Small Streams

Rainbow Deprived (Part 2)

Dec 8th

When I returned from New York the fallowing Thursday, I was hoping to be greeted by a blanket of snow, but to my surprise. I returned to 50 degree weather and less snow then when I left.

So instead of opening day at Sundance I would hit my favorite little stream in search of yet more large running bows. I fished from 1pm until 5pm. It was an amazing day on the river!!! I stared at the inlet and worked my way back to the Jeep. In every promising spot I would hook up with bow after bow on my little 6ft 2# and these fish were bigger and better fighters then last weeks batch. The average fish ran around 16′ and was bright and radiant like a colorful rock star.

(Two casts produced these two)

I couldn’t believe that I was the only one on the river with so many nice fish. I don’t like to count fish, but that day it didn’t matter because I couldn’t count that high anyway.

Tail Slap!!!

Rainbow Deprived (Part 3)

Dec 8th

Posted by Dr. G in Fly Fishing Stories

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Saturday brought a new light and an opportunity to try a new location. I had decided on the Weber River above Echo, but as I was about past the Daniels turnoff, I decided to cutt down the x-mas tree first and fish the Provo as it empties into Deer Creek for running Bows. After a two hour detour trying to find the perfect tree, the tree was on the Jeep

and the 12 degree temp was now around 25* I fished the upper water first with only a 17′ brown, so I moved lower and got into a nice little side stream and finally got into the red striped rainbows I was dreaming about.

After a couple hours of fun I cruised down to meet Jeff, Grif and John. We had decided earlier to meet at 12pm and go form there. I talked them into hitting my productive little stream. The situation had changed dramatically in just a day. With it being Sat. the river had already been hitt hard all morning and the fish still had sore lips. Also there were too many fisherman for such a small stream, but we delt with what we had and between the four of us still managed to catch and release over 20 bows.

As the sun disappeared behind Timp. our day came to and end on this stream.

I dropped off Jeff and Grif and headed straight for my brown honey hole to see if they were still there in numbers. As I approached my hole I was greeted by high flying browns and I knew that the day would end just right. In the last 30 mins of daylight I caught 4 browns over 17′, but it was my last fish that sealed the deal.

It was a picture perfect brown, measuring 20′. It was dark, but yet golden yellow.

As I released the beautiful fish to be caught again, I knew my day was complete. I walked straight out of the river and back to reality. I had left my house at 6am and returned at 6 pm without a single meal or break to relax. As I was thinking on my 15 min drive home, I couldn’t help think about what I had accomplished in my days outing. I had done everything I set out to do and in the process gained a deeper understanding of God, life, career, goals, friendship and nature all while fly fishing. Some people can’t beleive I take fly fishing to the extreme levels that I do, but until they feel and experience what I have. I will still laugh.

I am rainbow deprived

So Rainbow Deprived! (Part 1)

Dec 7th

Posted by Dr. G in Fly Fishing Stories

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I had been hitting the brown trout spawn pretty hard and felt a a little deprived from their northern cousins the rainbow trout. I know a few good waters that have falling running bows so I decided the last few times out to target them excusively. The Friday after Thanksgiving was my last free day before a week in New York, so I decided to make the most of my free day. With a text from Mallary and Greg at 6:30 am the days line up was set and a little 5 foot stream would be are playing field. The morning was brisk with a new thin layer of snow that banketed the surrounding mountains.

It was a beautiful morning and a good sign of good things to come. We fished the upper section of the stream with constant success for 12-17′ bows.As we moved up river and past a large beaver dam we switch from the running bows to local browns. I hooked up first and Greg finished the day strong with a par of brown with one pushing 18′.

We left the river early with a sense of accomplishment and frustration (Mallary, had one of those days were her hubby out fishes her and she gets all the tangles) We had visited the river early before the crowds, caught the bigger fish and left before 12…

Rainbows Spawn in the Spring, Right?

Nov 22nd

Posted by Dr. G in Fly Fishing Stories

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There are certain places I feel I have to fish each year during specific seasons. If I don’t get the chance to make it out, I almost feel cheated and saddened about the lost tradition. So with this in mind. On Friday, I was only going to work until 11am and then meet up with Hoss for a little fishing on a local stream. This weeks fishing destination was a small stream that holds some nice Bows that think it is the spring I guess. I don’t know what it is about this location, but for whatever reason it is, the bows move out of the lake and spawn in the late fall instead of the Spring. Maybe one followed a Brown and the rest fallowed like sheep??? When we got to the inlet we started working our way up the small stream. In our first location I quickly hooked up with 3 smaller Bows and got the question off our back to if they were running. As we moved up river we found the perfect smaller eddy. We caught fish after fish. I was amazed how many fish were holding in the little 10 foot run. That couldn’t have been deeper than 4 feet and 5 feet wide. After that Hoss and I moved from spot to spot looking for a hog, and catching 12 inch bows, with an occasional 15′. The other amazing thing was the weather we have been having. Its the end of Nov. (21st) and I was wearing a t-shirt and was still hot. This past week has been one of the best weather weeks I can remember in the history of late season fishing. If this keeps up we won’t be ice fishing this year. Pics are limited…due to a slippery camera and water…but Hoss came to the rescue and gave me his secret: put the camera on the jeep dash and crank up the heat and dry it out completely. I did it and when I got home it was as good as new. It was a great time spent with Hoss and the tradition that burns in my heart lives on.

Chris, Travis and Not Dane…

Nov 8th

Posted by Dr. G in Fly Fishing Stories

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Almost a year ago a group of co-workers took a trip into the Mtns in search of catching a trout for the first time on a fly rod. That day turned out to be a complete success with 50+ trout coming to hand. This Saturday morning a similar outing was designed but, with the intent of refining our skills and taking our fishing levels to new heights. Everything was going as planned, but, just as luck would have it Dane was no where to be scene at 8am. So Chris and I headed up to a section of river that was a sure bet and a spot to raise our confidence. The fish were running strong and the catch rate was off the charts. (I have never scene them that thick) We only fished from 9 am- 12:30pm, but that was enough we must have caught and released over 30-40 fish and quick released that many. It was a fun morning and time well spent and remembered. Too bad Dane, too bad… Did I mention it was the perfect fishing day. 50+ degrees, no wind and sunny on Nov 8th while we were fishing in the sun, others were Skiing at Snowbird only 45 mins away. I love the diversity of Utah.

Look close and you might be able to see some fishes!!!

Today we only used 3 flies Glow Bugs, Copper Johns and Brassies

Big Fish of Trip maybe 17′

In memory of the Dane Pose!

Off Roading, Brookies and Browns

Oct 31st

Posted by Dr. G in Backcountry Fly Fishing

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With a free Friday morning to do whatever I pleased. I was having the hardest time deciding on a location to fit my desires. Its what I was thinking when I feel asleep and the first thing on my mind when I woke up at 6 am. I even sat in bed tossing and turning until I decided, I had better just go and where ever I end up will be better than working. It came down to the Price, Provo and AF. With a left hand turn the decision was made to chase the elusive high country Artic Grayling and Beautiful Brook Trout of Silver Lake Flat.

I sent in the coordinates on the GPS and was off. The narrow dirt road leading up to the lake was full of rocks and everything my Jeep loves to climb. As I reached the lake I was surprised to find that it was as low as I have ever scene it. The lake was only a 1/3 full, due to reconstruction on the dam. I decided to try the inlet which in most unfamiliar lakes will produce. To my surprise as I was walking down to the water I could see a few rises in the early morning mist. I tied on a #20 Para Adams and an Orange Griffin Gnat. My first cast produced a nice take, but the fish must have been joking. I missed about 5 fish in a row and thought “Man, what am I doing wrong? Maybe they are Grayling with their small mouths???” So I decided to try the “God Save the King” Technique. It where you save God Save the King before you set the hook. It must have worked because for the next hour and half I hooked and release about 90% of my fish. The Brookies have their fall colors and were remarkable. I left and decided to hit Tibble Fork to see if the Browns were up in the river. The spawn was on and the Browns were everywhere. I hooked up with a handful of fish and decided I had had my share of fish for the day. (That’s a great feeling for fly fishermen) Didn’t see and Graylin, but the Brookies and Browns were enough to feel my cup and restore my confidence.