Birthday Fish

Nothing like crappy weather to try out a new tent with the family.  So with the spring turning cold and wet again we took to the hills to get a little camping in.  This year was a bad one as far as snowpack's concerned, so I figured we'd be able to get up to a lake that I've been fishing on and off since I was really young.  "Really young" can be a relative term, but I don't remember going to this lake for the "first time" which is where the feeling of always knowing it's been there comes from I guess.  Even though I've never put any serious time in on it, I feel I know it pretty well just from stopping for a few minutes now and again.  

Coming up over Fairview Canyon the weak winter followed by a warm spring was in evidence.  Huntington Reservoir (Mammoth) had open water around the edges (with quite a few people fishing), and Cleveland Reservoir was completely ice free (with no one around).  There was very little snow on top for this early in the year which will make for a rough summer, as far as flows go, later on.  But with the lack of water comes streams that clear off earlier, and in some cases don't get real high at all, so there's always an upside, unless you're a farmer.  Huntington Creek looks to be in good shape below Electric Lake (also ice free) for about the first mile or so until you get a feeder creek in the recently burned area.  Some people are very optimistic about the burned areas, especially with the low run-off this year, but I'm still pretty skeptical.  I think it'll be at least another year before things start to get stabilized.  Another year (unless the DWR drops some catchable sized fish in there) before those areas are worth fishing.  Part of me hopes the fish do get planted, and hopefully they're Native Cutthroats.  I really enjoy fishing a stream that has multiple species in it because it keeps the catching interesting even when if they aren't particularly large.  Now I know that there already are Cutts in the Huntington, but the Right Fork, and even the lower Left Fork, has been predominantly Brown Trout and it'd be nice to help the Cutts gain a larger foothold.  

The ride down the Canyon was real pretty but pretty eventless as well.  Soon we were making our way back up the mountain to where we'd hoped to spend the night.  Luckily, the roads only had a couple of small spots where the snow was holding out and we made it to our lake with little trouble.  The new tent is a 10'X14' Kodiak Flex Bow, pretty much like the ones I used back in Scouts.  Definitely not a backpacking tent, but more of a heavy duty home away from home type tent.  Especially with our Queen sized cot with an air mattress on top.

Great place to camp

Once camp was set up and we'd had dinner, I made it down to the lake to get some fishing in before the warm afternoon turned into a chilly evening.  I was quickly into fish using a Stimulator on top and a Rainbow Warrior dropper, with most fish coming on the Rainbow Warrior.  This lake has always fished pretty consistent for medium to smaller trout.  So I was truly shocked when the biggest fish I've ever caught there took the fly!  Not a monster most places, but a nice fish, and one that is still swimming and hopefully growing till we meet again.  Not a bad way to celebrate my birthday!

Nice surprise

I hope you can get out and enjoy the water.

Here and There

Been doing stuff here and there, but nothing all out lately.  I somehow managed to win a flyline from RisenFly, then bought a new reel from them (needed a place to put my line!).  I haven't been able to use it yet, but rest assured I'll put it to good use and let you know how it holds up.

Free flyline, new reel, and some good books!

Sexy!!

The other day we were able to take a nice drive up some of the canyons around here.  The roads were just passable enough for me to get up to where we used to catch a lot of brook trout.  Last year this pond was basically dried up.  Hopefully this year will be a bit better.....I wonder if any of the fish survived?

We've had a few fun days with the kids here.

That's Thor, just in case you didn't recognize him...

Nice hen turkey, crappy pic.  Really wish we'd have
brought the nice camera.

Always cool to see elk, but especially cool when you're on foot!

Fished here at Twin Lakes for a few minutes (from the elk's spot),
had a couple of hits but didn't bring anything to hand.

Of course when I can't get out fishing I've been trying to refill my boxes, but by the looks of things I still have a ways to go!  I'm trying to not only tie what I need now, but what I hope to need in the coming weeks/months.

Drys

Nymphs

I have managed to get some fishing in here and there.  There's a nice little pond just outside of the town where I work that has offered some relief.  Even though the water has been murky, and the wind high, I still have managed to have some success especially with nymphs suspended under an indicator.  

Lunch time rainbow (I'd say it's a planter, would you?)
Took the same green nymph pattern that I was catching carp on in the last post!

Yesterday, I had to do my Oral Defense for my Masters Degree at the U.  So, seeing as how I was already 'up north', I called my brother to see if he was interested in hitting up the Provo for the evening. Turns out he was, and we made the trek up to Heber.  As is typical with the warmer weather, the river was a bit busier than the last time I was up there.  We still managed to get a few on various nymphs.  My brother got a real nice rainbow that went 18-19" that we failed to get in.  He was up on a bank that he couldn't easily reach the water from.  I was on the opposite side of the stream.  So, when the fish ran over near where I was, I tried to help out.  Couldn't quite get to the fish before he popped off.  I've got to remember to bring one of my freakin' nets!!  Naturally my brother claims that I tried to lose his fish for him, and I of course swear that I didn't (though I'd accuse him of the same thing if the tables were turned...)

Anyway, as the evening started coming on a few fish began rising to a mixed bag of Caddis and Blue wing olives.  Not a ton of surface action, but enough for me to change rigs and haul in my first dry-fly fish of the year!

Little guy took it hard!

Blown

Could not believe how strong the wind was yesterday!  Must be crazy for going fishing in it, but my Sister's family came down for the afternoon, and, well, you know....

We decided to head over to Gunnison Res. to, hopefully, hook into a few carp.  In the past we've had no problem with drowning a worm and having good action here.  Unfortunately it just wasn't in the cards for the baiters.  Luckily, I had my flyrod and managed to catch my first 'Urban Bonefish' on a flyrod.  The little guy (as far as carp go) took a flashback pheasant tail that I was fishing on a slow retrieve.

On the short ride back to our house a couple of rabbits crossed the road, so we stopped to take a look.  Once I stepped out of our truck I could hear the air escaping one of the tires.  So the short ride went a little quicker than usual so I could throw the spare on in the comfort of my garage.  Made it back in time, and once I figured out how to lower the spare tire (Had to tighten the mechanism, then loosen.  I guess I should've known that...)  managed to get the spare on in no time.  BIL Zach was a huge help, so nice to have a hand.  After dinner, our guests decided to head on down the road to continue their Southern Utah vacation.  In the morning we get the call asking if Zach's wallet was at our house.  After an extensive search of the house and truck my sister's family was back to take a ride back down to Gunnison Res. to see if it was still down there.  Yeah, my rods were still in the truck, so of course I fished some more.

This guy hit a prince nymph.

Another small one, but at least I was catching fish.

Half expected him to start talking like Vincent Price.

That's basically just a Hare's Ear that
I tied with green ice dubbing.  First fish I've ever caught with it.

Nice lips

 Managed to have some good success fishing, but didn't ever come across the wallet.  If you're down this way and come across it I'm sure he'd like it back.  Hopefully the wind hasn't kept you at home.

Quite the rudder they've got!