Higher Elevations

 It is August and it is hot, hot, hot.  In the valley, it is in the 90's and that calls for heading to the hills!  I usually don't do much fishing in August.  Trying to find water that is cool enough to catch and release in is the challenge.  So, the high alpine lakes are the best bet.  We have some beautiful lakes in the High Uintas Wilderness area.  These snow-specked (until July), craggy peaked mountains and trails that weave between ponderosas and aspens, never disappoint.  There are over a 1,000 natural lakes in this mountain range.  They say that one could never visit each one in their lifetime.  Ha!  I know that I won't!  Many beautiful streams wind around these lakes and in all, there are probably 400 mi. of waterways.  Rainbows, brown trout, brook trout, tiger trout, cutthroats, grayling.  A wide assortment!  Just bring a chair and enjoy the solitude.

And the best part...  It was 68 beautiful degrees air temp!! Win win.

When Montana Calls

June was a busy month!  I was able to fish for 4 days in beautiful Montana and meet up with some long time friends on the "Mighty Mo" or the Missouri River.  We have a fishing weekend for one of the group's birthday each year.  I missed it the last couple of years because of this ailing knee.  But, this year, I said that I was going no matter what.  Even if I later found out that one of the hotels that I would be staying in had bed bugs! (Slept in a chair because they didn't have any more rooms and all hotels were full!)  No more cheap hotels that I don't know about.  Ugh... So, there were a few rainbows in the net on a fun float down the Missouri.  A nice dinner with friends.  And down the road again...

 A lively rainbow taking a size 18 nymph.

Best rower award goes to Chaz!

My bestie, Alice! Moving from Oregon to Florida. 

A few of the fleet of drift boats...

My favorite breakfast... Corned Beef! 

Next stop... My favorite little secret creek that always waits for me with open arms.  Always!  There are some beautiful rainbows in this creek.  And I once caught a very big brown that I didn't even know was in this creek... A very big surprise!  It was my biggest brown at that time a few years back.  So, with anticipation, I got out of the car to gear up and set up my rod.  A big smile came over my face when I saw the water.  It was the perfect flow.  Not too high and just low enough for me to cross.  This is where a journal is your best friend.  Writing down the flows each year and what the conditions were at the time is very helpful.  I love the months of April, May and June.  After that, the summer gets too hot for me.  And the trout.

Now you see why I like this little creek. Haha
Yeah, this doesn't look like a rainbow... Hmmm

A couple hours of very nice brown trout! 
(I earned this one... If only the fish would be more cooperative in finding my net!)

Callibaetis were on the menu. 

But, the most important little bug in June was our grandson... #5

He was definitely the catch of the month.

Hello... Is anyone out there???

Let's see...  The last post was in August 2023.  Wow.  I probably lost my viewership.  That's alright, as this blog was mostly for my kids to read about my adventures after I'm gone.  So, I am wanting to write again.  2023-2024 were painful to say the least.  But, I still managed to get out fishing.  It just wasn't as enjoyable as pre-total knee replacement.  Most people heal well and are happy with the results.  I always have to be different!  Enough said.   =)

2024 brought many beautiful fish to my net, never the less.  I bought more flies than ever before, as I was not comfortable sitting at my tying desk.  But, it seemed that the fish didn't care who tied the fly as long as I got it in front of their nose!  That is the secret to success.  A good placement and a good mend!  

I think that I will just drop this end of the year video for 2024.  You will see that fishing on the fly will always bring a smile on my face...  

Thanks for stopping by...