in your area...I recommend it highly as something that can be organized with a few determined and conservationalist minded people putting it together. You will be amazed at what a difference it can make! (And you will probably catch an extra fish that day too...)

Honey, Where Is The Receipt?

2012-01-22T09:26:00.156-07:00

Ahhh...a common question in many of our households...Do we sometimes lose important receipts or throw away documents that we need later on? (Yep...) I recently made a purchase at a department store and chucked the receipt. Now, I have in-store credit, which is better than nothing, but, I would have rather had the cash back. A shoebox full of receipts seem to be the norm for most of us. Every time we make a purchase, we shove receipts in wallets, pockets or purses. We bring them home, sometimes sort them and drop them into a shoebox. (or a drawer that we can't open too easily anymore!) Here are some useful "tippets" that I found on the internet, to help us now how long we need to keep receipts...

Credits: eHow.com

Income-Tax Receipts

Any receipt relating to your incomes taxes is especially important and should be kept at least three years, since the IRS can audit (that's a dirty word) you for up to three years. Save all income-tax receipts associated with deductions and credits claimed on your tax return!

Bill Receipts

Even after an account has been paid in full, it's a good idea to keep your bill receipts for at least a year. Bill receipts can include those for utilities, credit cards, rent and loans. Mortgage receipts should be kept forever. (Even if it is the house on the left!)

Minor Purcase Receipts

Some minor purchase receipts, like those for clothing and groceries, don't have to be kept for too long. For clothing purchases, receipts should be kept until after you wear the clothing, because you typically can't return clothing that has been worn. And after consuming the groceries, it's safe to throw out the receipt. (Don't think that you can return something with just a great...errr...big smile!)

Major Purchase Receipts

Major purchase receipts should be kept longer. Major purchases include items like televisions, large appliances, tires and furniture. Typically these come with warranties, so keep your receipt for the life of the warranty. A new report out says more than one in 10 electronic items purchased are returned to the store by consumers. A survey by the consulting firm, Accenture, finds many times products are returned because of buyer's remorse. Consumers often blame their returns on a defect, but in 68 percent of the cases, a defect is never found.

Policy

Most businesses have policies in place on how long they'll accept receipts for refunds and exchanges. Some businesses only allow 15 to 30 days to get a refund or make an exchange with or without a receipt. Make sure you know the time frame before it's too late to return! (Don't waste your time in line)

Sunday Tippet ~ One more item not mentioned is restaurant receipts...sometimes it is wise to keep them and double check your bank or credit card statement against them. Just to make sure that a tip is not altered or misread! And one other thing, we never read our receipts unless we’re taking something back. In some cases, it pays off to double check what your beloved cashier may have rung up. (It might not be so easy to return or exchange!)

How long you need to keep receipts just depends on who might ask to see them. A good rule of thumb is that anything related to insurance or warranties can be thrown away once you get rid of the item in question —

Footnote: For the IRS, how long you need to keep receipts can vary. The longest you might need receipts is seven years. A long time...but, better safe than sorry!!

An Otter-ly, Stingray Tuesday!

2012-01-17T20:13:00.004-07:00

There was no way that I was going to get out of bed after I flipped on my Weather Bug app on my phone this morning. Heber Valley - Provo River... -8 degrees. Burrrr... I have fleece and great gloves, but 15 degrees above is where I draw the line. Anything less...well, the fish won't be biting anyway. So, while tossing side to side, I knew that a back up plan had to be in the works...and it had to have something to do with fish. Not laundry!!! I have been wanting to check out my "neighborhood aquarium" just a few miles down the road. There have been quite the ~~crowds~~ patrons there since it opened and now I know why... The Living Planet Aquarium, is AMAZING!!! Yes, the stingrays were awesome to touch at the petting pond, but my favorite was actually the...

OTTERS!!!! They are so much fun to watch!

I have seen a few river otters along the Weber River here in Utah and on my journeys out of state as well. But, watching them behind the glass today gave me a little more of an idea how silly and humorous these guys are. They love to play! We saw quite a show...I found out that the North American River Otter is the only river otter found north of Mexico. Its luscious pelt is waterproof and helps keep it warm. The river otter will settle in a location with sufficient coverage, usually vegetation or physical structures, such as rock piles. And that is usually where I have seen them; behind an old tree trunk that has fallen over in the river.

Next, my friends in tuxedos...I always love the Penguins!!

Then, there was this guy...A Dwarf Caiman (small croc)

And this guy was up in arms...Mr. Octopus scratching his nose!

Jellyfish are way cool...more so behind glass instead of under your foot!

Beautiful Lion Fish, but you don't want to meet one...very potent venom.

The Four Eyed Fish...it swims along the surface using one set of eyes, each with two sections!!

It can see above and below the water...cool!!

Yep, even some familiar faces...many different species of trout

And a few suckers!!!

All in all, it was a great way to spend a cold day inside with a few friends from the outside.

And ~~shaking~~ petting a stingrays wing... : )

I am so glad that we can patronize these incredible Aquariums. It is one way that we can learn to respect, observe and understand the complexities and importance of freshwater environments, rain forests and the world´s oceans. It's an incredible adventure...Check one out if you have one in your area!

Last but, not least...one picture for Jay...

Yes, our lovely King Snake!

High Sticking!

2012-01-16T21:46:00.005-07:00

High sticking with Kelly...
This guy knows his business...no doubt about it. This is also one of my favorite techniques...Enjoy.
Oh, and it is on my beloved Madison River, of course!!

Miracles Great and Small ~ Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2012-01-15T02:38:00.004-07:00

Things Work Out
By Edgar A. Guest

Because it rains when we wish it wouldn't,
Because men do what they often shouldn't,
Because crops fail, and plans go wrong
Some of us grumble all day long.
But somehow, in spite of the care and doubt,
It seems at last that things work out.

Because we lose where we hoped to gain,
Because we suffer a little pain,
Because we must work when we'd like to play
Some of us whimper along life's way.
But somehow, as day always follows the night,
Most of our troubles work out all right.

Because we cannot forever smile,
Because we must trudge in the dust awhile,
Because we think that the way is long
Some of us whimper that life's all wrong.
But somehow we live and our sky grows bright,
And everything seems to work out all right.

So bend to your trouble and meet your care,
For the clouds must break, and the sky grow fair.
Let the rain come down, as it must and will,
But keep on working and hoping still.
For in spite of the grumblers who stand about,
Somehow, it seems, all things work out.

A miracle does not become a “Miracle” without a trial, most of the time...I have seen many miracles in my life...great and small. Most recently, at Christmas. People cease to amaze me! My heart was humbled and a greater love for friends and neighbors was felt. Yes, all things do work out.

May each of you have......

Enough happiness to keep you sweet,
Enough trials to keep you strong,
Enough sorrow to keep you human,
Enough hope to keep you happy;
Enough failure to keep you humble,
Enough success to keep you eager,
Enough friends to give you comfort,
Enough wealth to meet your needs;
Enough enthusiasm to look forward,
Enough faith to banish depression,
Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday.

Author Unknown

Post inspired by Will King, The Riparian Corridor...His father is miraculously fighting back from a serious stroke. Best wishes go out to him and his family...The clouds are breaking and the sky is growing brighter!!

Winter White...Or Is It?

2012-01-11T19:27:00.008-07:00

A SLOW YEAR FOR SNOW!!

But, blink! And it could very well change...

THIS YEAR...

The OBN has a "Photo Prompt" going on of what winter looks like in our area of the world. Well, this is what it looks like in the Park City, UT. area on my way to the Provo River. I wish that I could say that it looks like the picture below...but...it is what it is. Last year we had a record snow fall. 800+ inches in the mountains. I'm still waiting it out for a few more feet. Hopefully, we will get some storms this month, as Deer Valley is having their annual hosting of the "Freestyle World Championships" which I volunteer each year. Snow Dance!!! Even with poor snowfall, Deer Valley makes lots of snow and there is plenty to ski. Locals are just spoiled!!

LAST YEAR...

The black dot in the middle would be me... ; ) The orange safety barrier near the bottom is there to tell me to SLOW DOWN!! And I do...then. Wait until the Go Pro Cam gets rolling at fast speed!! Heehaw!

I LOVE POWDER...Bet you didn't know that I was the "Powder Girl" before I became the "River Damsel"! Whenever I would give out my old email to people, they would ask me if I sold Mary Kay...duh.

My Playground...

This is what you call a "good time! And I had a part in it...I believe that you can see me again...the black dot up there on the left. I love the new "freshies" first thing in the morning before there are tracks. Yeah, a few of those squigglies are mine... : )

C'mon Mother Nature...BRING IT!

(Sometimes, I do a little more than fish! Sometimes.)

Rubber Ducky Tuesday

2012-01-10T23:58:00.003-07:00

OK...I am big enough to admit it. Today STUNK, like in SKUNK!! A beautiful day in every way...but in the wrong place at the wrong time. Let me give you a quick synopsis of how the day went. Every fly shop in town said the same thing...fish closer to the dam where the water isn't as cold. So, I gear up, ready to bring in a few brown trout on my "Fish Tuesday". Well, I didn't expect it to be something like Troutrageous experienced recently with fish in hiding. I wanted it to be more like what Trout Underground found on a winter's day.

And All I Got Was This!!

Couldn't beat the weather though...sunny skies and 35 degrees...even took off my gloves and sweatshirt.

So, after three hours of "nuttin", I packed up and went down the road to the local fly shop.

I thought that this was kind of an interesting sign...hmmmm. Maybe they meant the temp. for the day.

Interestingly enough, they told me that I was at the wrong section of the river today...I should have been about 8-10 miles downstream from where I was. I usually get pretty good info from the Salt Lake fly shops, but today...the Heber Valley shop which is down the street from the river had the inside scoop.

Talking about scoops...to make me feel better after the shellacking, I went a few more blocks and got myself a Raspberry Banana Shake..mmmm... I always substitute the drink in the kid's meal for a big ol' shake!
Go figure. Well, why not? Lol.

Well...I didn't totally go home empty handed. Now, don't be jealous...I did get a rubber ducky as the toy in the meal...haha. So comforting...

Surviving Fly Fishing Dunks-Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2012-01-08T05:44:00.011-07:00

The FF Dunks Timeline

Of The River Damsel

[ 2007 l 2008 l 2008 2009 2009 l 2010 l 2011 ]

Catch First Fish Beg. Class Adv. Class Beg. Class Adv. Class Adv. Class On My Own!!! : )

2 Dunks 2 Dunks 1 Dunk 0 Dunks!!

Up to your neck or more = A Dunk!

So, you look at this timeline of my fly fishing ~~experience~~ classes through the years and think it is hilarious! So do I!! One person shouldn't have to take so many classes, you say. Well, I am frickin' slow or just like to socialize...you pick. Maybe a little of both, to tell you the truth. This is my journey of try, try again! And many have joined me along the way, which has been the most fun part of it. And because of Howard putting up a little contest over at Windknots and Tangled Lines (VOTE!), I get to ~~bore~~ tell you a little about my brief, but incredibly exciting timeline of fly fishing. A short four years into it...and it has been an "Adventure In Every Riffle"!! I have had trips with non-invited guests, such as snakes, bears, bison, and even a dancing mouse!! And I have learned to fly fish along the way... It's been a journey in learning what NOT to do... : ) (Someday, I will get in more Unorthodox...err...Outdooress Style lessons on what to do...until then, I'm afraid that I am in a similar group along with The Unaccomplished Angler!) Even, with an FR sticker, we still had plenty of follies. UA got lucky, because he never got dunked when he was with me...amazingly enough.

SUMMER OF 2007...Where it all began. My memory is not so good. So, I am going to pretend that I remember my first time with a fish. Ugh, ok. How about this? I was invited to Strawberry Reservoir with some friends to have a picnic and put blown up worms on the end of a spinning rod. They got their fish. But, my little red/white ball didn't move one i-oda. Finally, a pull on the line. As everyone was telling me to start reeling in, I wondered if it would actually be a fish or a piece of green undergrowth...Yes, I had a fish...my first. "Do I have to hold it?", I asked. They laughed and said, "If you want a picture with it"!

FALL OF 2007 - My second attempt with a spin rod and I am smiling, but I don't know if I was quite in my comfort zone... Yes, the fish was a beauty and it made my day. I now knew that I liked holding fish, just not worms... ; ) So, when I got home...I called a friend that I skiied with in the winter and liked to fish also...but, a different kind of fishing. Something with "flies" that imitated bugs...hmmm. That sounded good! He said that I could tag along with his buddies, but I would have to get some waders and boots. And a fly rod. Oh, all of that? Ok..next year.

SUMMER OF 2008 - Here's my friend, Fash. The patient friend that gets the credit or the blame (Ha!) for introducing fly fishing to me. I took this picture of this nice brown trout after I accidently caught a baby bow (4 in if best) on my line walking downstream...with my line dragging behind me. Lesson learned from this day: Never try to cross a river by yourself if the current is a little bit faster than you can handle. Fortunately, a helping hand on the side of the bank gave me a save!! (My closest encounter to drowning) I don't even think Fash thought that I would stick it out with fly fishing...but, now I fish more than he does!! Lol. After that afternoon, he suggested to me that I might enjoy taking some fly fishing classes at the local fly shop and really learn all the facets of it...(and learn the safety rules!)

FALL OF 2008 - So, I found my niche...I knew that I liked to fish with flies... : ) And I thought that casting a fly rod was easier than a spin rod... So, off to Micky Finns - Beginners Class. A full class of 30 people and had several women, which was a plus! I made several friends that I still fish with on occasion. Caught a few fish, life was good. This wasn't going to stop anytime soon and my family knew it. I am not a quitter...I love a challenge and I certainly found it. Haha. I was stoked...the Advanced Class was next. And they got to go on trips out of state. Island Park, ID., The Madison River, MT., and two lakes that included Chesterfield Reservoir, ID. (BIG FISH!) I netted this fish sitting in icy water and about 25 degrees! (Oh, and got a dunk at the end getting out) Are you seeing a pattern here??? Fortunately, one of the guys that I drove with, handed me dry clothes...just had to explain to the hubby. : )

SPRING AND FALL OF 2009 -I still needed more help with matching the hatch, reading the water, and my casting skills. So, I tried another Beginner Class to improve skills. I learned, I practiced. I started looking at bugs...hmmm!! Screening was fun! And having a million, zillion caddis all over my arms and face...was wonderful! In the mix was a Czech Nymphing Class, Still Water Class and Yellowstone; part of another amazing Advanced Class. And more fishing friends. : ) The Firehole is my favorite YNP river because when you fall in...you don't come out with a chill! (I confess, my 2nd dunk of the year)

FALL OF 2010 - By this time, my fam thinks that I have totally gone nuts. I am now fishing once or twice a week. I have converted from a ski bum to a fish bum. Plain and simple. My skiing friends can't believe it when I want to do both in the same day...I take another Czech Nymphing Class. And a Yellowstone trip. I meet Rebecca Garlock through a mutual friend. We fish River X. Now, I am never turning back. It seems that she thinks that I should have a fly fishing blog...I laugh! A few weeks later...The River Damsel is born!! I join the OBN and now it is all gell'n!! Now is my chance to take more adventures...and write about them! And in 2010...I only fell in once. ; ) Trying to help a mother and two children that flipped over in their tubes going down the Weber River. I got them all over to the side and then, I went down!! Dang, slippery moss!! When I was sitting on a rock afterwards, I saw a blue damsel...So, it was easy to come up with a blog name. And my sub-title..."Adventure In Every Riffle", self-explanatory.

THE YEAR OF 2011 - AMAZING!! Look around this blog. My post, RD's 2011...In Retrospect tells it all!! I don't know how one could get more into a year. I fished in NC, TN, ID, CO, UT...I have been very fortunate to meet many wonderful people this past year and share some fly fishing time with them. I appreciate all who have read and commented on this little ol' blog. It has been an exciting adventure and so worthwhile...even through the "dunks"!

It's a very simple "tippet" today... Invest in studs for your wading boots. I did finally!!! (2011) And always bring a set of dry clothes when you venture out! And now you know why I got a box of "Dunkaroos" for Christmas... : ) It was an inside joke...

Friday Night Grab Bag..."Go Granny Go!!"

2012-01-06T20:46:00.006-07:00

Something reminded me of my roots the other day. I was born in Glendale, Ca., next to the "Little Old Lady From Pasadena"!! (Good ol' Beach Boys) There were many times that my grandmother would drive down Colorado Blvd to shop and take me to lunch as a little girl. Those were the days. When "Bob's Big Boy" was the favorite place to go. And we would sit and watch all the "Blue Hairs" to teenagers file in to order a milkshake and a burger. Enjoy the vid. It's great...Look for the dog!

The Little Old Lady From Pasadena by sirnarnian

Which River Rocks Will I Walk On?

2012-01-04T23:13:00.016-07:00

The River Damsel...on a ~~quest~~ journey to find different species of fish by the fly rod. So, 2012 begins and the journey continues. I must say that 2011 wasn't too shabby. I did accomplish 7 out of 10 fishing goals that I had posted last year. Now, we must start all over again! Hence, we begin with the breakdown...

Mmmm...Not that kind of breakdown...I don't use a sleigh anyway!

My one lifetime conquest...

Ugh...no. That isn't the right picture. I can pass on sharks.

That's more like it. Mr. Bonefish. There's just something about those eyes!! (2013-Cancun, MX.)

I have a saying and it goes something like this..."When Life Gets Tough...I Walk The River Rocks!" I tackle everyday ~~problem~~s occurences, like most of you...work, family, health...etc.etc.etc. But, things always seem better when I can spend a little time with my finned friends. And even when life is OK...what better place to rejuvenate, relax...heck no...I'm not talking about a day spa! Who needs that???

The River Runs Through...every vein of my body... Here's to 2012!~

RD's Fishing Wish List

(In no specific order...jumbled like my mind sometimes!)

1. Idaho Falls...ID. Let's get to the point. Lake Brookies with Mel. Fly fishing on the South Fork of the Snake. It's just time. I have wanted to meet this guy for awhile now. And this is the year. I will even bring my spin rod...but, he's going to have to put the worm on the hook! : )

No, not a bad hair day, a cold day...Clif!

2. The Madison River...MT. Yes, I missed my first year in awhile. And well...it will be nice to be back "home". Those big fish just have never failed me yet...Hebgen Lake and Kelly Galloup's Fly Shop...I'm there!!

3. The Frying Pan...Colorado. Have to test out the "toilet bowl"...I hear that there is more too it than the title says. In fact...this place is my dream spot to fish...I will show you why when I return.

4. RMNP, The Poudre...CO. Yes, my friends...A return visit to fish with my wonderful Rocky Mountain Frenzy friends...You made the first Frenzy, one to remember. RM Frenzy II is coming up. Either Spring or Fall. And I still have a long, overdue fishing appointment with you know who. Ugh, that guy to the left. I will make sure that it is warm enough weather for him to be outside.

5. Steelhead...Haven't decided where yet...but, one steelie must find my net. Oregon, Idaho, Michigan, New York...wherever I can find one! Maybe a guide (or a fellow blogger) could help me on this feat! ; ) 9 wt ready...

6. Yellowstone...WY. There isn't a year that I don't try to make a trek up north to the most beautiful country there is. The Firehole and The Lamar are repeats for sure! And Lava Creek with the brookies!!

7. River X, Somewhere...As I journey north to visit my friend, Rebecca, this will be the year that I will find out more about those "taunting" brown trout and how to pursue them in the deep holes!! I am looking forward to more "Unorthodox" fly fishing training and just plain, endless FUN!!

8. In my own backyard of Utah...why not? I need to fish Lake X and a few other lakes nearby for more tiger trout. I caught a 20 incher last year...let's just go for it and say...24" of tiger love!!

9. Well, I hear that Troutrageous is making his way out here to Utah for the Tenkara Summit...I must say, that meeting him and Mel this next year, would be awesome! I love "Blogger Moments" and meeting people face to face (if you haven't noticed) Of course, it would be a bonus if I could get him to fish the Provo with me! : ) Forget the lime jello, Mike...It's the ICE CREAM that you have to check out when you are here!! Sorry...it really is as good as it looks.

10. This is freaking exciting. And you will have to go HERE to see why it is one of the highlights of my wish list!! I am going for the Grand Slam of Fly Fishing...with the help of Spencer Higa, this will be a little fishing birthday present to myself this year...heehee. : ) Trying to catch four different species of trout- brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook- in a single day. And to possibly get them from the same river!! How about them river rocks??? I might even get a shiny pin... : )

Well, that's it folks! Maybe, someday...I will even go "Salmon Fishing In the Yemen"!! You never know.

"Gung Hay Fat Choy"! - Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2012-01-01T15:30:00.010-07:00

Ok...that got everyone's attention... : ) There are many ways the world celebrates the New Year... And I had some fun looking up a few of them.

The Chinese greet others with "Gung Hay Fat Choy" which means "Wishing You Prosperity and Wealth"!! The Chinese New Year (which is being celebrated Jan. 23rd this year) in 2012 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese culture. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone. That doesn't sound too bad...

How did YOU ring in the New Year? Some of us have traditions, others try something new.

The traditional kiss is a universal custom that goes on around the world at the stroke of midnight on New Year's.

But different cultures have other customs equal to the favorite Southern tradition of black-eyed peas—which symbolize luck in the coming year.

Imagine streets full of people wearing polka dots and dinning table full of round shaped food and fruits on one single day of the year. Philippines believe that this will bring them prosperity by associating the round dots to coins and wealth.

In Spain and many Latin countries, the tradition is eating 12 grapes at midnight, which is supposed to bring you 12 months of happiness.

In Denmark, it is a good sign to find your door heaped with a pile of broken dishes at New Years. Old dishes are saved year around to throw them at the homes where their friends live on New Years Eve. Many broken dishes means that you have many friends. And a lot of clean-up!

In Germany, people eat cabbage to represent money and wealth because the cabbage is green. Every New Year's Eve, at midnight, Germans watch the British show “Dinner for One.” It is so popular that even the punch line “same procedure every year” now is a catch phrase in Germany.

In Wales, the back door is opened with the first toll of the bell and then shut to release bad omens from the last year. With the 12th stroke of the bell the front door is open to welcome New Year.

In Australia, suckling pigs are considered to bring good luck and hence, traditional foods are prepared with sucking pigs. In dessert they offer peppermint ice cream in the shape of four-leaf clover.

In Japan, people decorate their homes with pine branch, bamboo stalk and plum blossom which symbolizes longevity, prosperity and nobility respectively.

In Scotland, Men parade through the streets holding blazing balls of fire. They continuously swing these balls over their heads. According the the locals, the balls of fire bring purification and sunshine. This celebration dates back as far as the Vikings.

New Year's is a time that is celebrated by all regardless of the origin, nationality and cultural background. People around the world believe that the coming year will fill their life with love, bliss, wealth and good fortune. No matter how you celebrate this day, make this year the best one that you have had! I think that the Chinese are "right on" in wanting to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone. May peace and happiness abide with each of you this coming year... RD

RD's 2011...In Retrospect

2011-12-30T00:36:00.003-07:00

When I put up my "Damsel 2011" tab last year...I thought that I would do pretty well accomplishing half of what I wanted to do in 2011. Well, out of the ten items on my wish list, I did seven of them! So, I would say that is pretty darn good!

1. Attend the OBN Convention and meet all of those that I have blogged with. Also, fish with a few of my buddies from OBN during that week! Or...because the OBN postponed...Create the Rocky Mtn. Frenzy and meet CO. bloggers! done

2. Go Steelhead fishing with my new rod and Rebecca in March... ;) done on both accounts!

3. Back to River X to catch more MONSTER Brown Trout!!! done

4. ~~Fish Montana in the Fall...The Madison and The Gallitin~~. 2012

5. Tie flies (including Czech nymphs) with Rod aka: The Midgeman. Had lunch and a fly casting lesson instead! It was an incredible meeting.

6. ~~Fish Idaho...Henry's Fork and Henry's Lake.~~ That's ok...did that last year.

7. Prove to myself that I can have one fishing expedition without "oddities"! Ha. done, unless you call fishing with cardboard "Kirk Werner" something unusual...

8. ~~Fish the South Fork of the Snake with a guide named Mel...???~~ 2012 : )

9. Catch one Whitefish, just for the H*#! of it!! done. no story...

10.This is for next year...but why not start thinking about it...go fishing in GA!!!! :) DONE!!! Moved up this trip to GA,NC,&TN...Awesome video if you click here!

Yes, 2011 was quite a year in "fishing terms"...I journeyed out to meet and fish with fellow bloggers this past year that gave me memories of a lifetime. It was an unbelievable year...full of new friendships, new territories to fish, and many miles traveled. But, that is what The River Damsel likes to do. I just have a little bit of "trout bum" in me...The best way to describe this year would be by just posting my favorite trip pics...so here you go. And in a few days, I will be announcing my new 2012 ~~resolutions~~ fishing wish list!

RD'S TRAVELS...

Lots of "Cardboard Friends" tagging along...(not wanting to be left out!)

And Lots of "Little FISHY Friends" finding my net...

But, BEST of all...meeting some of the most incredible people in the fly fishing world of bloggers...

Wow...I'm afraid that was just my out of state fishing trips! And to think that I probably fished about 70 more times on my local waters... ; ) As you can see, 2011 was a mighty fine year... Thanks to all of those that hosted The River Damsel on some great adventures! Where to next???

Traditions

2011-12-26T18:28:00.005-07:00

The Day after Christmas...a time to reflect and remember when Christmas was more than playing electronic games. It was a holiday when people sat around a black and white television and watched Christmas shows from entertainers like Lawrence Welk and Andy Williams. (My grandparents and parents eras) You watched Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and knew that the Christmas holiday season had officially begun because Santa arrived at the end of the Parade. Ahhh...Christmas to me is reading Christmas stories and singing group Christmas carols to our neighbors, having a turkey cooking in the oven, egg nog on the table, cookies on a tray, a poinsettia in the window, a fire in the fireplace, and finishing off the decorations of the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve.

Do we still have some of these traditions? And if not, have we created new ones for our children and future generations? I'm sure that most of us have different ways to celebrate the holiday season in December. For me, Christmas Day has come and gone and I look back at what the last two days brought. The laughter and sounds of wrapping paper being ripped apart is now the silence of a large trash can outside filled to the brim of all the trimmings... The yahtzee dice and the Uno cards are now put away on the shelf of the hall closet. The day after...A time to collect my thoughts on all the preparation of the holidays and hoping that they were enjoyed by everyone that came by. And to wonder why Mr. Damsel would give me a box of Dunkaroos for Christmas...??? (Ok...to be fair, I did order my Eagle Claw 6'6 fiberglass rod which arrived a little before the holiday) Thanks, hun.

The last 15 years or so, I have felt something missing at Christmas. I know what it is. And by writing it into this blog, I will hopefully start a new tradition next year. You see, when my Grandmother passed away, so did a family tradition at Christmas. She was a workaholic who day after day, planned Christmas all year long. She would shop for Christmas gifts probably in January and hit all the sales that she could find. Putting away her great finds of combs, brushes, colognes, shampoos...just a lot of one dollar items that you could find at the drugstore back in the day. These were to be part of her Christmas Eve "game prizes" after our family dinner.

The rest of the prizes would be those of a homemade nature. She would crochet clothes hangers (which all of us treasure to this day), sew up kitchen aprons, hot pads and dish towels. Ties and socks for the guys... There were also the lap quilts, that I still cherish in my cedar chest! And then there was the fudge and divinity that she would make the whole month of December and put away for the big party. (My little fingers seemed to find the candy's secret hiding place!) My grandmother was a talented woman with as much love for her kids and grandkids as anyone could have. Such an example of love and true charity to her friends and family. She had the true Christmas spirit all year long and would always enjoy giving away rather than receiving.

Traditions come in so many different forms...food or activities. On David's side of the family...we have oyster stew, chili, and tapioca pudding on Christmas Eve. On my side, we have prime rib of roast, cheesy potatoes, and ice cream cake. Christmas songs are played on the piano by my mom and we have a good ol' sing a long. This year, my dad broke his hip and is still in the rehab center, so we missed our lead singer and chorister on Christmas Eve. Then, there is Christmas Day where we have a special brunch which my kids have always enjoyed. A breakfast casserole is served, along with the RD's famous "Monkey Bread".

But, The "Merry Christmas" game that my grandmother started, still needs to be re-lived. My mother didn't carry on the tradition. But, it is something that is forever etched into my memory as being the best time of the year. Because of the togetherness of family and the smiles on everyone's faces. It took a little work...ok, it took a lot of work. All of the prizes were wrapped and put into each "head of the family" box. So, my mom and her two brothers and sister each had a box of prizes for their families. There were about eight card tables set up in the living room and dining room. If one of the neighbors had peeked through the front window, they would have thought it was the craziest bingo game that they had ever witnessed! Grandma would call out a number. We would shake all of our dice and hopefully get that number. If not, the dice were passed on to the next person at the table. Kind of like the game of Bunco. (Hey, Grandma had the right idea!) There was a scorekeeper who would make chicken scratches and as soon someone could spell out "Merry Christmas" with their rolls, they screamed out those prolific words and were declared the winner. Ahhh...memories of great traditions. Cherished from the past and hopefully to be re-lived again in the future.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

To my wonderful friends and family, may you have the spirit of the holiday season with you at this special time of the year...

And hopefully, there aren't any of these moments!!

And may your travels go much better than this...

This Land Is Your Land...

2011-12-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

I wasn't kidding when I said that I was "guest blogging" this month! One more "guest post" before the holiday break. Are you with me??? This one has special meaning to me. Nothing gets me more disgusted than seeing litter at the river beds. And I have found a group that is pro-active in the cause of cleaning up those places that you and I enjoy. I would like to thank Fisherous.com for letting me write about something that really can make a difference if we all get involved! Cory, over at Fisherous, has great reviews and spotlights that you should check out too! So, come on over to see what The River Damsel will be up to this new year...

RD <"((((><<

The Guest Bloggeress??

2011-12-20T22:26:00.001-07:00

Yes, my hiatus is dwindling down it seems... The River Damsel has been asked to write a few guest posts recently...so here we go again!! Could I become a female "freelance blogger"? Mmmm...I don't think so. But, I am having a good time writing for a few friends...so please join me over at Fly Fishing Frenzy ! These guys are the cream of the crop. They have a blog site with pictures of awesome fish, tons of great fly fishing stories, videos, reviews, and river reports. I know a few of the "Frenziers" and they are quality guys. (Some are from Utah and some from Idaho). One of them even casted into a strong wind storm for me, so I could bring in a fish before the day was over...that's "top notch" in my book. ("FB" pic below) So, go take a gander at my little post and check out FFF's latest Holiday Give-Away Contest!! There is a Scott fly rod in the mix...oh yeah!

A Guest Post For "Sunday Tippets"!

2011-12-12T18:59:00.001-07:00

Well...it seems that "Sunday Tippets" are enjoying a "guest post" over at Howard's place..."Windknots and Tangled Lines" and on a Monday!! Howard was determined to get me out of my "hiatus" a little earlier than scheduled...Cardboard Howard really is a close resemblance, don't you think?

Thanksgiving Giblets ~ Damsel Style

2011-11-20T21:10:00.006-07:00

Thanksgiving is a day when many Americans gather together with family for an afternoon of food and football, but just how far do people travel to spend turkey day at Grandma's house? The AAA estimated that 42.2 million Americans traveled more than 50 miles over Thanksgiving weekend last year.
Here are some fun factoids...errr...giblets for you.

1. The National Turkey Federation estimated that 46 million turkeys—one fifth of the annual total of 235 million consumed in the United States in 2007—were eaten at Thanksgiving.

2. Cranberry production in the U.S. is expected to reach 750 million pounds in 2011. Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are the top cranberry growing states.

3. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long. It was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust.

4. The sweet potato is most plentifully produced in North Carolina, which grew 972 million pounds of the popular Thanksgiving side dish vegetable in 2010. Other sweet potato powerhouses included California and Mississippi, and the top producing states together generated over 2.4 billion pounds of the tubers.

5. Though many competing claims exist, the most familiar story of the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony, in present-day Massachusetts, in 1621. Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a harvest feast, acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three daysMore than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving. Congress finally made Thanksgiving Day an official national holiday in 1941.

6. The top five most popular ways to serve leftover Thanksgiving turkey are: sandwiches, soups or stews, salads, casseroles, and stir-fry.

7. Only tom turkeys gobble. Hen turkeys make a clucking noise. A large group of turkeys is called a flock.

8. Several Thanksgiving day parades are broadcast on television. These parades are organized by big stores in several American cities. The parade organized by the Macy's store in New York is the biggest. Giant balloons 200 meters high float above the street. The balloons are in the shape of creatures from popular cartoons and television programs. People on the ground hold heavy ropes so the balloons do not fly away. Hey...Look! It's Mr. Potato Head!!

Stemming from traditions seen in Europe, the first parade was put on by Macy’s employees who were first-generation immigrants wanting to have festivals similar to the ones their families experienced growing up in Europe.

9. Thanksgiving also is a time when Americans share what they have with those who do not have much. Churches and other groups provide free meals for old people, the homeless, and the poor. Many Americans give turkeys or other food to these groups. Some spend part of the day helping to prepare and serve the meals. Several families in my neighborhood go downtown in the morning to the homeless shelter. It is a great experience to volunteer and share time with those that are so truly appreciative.

10. Did you know that the River Damsel started her blog on November 24, 2010? Yes, my friends, the blog has done it's best to bring you some type of reading enjoyment this past year. This will be the 156th post. I know that it wouldn't have been as successful if it wasn't for my wonderful readers and commentors. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. And a special thanks goes out to two people that really got me started by linking my blog in their posts. Owl Jones and Howard (Cofisher) ...THANK YOU!

I have thouroughly enjoyed my time with my fellow bloggers. Your stories and postings are often inspirational to me. The friendships made are definitely a bonus...I thank Owl Jones for carting me all over GA/NC to show me the GSMNP and it's many wonders. I thank Dustin and Stephanie for showing me the RMNP in Colorado. And last, but not least...I thank Rebecca (Outdooress/OBN Co-chief) for letting me join her on a few wonderful trips to River X and taking my first shot at steelheading in Idaho!

It's been a great year. A very memorable one. At this time, I must announce that the River Damsel will be taking a temporary hiatus...hopefully, it will only be that. It's time for a hibernation of sorts. I will still try to stop by and read my favorite blogs every once in awhile. Be good and enjoy your time with family and friends during these next couple of months. And keep those tippets in the water! RD out...

How To Interview...And Add a Fishing Day!

2011-11-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

This post is in reponse to a Tweet from Funcfish and Argosgirl the other day...(and check out their blogs by the way...a lot of great reading!)

About ten years ago, I decided to take up skiing after a very long break from it. I found a great season pass that would allow me to ski every Tuesday at Solitude, Utah. And it was about that same time, that I had enough of my commercial janitorial business and wanted to sell out the contracts to ten large buildings. It just had gotten to be too much of a headache and the hours to supervise it were a killer. So...halfway, into the ski season, I typed up a new resume and started the phone calls for interviews. I decided that I would find a job that would allow me to keep my ski passion going on Tuesdays...well, you never know until you try, right? After a few interviews, I found a small company that was willing to work with my hours and days. I explained to them that I had a season pass and that I would like to work four ten's each week and I would give them 110%. The deal was done. I got the job and after a few years there, I got a little restless and bored and wanted to find something better.

So, the search was on again and I interviewed on my lunch hour each day. I could see that this time around would be a little bit harder to convince potential employers of my proposal. You see, the economy was getting tougher and jobs were slim pickin's. But, I went out with a positive attitude that I would find the right situation and employer to work with me. I went through a couple of employment agencies that sent me out on interviews. My resume was polished up. I was looking for an accountant position with a reputable company. I figured with my college degree and my work history...it wouldn't take too long. Well, after a couple of weeks, the day came. And my world just got better than I had ever imagined.

As I walked into the office of the CEO...I handed her my resume. I liked her, right off the bat. She was smart and had a keen mind for business. She needed a right hand person who would take some of the load off of her. It really seemed like the right situation as we talked further. She liked me. I could feel that positive force going my way. Then, the "Golden Question"... "Is there anything specifically that you need to work here or you require to have?", she asked. I replied, "Well, yes. As a matter of fact, my previous employer let me take off Tuesday's so I could keep my Tuesday ski pass during the winter." I continued, "If you would let me work four 10 hr. days, I would give you 110% and you would have a very faithful, loyal and hard working employee." I offered her references from previous employers that could attest to that fact. She looked over my resume one more time. As she lifted her head up from the paper, she looked me in the eye and said..."What is your email address, so that I can send you an offer letter?" BINGO!!! One thing that I have learned through interviews, is to always tell the truth. Be honest and forthright and you will be seen as a future loyal employee that they are looking for!

So, in conclusion...I have now been working at my current company for three years and love it! I work hard for them and they are good to me. It's a win-win situation. Oh, by the way...something funny happened the first year that I got there...I picked up a new favorite pastime...Fly Fishing! And well...you know what happened next, right? Yep. I figured that all they could say is "No". I asked the boss if I could continue my "Ski Tuesday" into a year round day off...for the many family doctor appts. and I just happened to have a fishing license that needed to be used. Huh? Did I really say that? No...I just can't remember the exact wording...but, whatever...it worked. And now, I have my "All Year" Tuesday off to relax, unwind, and get those things done that are most important! Whatever that is. <"(((((><<

Sleeping...Do Not Disturb!! Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2011-11-13T16:45:00.011-07:00

So, if you have ever been in a hospital, you know that an uninterrupted night's sleep doesn't happen very often! Nurses need to wake up patients to check vital signs and give medications so that the doctor can have the latest lab results when they visit you in the morning. Well...that's what they tell me anyway! It is irritating to say the least. I'm sure most patients would rather sleep all the way through the night. Well...plan on that later when you get home from the hospital!

I recently brought my husband home from open heart surgery. Between work, driving to and from the hospital and actually being over there...well, not much sleep came my way either. When I tried to take a nap in the waiting room during the surgery...well, it was interrupted by a baby crying. So, I said, forget it! It was time to get out the magazines and read while I waited during the 7 hour surgery... But, at least I had something to read! My great neighbors brought me a care package with reading material... : )

After any surgery or serious illness, I believe a good night's rest is crucial in helping the patient recover from whatever landed them in the hospital in the first place! Finally, he is getting the rest that he needs to make it through six week recovery period! He is like the "Energizer Bunny" though...it's hard to get him to rest. In fact, almost impossible. It's like the "man thing" to do...proving that you don't need help and you can do it on your own. "Oh, I am fine!" Well...after the first two days home...a little relapse has taken place...now, someone is finally sleeping and letting those around him take care of things. (Why don't they listen???) Ahhhh....

So, this brings me to my topic of getting a good night sleep ANYTIME!!! Whether you are sick or healthy...There are many advantages of sleep. And a good quanity and quality of sleep can improve our health overall. Now that it is getting colder and heading into winter, those office colds are going to be passed around. You know it! A 2009 study in the journal of Archives of Internal Medicine showed that sleeping more than seven hours a night can reduce the risk of catching the common cold. Now, I know your mother told you that, didn't she??? We've all heard it. And my thought is, that it's quite true. Getting that extra hour or two probably is more important than staying up late at night and finishing that blog post!!! (GUILTY!!) Time management can sometimes cure that evil. Haha. If it takes another night to finish that post...just do it!

So, let your system reboot! Get a good night's sleep...more often! Get some
power naps in, if you can. They can also help. 15-20 extra minutes during the lunch hour. (not on the time clock!) You might be extending your life. Plain and simple. Now, excuse me...while I go take a nap.

No...this is more like it!!!

10 Things You Didn't Want To Know...Friday's "Grab Bag"!

2011-11-11T20:05:00.003-07:00

...

10 Things...huh. You REALLY do want to know, don't you??

Ok...So evidently, I didn't fulfill my part of being a recipient of the "Versatile Blogger Award"....Yes, I kind of skipped over a requirement, which was to list a few things that you might not know about me and/or my blog. Like anyone cares! Well...I have had a few emails...so, I guess they do! And I definitely don't want to go to "Blog Court"!!! So, here you go...as I reach into the Friday Night Grab Bag...let's see what we come up with! Things that you didn't want to know, but you asked...

1. At 12 years old, I performed the Haydn Concerto in D Major (for memory) with my mother on the other piano...(we had two grand pianos in our living room as I was growing up.) No, I was not a child prodigy...Hey, that is actually the book...how about that???

2. I had Mononucleosis when I was 13 yrs old. As I remember, this old, frumpy teacher with a tweed coat (aka: Susan Boyle)...came to my house every other day with more and more assignments, so I wouldn't get behind in my schoolwork. It went on for 3 months...ugh. Boy, was I glad to get back to school!!

3. At 14 years old, I dislocated my pinky finger playing volleyball. Oh darn! Piano lessons discontinued! I didn't like to sit at the piano bench for an hour and a half each day. It was much more fun to ride into Los Angeles every few weeks and visit the L.A. Dodgers team orthopedic specialist, Frank Jobe. : ) I loved baseball and he had player pics on his office walls... He was the doctor that performed the famous "Tommy John" surgery.

4. In high school, I was on the Field Hockey team...I know what you are thinking...No, I wasn't a tough kid...really the opposite. Maybe I thought that waving around a stick (or others waving them at me) would make me more outgoing!! Ha. Actually, the real reason was because I liked the cool letter jackets that we got. : )

4. Believe it or not, I actually had a hole in one at the Newport Beach (CA.)Golf Course...off the tee...down a hill...into the cup! When my dad and I walked down there, we searched for the ball. As we walked closer to the cup...there it was. It became my lucky orange golf ball. Until I left it in my Camaro one summer day and it exploded in the middle compartment! Have you ever seen string rubber sprung out? What a mess!

5. I had a sewing business with a friend where I sewed in the middle of the night and sold sweatshirts in malls and fairgrounds. It worked out ok, as I could enjoy my afternoons around the pool in the backyard and be a lounge lizard!! It was a great job for spending more time with my kids during the day too. This brings me to fly tying...hmmm...I guess that all of my experience with arts and crafts would probably help me be a pretty good tier...C'mon! Someone convince me!

6. One of the most difficult times in my life was when I owned and managed a commercial janitorial business for 5 years. My family sure came to bat for me! Did I ever go to sleep??? Well, when someone wouldn't call in sick! Employees. Hmmm... Enough of that memory!! On the bright side, I was able to use my Bus. Mgmt. education from college. And my teenagers learned a job skill which they were able to use as a part time job during their school years! There you go... : )

7. Languages that I have studied: Spanish and Italian

8. Favorite Foods: Mexican food...anyday, anytime!

9. Why do I really Fly Fish? Because I have this type of personality that if I can't do something...I keep on trying! I love a challenge. Plain and simple. And I found one that will probably take the rest of my life to conquer! Or at least have a good time trying... : )

10. Regarding my blog...This month will be the one year mark...Wow! Time flies when you are having fun! Because of this special event, there will be a 1st Year Anniversary CONTEST...so, stay tuned! November 24, 2010 was the first post. And because it falls on Thanksgiving this year...we will break out the party favors when you all get back the following Monday!! Sound like a plan??? Thanks, my friends. It's because of my loyal readers that makes this blogging so much fun. And why I have become a more "Versatile Blogger" than I ever imagined possible...

Of Mice And "Me"

2011-11-08T21:03:00.002-07:00

A strange occurence happened today...As I was getting ready to re-post one of my favorite posts from the beginning of my writings in celebration of my first blog anniversary...The Outdoor Blogger Network posted a similar subject for bloggers to respond to. Go over and add your comments to the question...Since I have a lot of newbie readers that might not have read this post the first time around...my re-post is about one of my favorite excursions with some friends journeying up to River X with the Outdooress. The result of this trip made me go to the OBN Forum and post the following topic: How do you keep mice out? Check that out for some great answers. My favorite response was from Jay at The Naturalist's Angle, who wrote, "You could always keep a snake that likes to eat mice in the tent. I've got a few you can borrow." Thanks, Jay...

December 15, 2010 "Nothing Artificial Added..." Anniversary Edition

On a recent fly fishing trip, I had the privilege of fishing with Rebecca Garlock aka: "The Outdooress". I will tell you one thing...what you see, is what you get, with Rebecca! No artificial anything added with this outdoor enthusiast. And those are the type of people I like to hang out with! She will be the first to tell you that she doesn't have a special technique or go by a set of rules when she is on the water. She has her own style and grace that is unique. (We will forgive the one moment above that wasn't all that graceful!!) I will admit one thing now...I am a better photographer than a fly fisher...Everything seems very “natural” for Rebecca when it comes to fly fishing. From the gearing up for the journey to choosing the right fly to use. Then, as she makes her way towards the middle of the river (where I like to hang out too)…her graceful casts are simply amazing. I have had to work very hard on my casting, so this was fun watching someone that could do it so effortlessly! She just kind of takes it all in stride, very relaxed. And that, my friends, is what makes a great fly fisher…getting to the point of it being second nature to you.

Rebecca and I had a few things in common, which made the trip even more fun. We are both die-hards. If there is an obstruction of some type to get us off course...we find a way to work with it. Example...The famous leaky waders! Yes, they were leaking...but, like a true camper that she is, she just went ahead and fished while her foot inside the wader felt like it was stuck in a fishbowl of water! It was all good. We had a few laughs about that. Comfort isn't always an option.

We were fortunate to find a perfect campsite alongside the river bank. As we set up camp, we met some visitors from out of state who were discouraged about their day thus far. Rebecca quickly opened up the back of her truck, got out her fly boxes and gave them some helpful advice. They were a little surprised that she would take the time to help...but that is who she is. Rebecca loves sharing her knowledge and excitement for fly fishing with others so that they too will have a journey to remember. These two guys left with smiles and hopes of having better luck after chatting with her. And it always gives karma to the giver, you know! It's all good.

One of my friends was an experienced cook. After hearing that Rebecca can live off of Snicker bars and Diet Coke, I figured that a little extra nourishment wouldn't hurt. : ) I think that she was a little surprised with the menu each day. Breakfast was my favorite...banana pancakes, sausage, eggs, and juice. Then, we brought on the three layer pastrami and swiss sandwiches for lunch. And to cap off a perfect day of extreme fishing, we all gathered around the campfire and had a dutch oven casserole and pineapple upside down cake.....yummy!

A perfect ending to an awesome day on the river...oh wait! It wasn't quite over yet! Did I say that this was my first real camping experience? And yes, I got an initiation...After I snuggled into my sleeping bag; there was this constant rustling in the brush outside of my tent. Everyone was sleeping in their vehicles, except for me....and I was starting to think that they had the right idea. After awhile, I just couldn't sleep until I found out what was making this scratchy noise! Was it a raccoon, opossum, or a rabbit? I decided to move my bedding to the middle of the tent. I laid back down and looked at the amazing view of the stars through the netting of the tent. But, that could not calm me. Ok...that was it. Whatever was making this irritating noise with its feet was going to be found out! I turned on the flashlight and moved the light around the bottom of the tent to make sure there wasn't something inside with me. There was a large rock in each corner of the tent. As I flashed the light on the corner where my head used to be...up sprang this little head with big dark eyes looking at me! Yes, out came the scream! It didn't scare the mouse though...he proceeded to jump up on the top of the rock and do this little jig of a dance...I'm not kidding! I couldn't believe it...he then stood up on two legs and posed like he wanted me to take a picture! A real character. Help came quickly and we returned him to his home in the fields away from my tent. I can't wait to go camping again!! (Honestly, I am going to get a pop-up trailer!)

Take a look at my favorite fish on the trip. This is why I will be back!

All in all, it was an awesome couple of days. Plenty of fish, good eats, some awesome scenery, mice dancing on rocks, and a midge hook caught in the cook's lip (did I say that Rebecca is also an excellent emergency surgeon? She will deny that acclaim... :0 But, she is!) Thanks, Rebecca, for sharing your time and talents with us...we couldn't have asked for a better guide and compadre!

Versatile Blogger Awards ~ Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2011-11-06T00:03:00.003-06:00

And so it has begun...a passing of the torch, so to speak. Howard, "Cofisher", author of Windknots and Tangled Lines, has passed on the "Versatile Blogger Award" to seven different bloggers. I was ~~surprised~~ delighted to have been nominated for this prestigious award. Thank you, Howard. It is always an honor to be named in a circle of those blogging friends that you admire. According to my friends and family though...I'm not really as much "versatile" as I am "all over the map!" Haha... It would be very tough for me to talk about the same thing day in, day out. I mean...you can only have so much of "Brown Trout"! (Well, maybe not.)

It is highly encouraged that recipients of blogger awards follow the spirit of sharing with other bloggers. The Versatile Blogger Award requests the following:

Post your acceptance\acknowledgement of the reward on your blog. Adding the image to you overall layout is a nice touch as well.
Tell 10 things about yourself that your readers may not know about you and your blog.
Nominate 7 other blogs for this Versatile Blogger Award. This can be far more of a challenge than one might suspect. Hopefully no one is upset by my selections or non-selections as it were. I follow some awesome blogs and when I think of "Versatile" ...I think of what the word really means... "Capable of doing many things competently"... As awkward as this is to pick out a few, here we go...

My "Versatile Blogger Nominations" go to the following and in no specific order:

1. Owl Jones This guy talks about everything under the sun...including his GSMNP travels. And if I didn't know him as well as I do, I would have thought that he would have started a write-in campaign for President by now! J/K... This brook trout lover has funny videos like no other!!! (I especially like the Cardboard Howard and Rebecca slam down)

2. Troutrageous Besides the fact that he graces his blog with bikini clad women (which I ignore), I can usually find something to make me laugh at the beginning of my long work day. And Lilly is just something that no one else has on their blogs...right? Too cute!

3. Fontinalis Rising If I was to give you one word to describe FR's blog, it would be this... Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! His writings stir the soul. The photography is amazing. And I now have a larger vocabulary after looking up a few new words!

4. Funcfish This is the one blog that got me wondering if I might like to catch a bass someday... : )

5. Bigerrfish I believe Josh can outfish most anyone, anytime, anywhere. I look forward to the day that I can prove that...and watch in awe.

6. Up The Poudre When I first read Sander's writings, I well...fell in love with those darn bulldogs! This guy has a remarable way of writing and keeping you enthralled with every word. But, don't ask him where his favorite spot on the Poudre is...haha. You could be fishing until dusk.

7. Mysteries Internal Oh, that Erin girl...she is so versatile in her posts! I believe that she could write about most anything! Wait! You want a story about a turtle? Leave it to Erin to bring her adventures to "life" for all of us to enjoy. It's truly a literary experience.

Ok, I just have to do it...Most Honorable Mention:

8. One Bug Is Fake What can you say about a blogger that doesn't want to have a blog...ok...forget that part of it. Brandon is the freelance blogger! So, I would have to say that he is the "Most Versatile Blogger" there is! Hey, he even wrote about how to not catch trout...hmmm. And what more can be said for someone that is trying the feat of 30 straight days of fishing??? (I'm personally jealous)

There you have it, as close as I can come to naming a few of those "Versatile" bloggers out there. Now, for the "Top Ten" things that you don't know about me??? Hahahahaha. Like I am going to open up that can of worms... Today's Tippet: Never devulge highly classified information. Some "Mysteries" remain... Internal.

Friday Night "Grab Bag"!

2011-11-04T18:54:00.002-06:00

Well, here is a little bit of fly fishing at it's best...something to stir the soul. Just in case you have wonderful snow like I have coming here this weekend! Enjoy this awesome vid by CP Flyfishing. Pull up a chair, put your feet up and sip a cup of hot cocoa. As of right now, I am still planning on getting in a few hours with my line in the water tomorrow. Icy guides or not. I'm afraid Fall is quickly leaving us...

Boulders, Rocks, Fish!

2011-10-31T20:02:00.002-06:00

Pocket water is a run of water that is marked by fast water, boulders and rocks. The rocks are sufficient that the water currents are highly varied with rock created seams overlapping from rock to rock. Fishing pocket water can be challenging because the complex nature of the currents and the plethora of obstacles in the way. Part of the fun of fishing these areas is the difficulty in it! I always like a challenge...

My friend, Lance Egan, recently posted up some pocket water tips...and I thought that I would share them with you...I seem to be fishing in these type of spots more and more! It is where the fish are...

A quick tip when covering pocket water:

"When fishing behind a large rock, mid-stream or on the bank the natural place to look for Trout is in the soft water created by the rock extending downstream. As you can see in this short clip, make sure you also cover the water tight to the rock. In this case the current tight to the rock is flowing perpendicular to the main flow. I made several casts in the soft water downstream of the rock with nothing. Before moving on I made a cast along the rock in the foam line, allowing the dry/dropper rig to drift with the eddy flowing perpendicular to the main river flow. This brought a take. Also of note is the high rod keeping fly line and leader off the fast water between me and the pocket behind the rock. If I let the line or leader contact the fast current my flies will immediately have drag and will be pulled out of the fishable water." Lance Egan

Untitled from Lance Egan on Vimeo.

Quick tip 2 from Lance Egan on Vimeo.

Always look for micro seams and pockets. If you cover a few, you will have landed more fish at days end.

A lot of fly fishermen overlook pocket water and see it as just another obstacle to cross to get to the next pool. Next time your out fishing, take the time to step back and survey a stretch of pocket water. Analyze it thoroughly and plan out a series of attacks. You’ll enjoy the challenge. I do.

What Makes A Good Friend? Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2011-10-30T00:01:00.019-06:00

I have pondered a lot lately on the many friends in my life that have meant so much to me...And during this past year, I have added friends that I have met via my blog. What is it that makes a good friend?

FRIENDS

A friend is someone who listens,
A friend is someone who cares.
A friend is someone who understands,
A friend is someone who shares.
It's nice to have a special friend
To tell all your secrets to.
It's nice to know that someone you like,

Is someone who really likes you.
A friend is someone you call on the phone
To talk about nothing at all.
A friend is someone who cheers you up.
And makes you feel ten feet tall.
Everyone would like to have
A special friend it's true
But if you want a special friend,
You need to be one, too.

Anonymous

NOBODY

If nobody smiled and nobody cared
and nobody helped us along.
If every moment looked after itself and
good things always went to the strong;
If nobody cared just a little about you
and nobody cared about me,
and we stood alone, in the battle of life,
what a dreary old world this would be

Life is sweet, just because of the friends we have made

and the things which in common we share,
We want to live on, not because of ourselves
but because of the people who care.

It is doing and giving for somebody else
on which all of life's splendor depends.
The joy of this world, when you've summed it all up

is found in the making of friends

B.J. Morbitzer

Sunday Tippet: Embrace those friends around you and show them how much you appreciate them by making their day a little brighter! Thanks to all of my readers and friends out there that make every day a good day just by knowing you!

Unorthodox Fly Fishing, Outdooress Style!

2011-10-26T05:42:00.004-06:00

It's Friday and my plane touches down in Boise, Idaho. My long awaited journey is about to begin. Every year, I plan at least one trip with Rebecca Garlock to fly fish hours upon hours. We start early and end late, and enjoy every minute of it! So, I was excited to be meeting up with her once again and to becoming even better friends and share our god-given urge to be on the river to experience what some people never see...trophy size, brown and rainbow trout! The Outdooress and Co-Chief of the Outdoor Blogger Network has an intriguing style to her cast and overall techniques on the water. It is an amazing sight to behold....honestly.

We met up with Chris Hunt (EatMoreBrookTrout) and full time TU guru and freelance writer from Idaho. He came over on some business and had time to fish with us on Saturday. Another friend of Rebecca's, Michael, a local fly fishing expert of the River X, met us there and showed us some new areas that we hadn't fished before. And they were money! So, a fun group putting their lines in and making new friendships. My first walk in had me tingling from head to foot...I was here!! Excitement was in the air as I stepped into the magical waters...

We did have a lower level of water than we would have liked, but it still worked out fine. They had just lowered it a few days before...so, the fish weren't quite acclimated yet to their new digs, but we still caught enough fish. The river was still...but, not for long! Soon, we had ring after ring...with fish slurping all around us. I am not a dry fly girl and so I was playing follow the leader and watching their techniques. There were some nice size fish that day, ranging from probably 14 to 24 inches. Chris was impressed with this fishery for sure.

Lunch was entertaining...you know there are always varmints of some sort in my adventures! As I was sitting on the side of the river enjoying my sandwich...Rebecca quickly yells, "Get up, Emily! There is a snake behind your chair coming your way!" Eeek!! I didn't need to hear that twice! Really...Some kind of boa or something...I didn't sit back down. Ha. As we got back in the vehicles and went up the road after lunch, we gazed down off the side of the cliff and there they were! The biggest, fattest, browns and rainbows one could hope for. They were swimming in a large, boulder area of the river and it was just an amazing sight. We didn't fish there, as there were other fishermen in that spot already...but, we enjoyed being part of the "peanut gallery" as Rebecca calls it!

This is Fly Fishing Heaven...no doubt about it. We headed towards another special place with a faster run for me. Another hour or so, we headed back to the original spot. After another hour, I was already exhausted and called it a day. So, when Rebecca was yelling my name to come over to the action at dusk, I was already sleeping in the car... Bummer actually, she got like ten more fish at dusk and the guys had their mouths open, drooling just a bit at her success...heehee. End of Day 1...

Sunday was "Girl's Day" ! And I was ready...I had hoped for better results on Saturday, but just didn't have my rhythm or something...Well, it was that something that had Rebecca thinking about all night. She told me right off the bat that morning, that we were out to catch a lot of fish. Right on! Whatever you say RG...I'm listening! She had a plan. And now we get to the title of this post..."Unorthodox Fly Fishing, Outdooress Style!" I was going to follow the "Unorthodox Outdooress" (shall we call her UO??) How about it Kirk Werner, (UA)? Well, I didn't really care what she threw at me, as long as it worked! So, here is the top ten tips for RD...now remember, these might not be for everyone...they just were right for me, as my head has been full of instruction from fly shop lessons for the past three years! Rebecca thought that it was time to take all of the techniques that were intermingled in my head and toss them aside for awhile. So, drumroll, please...

1. Roll shoulders.

2. Relax...let your hair down!

3. Don't cast too stiff. Go with whatever style feels right. (side casting for me)

4. Whip it! (halfway between a roll cast/side cast)

5. Snap it back! (hey, that's a good one to prevent tangled lines in trees!)

6. Stop, Pause, Wiggle...(strip, strip, wiggle...at the end of the cast)

7. Do NOT grab line of a 20+ brown that is at your feet. : (

8. Snickers and Diet Coke are good mojo for a fishing trip. (I knew that was coming!)

9. Bullseye fishing for stillwater in the river...cast within one foot from the ring.

10. HAVE FUN!

And Bonus Tip...Always put your line in the water as you walk upstream! Don't reel up. Fish!

My favorite RG (UO) quote on the trip..."The fish are taunting me! I must go pursue them!" And she did.

The hours went by way too fast. I was finally having fun, without a care in the world and catching one after another...that chica is something else. What a fishing buddy to have along. She never gave up on me...and finally we were hearing "Incoming"!! over and over again...Yes, I stayed out until dusk.

The most amazing part of the trip wasn't catching all the teenage browns downstream from their parents. It was watching the huge 20+ browns spawning just a few feet away from us as we stood on the bank. These fish are not spooky in the least. It is also incredible to see a trophy size brown basically swim in front of your feet as you are settling in to cast. That is why I come back each year. It was unfortunate that the biggest fish were "occupied", but my Red Chronomid Midge was finding a lot of other suitors!

And by the end of the day, I was completely in my element. Relaxed and in the rhythm that Rebecca had hoped for me. I have been told that next year is Round 2 with the "Unorthodox Outdooress" training, as she will show me how to go after those browns in the slow, still waters and "Pursue them!" Another adventure in the books. It was all good.

Thanks to all of those that were part of it! And hats off to Rebecca for another great journey...

Footnote: I found it interesting that one of my one shots of Rebecca resembled another picture that I have seen on the blogwaves...you tell me??!!

Nice Job, Kirk! (Except for the fish!)

OBN Is Rockin' - Happy 1st!

2011-10-20T01:44:00.002-06:00

Joe and a nice bass!

Wow! What a week! As I try to get ready for my next adventure out of town, there is a party going on over at the OUTDOOR BLOGGER NETWORK! (The Hub) They are having a first year celebration like no other and if you haven't checked it out by now, you had better do it soon! There are some terrific contests!! As I look back a year ago, what was my life like back then? Well, before starting a blog, I definitely had more free time! So, let me tell you how I found out about the OBN in the first place...

RG and Mr. Brown Spots

It just so happened that I went on a little fishing trip with Rebecca Garlock up in Idaho last October. As our group gathered around the campfire, she said to me, "You really should start a fly fishing blog". And I replied, "You are kidding, right?!" So, Rebecca went on to tell me about the soon to be OBN that she and Joe were developing. This network would tie outdoor enthusiasts together like never before! With the fine tips from Rebecca and others in the network, I was able to "open up shop" and start writing about my adventures that mean so much to me. It has been a fun and rewarding experience. So, I thank OBN for the support system that they are and for the fine directory of outdoor bloggers that continue to amaze me with their talents and ambitions! It is an outstanding community to belong to. And I have had the opportunity to meet and fish with some awesome fly fishing friends through OBN. My appreciation for fly fishing is now on a whole different level. So, you will have to excuse me now, while I start packing.

FOOTNOTE: This is why I'm returning! All in all, it was an awesome couple of days that we had that first trip. Plenty of fish, good eats, some awesome scenery, mice dancing on rocks (in my tent), and a midge hook caught in the cook's lip (Rebecca is also an excellent emergency surgeon) She will deny that acclaim... :0 Well...Here's hoping for a little calmer adventure this time around. Round 3 is about to begin!

What's In Your Piggy Bank?...Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

2011-10-16T04:00:00.000-06:00

Cutting the budget doesn't mean cutting out the fun in your life. A slimmed-down household budget helps you save money and move towards bigger financial goals. Cutting your household budget can help you pad your savings account, pay down debt, or give yourself breathing room in the budget! You might even end up with enough money for a relaxing beach vacation (or a fishing trip...ha). It just takes planning and good judgement. And some common sense (cents) haha.

Cut Down On Dining Out

After a long day of work, your favorite restaurant is calling your name. Before you give in to your craving, consider the effects of the decision. The amount you spend on a dinner for two at a restaurant could buy the ingredients for several meals for the week at the grocery store. You don't need to completely forgo date night with your mate at your favorite hot spot, but try reducing your nights out by half. Watch your lunches out as well. Your bank account will thank you for enjoying leftovers in the office break room instead of hitting the deli.

Ask For A Lower Rate

A simple phone call to all of your service providers and lenders could mean more money in your bank account. Many companies work with customers by offering lower rates or special deals to avoid losing a customer. Call your cable company, phone service provider, cell phone provider, Internet company and other service providers asking for reduced rates. Let them know you are looking around at other companies that provide the same services. You can always turn off the land line if you have cell phones! Calling your credit card companies or lenders might get you a lower interest rate on your debt. The lower the interest, the lower your overall payment, which leaves more room in the budget. Shopping around for more affordable insurance is also an option for cutting back costs. Equal payment plans for utilities really help out!

Become a "Free Entertainment" Guru

Entertainment expenses are likely a large portion of your budget. Free or cheap entertainment options give you a chance to hang out with friends or enjoy an evening at home without draining the budget. Instead of paying $100 or more for a big-time concert, check out a local band playing at a bar or club or a festival type of outside venue. Take advantage of free services at the library, such as movie rentals, CD rentals, or join a book club. Invite your friends or family over for a movie marathon instead of joining them at the theater. I personally love Red Box. It's saves the day many a time and doesn't drain the pocket book.

Set Spending Limits

Giving yourself an allowance for your extra spending helps keep you on track while avoiding a drain on your budget. Withdraw the set amount of money each week so you know exactly how much is available for extra expenses. When you want to eat out for lunch or join friends for a pedicure, that cash goes toward the cost. The extra funds can be your "Funny Money" or your savings for the month of December when it's time for holiday shopping! I set aside $25. a week for several months and that paid for my trip out to the RMF in Colorado! It can be done.

Knowledge is power! A budget lets you know how much money you have coming in and how much you will need to cover your lifestyle. More than anything else, a budget gives you more information about your own lifestyle and how to manage it. Even though budgets are easy to create and follow, the reality is that very few Americans actually take the time to make and use them. Ask anyone who does live by a budget though, and you’ll hear that his or her financial life got a whole lot simpler after taking a little time to figure out how much was coming in, what needed to be paid for and how much extra there was for savings and fun. : )

Fishing In Heaven?

2011-10-13T20:46:00.006-06:00

As I casted my rod into The Poudre River and the small streams of the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado last week, a funny thought came into my head. (Not that funny thoughts don't usually cultivate there!) Will there be fishing in Heaven? And if there is, would it be something beautiful like this scenery that I was looking at? I'm sure it would be. If we were fishing in a river, stream or a lake in Heaven, I'm sure it would be absolutely surreal. It would have to be.

We know that a river flowed from the Garden of Eden. And that on the 5th day of the creation, God created fishes. For what reason? For men to be sustained when needed and for our enjoyment in other times. And that the Disciples... Peter, James, Andrew and John were fishermen by trade, should give us another inclination that fishing is good. They will undoubtedly be taken care of in Heaven. So, I guess that there shouldn't be any worries if there is fishing in Heaven. : ) Right? (Now, I just have to get there...)

Funny thing, when I Googled "Fishing in Heaven Pictures", this guy showed up!

Maybe it was because of "Uncle" Mel's new blog name "Rainbow-Chaser"... ???

Or because he is wearing that Heavenly T! shirt...

So, what waters remind you of a little bit of "Heaven on Earth"? Well, for me...there is one in particular. River X

Hey, I know that person waiting for the next Big, Brown Trout!

Big, Healthy, Mr. Brown Trout...

My 2nd trip with Rebecca on River X

As I await my third adventure to River X... I start getting that tingly feeling all over that something very special is on the horizon. And even in a very odd year of Spring run-off and flooding, all reports are that the river is ready for the River Damsel to make her journey next week. Oh, how I love Fall fishing...and especially in this river! For the Browns will be hungry.

And as always, we will take a bear over a mouse or a snake...well...maybe.

Ahhh...I can hear myself saying "Incoming!" to Mr. Brown Trout right now...

Rebecca's Mr. Spots...had a few teeth!

And I have a bigger net this time around... Ha!

The road to "Heavenly Fishing"...Looks like a secret road too, doesn't it??

Onward...River Damsel. Heaven...errr...River X is waiting...