My River "Scary"!

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 on the post before...no, those weren't woodchucks chucking wood..

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

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!

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



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!

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!