The Birthday Adventure

I have a habit of running away from... errr.... for my birthday.  Getting older sucks, let's face it.   But, fishing on my birthday has become a tradition because then I enjoy it!  Haha.  Heading down the highway towards some good trout water makes me happy.  So, that is what I do!   I headed north about 5 hrs away this year.  My special friends were there to greet me and fish with for a couple of days.  I feel very fortunate to have such great people in my life.  I love the Almond family.  Always so hospitable.  Julie and Kerry have always been such great friends.  Fortunately, Garth was also there and "The Three Amigos" ended up celebrating this birthday in great fashion.  Kerry rowed Garth and I to many great fish.  The morning was especially active.  Lots of hungry rainbows.  Kerry got a few casts in too.  When it was all said and done, we left with tired arms and thankfulness for our friendships of many years now.

Nothing like eating dinner on the shoreline of Henry's Lake at sundown.  Bring on the bbq ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans and a yummy salad and you are set!

And no adventure would be complete without the damsel...

One of the many for Garth...

Thank you, Kerry, for the fun day and helping me

 with this birthday fish...

I also got to meet up with another fishing buddy, Lonnie.  We hit the Park and he took a fantastic picture with that beautiful landscape only Yellowstone can give.

Thanks, Londo.

Where will I end up next year?  =)  Who knows... Canada was last year and Island Park/Yellowstone was this year.  

Two great trips!

But, one thing's for sure...  No one can beat Julie's birthday cheesecakes!!   Yes, fresh peaches on top were a special treat!  

Much love felt.

Goodbye August.  Oh, and September!  Haha

 Bring on Christmas shopping...
Oh, did I really say that?

Miles Upon Miles...

Upon miles...  That about sums up my last couple of months.  It's been a crazy time of traveling down the highway. I am truly a road warrior!  About the only way to quickly tell you about where I have been would be for me to throw out a few pictures.  Hope you all have been well since I wrote on here last!  Sooo, Here we go... 

IDAHO BASS with my friend, David!   First bass ever!

UTAH BROWN & RAINBOW TROUT with my friend Zach!!!

THE MISSOURI RIVER, MONTANA w/ a bunch of friends!

WYOMING YELLOW SALLY AND PMD HATCHES with John and Greg!!!  Easy decision on what to cast out... Haha

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VACATION... Grandpa's cabin!

FLY TYING DURING THE DOWN TIME...

AND GRANDMA TIME... =)

I think that pretty much covers it.  Never a dull moment.  A few new places to scout out and some revisted water that I love so much.  Good friends to help me sharpen up my skills on the water.  You can never know enough!  Keep learning and growing.  That is what this life is about.  =)

Hopefully, it won't be such a long time away from the blog next time...  Have a great week, all!

RD

Did I Take A Dunk?

Oh, here I am!  Still recovering from the St. Croix River Dunk in February...  Well, not really.  I am not that crazy... And no, I am not following Howard's  pre-retirement cue just yet.  Besides February and March being very busy months with birthdays, out of town fishing trips, and actually not feeling well after those trips...  I am still standing upright.  And I think that I still can find a picture or two of what I have been doing since we got together last. 

I volunteered again for the World Cup Snowcross/Skicross Championships at Solitude Resort in February.  

There was a girl's float trip down the Green River 

in Utah at the beginning of March.  Brrrrr...

Bought a Tens Unit to help provide stimulation for my plantar fisciitis that has gotten worse with all the river rocks I trample over each week.  Hoping the pain will be healed finally.

I've been  playing with lots of polar chenille.

To catch some nice trout on streamers...

And there has been a bit of grandson time the

 past couple of months.  

And of course more time was spent in some of my favorite places with friends who are helping me improve on my techniques and casting skills.   Thanks, guys!

So, you can see that I have been dunking into a few things, but I still managed to take a breath in between.   Pretty good for the winter months, huh? 

Oh, did I mention that there was the annual "Three Amigo" trip at the end of March?  More about that next time.  

xoxo
RD 

Outsmarting That Fish... Sunday Tippets ~ Damsel Style

Now, first of all, I am going to tell you that I'm not an expert in any means in "outsmarting" fish.  But, I have found a few fishy tricks that I thought would be helpful to some of you.  You never know everything.  In some way or another, we are all learning something on the water each time we go out.  That is a given.  And that is why we fly fish.  Because it is not always the same scenario each time we go out.  Water levels fluctuate, currents change, hatches change, etc. etc.... And so the adventure continues.  So, how do we "outsmart" those trout that lie beneath the riffles and pools of our stream?  

When there isn't a hatch going on and you can visually see the risers in front of you, we look for places that hold trout.  This is where reading the water is a necessity.  When I first started fly fishing, I was so confused on what to look for and where to find it. Ten years later, I'm not an expert... but, I do know where they lie a lot of the time.  I just need to perfect that bug selection and set that hook a bit quicker!!   (I have lost a few... haha)  When fishing a river, I look for where the fast water meets the slow water.  Where the deep water meets the shallow water.  And where the rocks offer a resting place for the trout from the fast current. 

Let me tell you about a fun experience that I had.  I saw a tree and a lot of obstruction falling across the narrow channel on the side of the main river.  Boy, did I want to investigate!  The short riffle on top going into a deeper small pool in front of a fallen branch.  For sure, there would be a fish in there! Mainly because, he would think that no one would bother him and be in this safe haven.  This was a highly hazardous place for a fly to go astray and not come back.  Do you get my drift?  Drift... yes, that is what I needed to do.  Carefully, drift that fly across that deep spot and then pull the line up quickly before it got caught on the fallen branch. Can you see a "tangled line" happening???  And I might only have one chance if it was a spooky fish.

I'm definitely getting more daring.  What the heck, I reached into my fly box and picked two flies that I was ok in losing.  (Positive thinking, huh?)  My placement of the flies would have to be perfect.  I could so easily be snagged.  I had about three to four feet of water to drift.  I casted... I drifted right over... BOOM!!! Hello, Mr. Trout!!!  Up and out of the water he came and then down under that stinkin' branch.  I have lost too many fish lately due to pulling the line.  So, I waited and kept the line tight.  A minute later and he went towards the corner of the trunk of the tree.  Now, I could start stripping the line in a bit.  I worked him a few minutes and he was in the net!  Lucky?  Yeah, that I didn't lose my flies. But, not lucky that he was there.  It was just the perfect place for a fish nap. 

A huge grin appeared on my face as I released him back into the slow current of the river.  I "outsmarted" a fish and it felt soooooo good.   I cannot lie.  We will all have this experience sometime and will relish in what we have learned in our many journeys out to the water.  It makes it so worth it.  = )  Go with your instincts.  You will probably be right!!

How sweet it was...

Size 16 beadhead rainbow sow to lead and entice and a Size 18 purple zebra midge to bite on... 

Sunday Tippet:  Trout fishing is challenging.  But if we find places that fish can feel secure, don't be afraid to try it!  Even if there is a bit of obstruction.  They will try to find a comfortable place where the current is slowed and food is pushed their way, as this channel was.  Trees, undercut banks, rocks (I know, bring a few extra flies) are usually great places to find Mr. Trout.