The Golden Willows Adventure

There's a time at the end of the summer when those fall colors start to appear.  The ambers and reds peak their little heads out so very slightly.  It's that time.  I love this time of year.  And when you can add a good friend to share it with and a few fish, you have the perfect adventure.  I had that very adventure yesterday.  

Why do my adventures have to start so dang early??? 

With my friend, Holly, and her son Jack, we made the long journey to scout out new water.  There's something about the first time out to a new river.  Your anticipation makes your hands get a bit sweaty and your toes a little tingly.  The drive had its scenic value too.

Cattle and sheep graced the countryside...

And a few frogs were found also!

The meandering stream with golden willows along the banks, made a beautiful setting for some great fishing.  Just stay in the water so you don't have to find your way back in again.  Hahahaha

Holly knocked it out of the park with cutties and bows to the net.  And the hopper dropper worked its magic.

And I managed a few of my own.  What a great day!  When I saw this yellowstone cutthroat, I was so excited.  It was beautiful and golden.  And the rainbow at the end of the day was a last ditch effort to get a bow to the net.  I saw him go after my dry once in the shadows of the opposite bank.  Twenty (haha) casts later, I finally got him to take the fly.  I am a determined creature.  Would you leave a fish that you saw emerge after your dry fly?  Then, it was back to the truck...

There has to be something said for a pair of women anglers who despite their difference of "name brands" in waders, can travel miles upon miles and enjoy every minute of the journey.  Fish, frogs, ants, grasshoppers, sheep, cattle, horses, butterflies, ladybugs, shells... and even a teter totter!  No, I'm not going to show two grown women on it, but, yeah... we did it for the kid.  Ha!

And too top off the whole adventure, I got Holly to stop at my favorite place for Monte Cristo sandwiches!  Thanks, friend!  Mmmmmm

Yes, I burned off enough calories walking today, I think.  =)

The Great White Adventure

It's not every day that you get to go on a great white adventure.  I just recently got back from one.  Let me tell you how exciting it is to have that big whitie at the end of your line.  They pull hard.  They often take you down into the depths of the water over and over again before coming in.  The struggle is real.  Believe me.

Then, you finally net that great white.  And look at it with a puzzled look on your face.  Oh, it's Mr. Whitefish!  The salmonoid who feeds off the bottom.  As many people look down on Mr. Whitie, he still can save the day from a skunking.  So, thank you.  

My adventure to Yellowstone National Park recently, started out with a lot of great whites...errrr... mountain whitefish.  It really didn't seem to matter whether you had two weights on or just one weight.  They were there.  

There are a few of these signs in the YNP.   Kind of fun to have that feeling of  "A River Runs Through It".

Some of my best buds live in Idaho and in the Yellowstone area.  It's always fun to share time on the water with these guys.  

Lonnie and Kerry have great knowledge and are top notch guides from the Drift Lodge and Fly Shop in Island Park, ID.   Give em a holler if you are ever in the area... 

Most of the fishing was in the mornings before the water got too warm.  I personally can't wait for the fall.  It's my favorite time of year.  Throw me a jacket!  Haha

So, I spoiled my diet and gained back 3 lbs.  The downside of the trip.  But, it was worth it.  And I already have it off again.  There was a great ice cream shop in West Yellowstone that gave me some "Moose Moss" and "Moose Tracks".   Some of the best that I have had.  Yummy!

The beauty of Yellowstone cannot be surpassed.

A little bit of haze from the summertime forest fires that crop up from time to time somewhere in the region.

The Henry's Fork of the Snake was my first and last stop.  Such a beautiful place to photograph and to fish.  

Finally, a few rainbows graced my net.

But, in the end, it was the great mountain white fish that would win out.  I think that it was like 12 to 4 whities.  Haha.

So, on the road back home again...  A few days in one of my favorite spots.  Good times with friends that I don't get to see often enough.  And a chance to unwind and cool off a bit from the warmer climate of home.

It's all good...