Friday, May 30, 2008

In Search Of Gold


So Jeremy and I had been planning this trip for a long time. The plan was to make it a guys trip since Stepfanie & Ellia would be in Utah. We would have the whole Memorial Day weekend to do whatever wild, crazy, manly things we could come up with. Since this post would take me a year to write in detail. I am going to change things up a little and let the pictures do most of the story telling.

Day 1:

So we left Utah at 4 pm and arrived in Bakersfield around 1pm. Even though it was a long drive it didn't feel it. I was partnered with Greg and Mallary and the Camry. The next morning as we waited for Jer to get done with work we took a dip in the pool and visit the local fly shop. (Note: most California fishermen are stuck up fags!) We finally made it to the Kern River to find that it was at peak run off 3,000 cfs, but yet it was clear and totally fishable, at least that what we hoped. I think the locals thought we were nuts. (Fishing Report: Kern River, stay out or die!) The nice thing about the high flows was that it kept the people away and left almost the whole canyon to ourselves. We found an awesome campsite set up the tents and hammock and we were off to try our luck at a native Kern River Rainbow.
Even though we never got a picture Jer was the first to land a Kern River Rainbow. Later that night we all meet up at a nice hole and took turns catching fish. It was awesome! I hooked up, then Greg, and Mallary topped it off catching a fish left handed. Once again Jer was the fist one there so we didn't get his picture.
Day 2: The next morning I woke up right as daylight was upon us. How could I sleep when I had fish to catch and river to explore. I tried a streamer like the night before but these fish didn't seem to interested so after losing my outfit. On came the San Juan Worm and Disco Midge. First cast Fish on! I worked my way down river to a good cliff spot and started catching fish every cast. Jer meet up with me and we switched off landing fish. Nymphs was definitely more productive. I ended up catching 16 fish that morning and Jeremy around 8. It was an awesome day on the river. It instilled in me the confidence that even though it is a different state, river and new place to fish. I can still find out what to use and have an almost 20 fish day. Saturday night we took a little break from the wild side and went to a Dodgers game. The game was sweet and our seats were even sweeter! (13 row!!!!) Too bad the Dodgers lost, but the real entertainment was watching the people we went with on the bus down like 1000 beers and get a what so call "Crapped Faced". The only thing we were getting wasted on were Sunkist and Dodger Dogs. Day 3: Took us to Sequoia National Forest. We ended up trusting Jers Tom Tom (GPS) and it took us on a high mountain adventure which was supposed to be a short cut. It would of been fine, but the pavement ended and we were stuck driving on a dirt road for 27 miles in the rain with our high performance off road Toyota Camry's. I don't know how Greg felt about it. I guess they bottomed out a few times, but it turned out to be the most beautiful scenery of the trip. We were driving through clouds and the forest looked like a green lush rain forest. We finally reached our destination 2 hours latter. Which really was a little bit of a short cut. Trail of 100 Giants, all I have to say is WOW! The pictures don't give them any justice. They are the freaks of the tree world...I guess that why they only grow in groups???After being amazed it was time we find a cool place to camp for the night. We once again took a unknown trail that actually lead us to what we thought could take us to the Forks of the Kern trail head, but just as before we were let down to see the gate was really locked. It was OK we parked at Campground 2 and walked along some little creek to get away from the white trash that say at the little camping area. But we seemed to not be able to get away from the scout camp, people or the main road because after hiking for 30 mins we were at campground 3 and right next to the road. So instead of giving up and walking back to the car we kept hiking up the creek which was steep and hard, but worth ever pain. We found an area that had been inhabited by Native Americans in the past and looked and felt as if it still did. Plain and simple it was the best campsite I have ever stay at.



Some of the highlights of place were:
  1. The huge boulders and green moss that grew on them.
  2. Building the make shift rain cover and granite top table.
  3. Catching little fish in awesome pools at the bottom of waterfalls.
  4. Sleeping in my make shift hut with pine needles and leaves as my pad. (scared out of my mind from the stories the night before)
  5. Good food, Dodger Dogs, tonz of junk food and Cold Sunkist.



Saturday, May 17, 2008

Figuring Out Lake X

So as I was laying on the couch watching the Jazz get their butts kicked by the Laker's, I couldn't help but start to plan out in my mind what was in store for the morning.(Sat) Strawberry was off my list, since I had fished it earlier that day and it wasn't so hot I had to return. So I was left thinking about two places that I have wanted to go for a long time but haven't had the chance to go. The Green River or Lake X. Since gas prices are out of this world and the Green being so far to go solo. I decide to hit the X with the goal in mind to catch a huge fish. So my cell phone was my alarm and it did its job to the max. I woke up at 5:30am on the dot. Today, I was serious so I got on my fishing clothes and was out the door. The night before got me thinking about my evolution as a fisherman and why I am addicted to it. I was looking back through my old fishing book remember the great trips I have experienced. The one thing that stuck out in my mind is that almost all of the trips I went on, I went with a group of people. In most cases it was Doug, Jordan, Scott, Grandpa or someone in the family. Now I look at my fishing trips and I haven't gone a family trip in at least 6 years. I think the last big trip was right before I left on my mission when we all went to Strawberry the day before I left. So what I am trying to say is that I miss our family fishing outings. It was so much fun to have everyone get together and to experience the quality time spent together. But those trips were more than just quality time. They were where friendships were made, where boys became men, and where I life lessons were taught. I really need to set up a family fishing trip this summer to Montana, The Boulders, or The Green because I and our family need it more than anything else. I think I'm starting to realize the power of fishing. It is a cure, fix, support, and simplifier.
Man, I really got off topic that time. So When I got to the X at 8:30am, I was surprised to see that there were already 4 other groups of people on the little lake. I thought to myself stupid DWR. They really screwed up this time!!! The fishing started off slow. I could get any fish to hit my wolley buggers. I tried fast retrieves, slow and all others. After floating around the whole I lake, I finally did one thing right. I put a All Purpose Emerger #12 trailing my bugger. My first drift I had a hit but the dang fish some how got off after almost taking my rod into the water. "No problem" I thought, "now I know what to use". So I found nice cove on the southwest shoreline, and within 5 minutes I had another good bite and a fish on that I hooked right in front of the boat. It went crazy and the fly popped out. Dang it was a nice Col Cut too! I moved up the shoreline with the wind and 10 or so casts latter I was hooked up again. This time I wasn't going to let the fish get off. It fought hard and all a sudden, I felt the fly slip. "Dang it" I said with disappointment, but wait a minute somehow the fish was still on. I fought the magnificent Colorado Cutthroat until my forearm was about to fall off. After probably a 15 min fight the 20-22 inch fish was in the net.
So what happened is that some how when the hook came out of the fishes mouth it caught again on the fishes top dorsal fin. I guess it was good fish fighting practice??? After that the fishing really slowed, so I tried to catch them on the bugs that they were actually feeding on. I know what your thinking. "Why wouldn't you fish that way from the beginning?" The reason is that I'm not to familiar with fishing with Chominoids (Midges). In fact I really never have tried it, but last time when Jordan and I went to the X. I got my but kicked by the fish because the only thing these fish would eat was Chominoids, PERIOD! So I did my homework and read as much as I could about the life cycle of these little black flies and it paid off. On my first cast focusing on Chominiods, I watched my strike indicator closely as it floated back to me. It twitched, I set the hook, fish jumped out of the water, hooked up with Chominoids.



I don't want to brag, but I was pretty proud of myself and thrilled that I could use this newly acquired technique for the future. The next 15 mins is kind of like a dream or something that didn't seem real. So after catching that little Cutty. I casted back in the same general area just a little bit further off shore. Just like the other hooked up my indicator twitched, but this time I didn't have to set the hook. The fish was on and it was big. It came right at me tangling in the fish finder then going around the anchor rope and finishing off with a 50 yard run which left me with no line and only the chance try and bulldog this giant in like a tuna. After about 5 mins of fighting I only managed about 5 feet of line. This fish was huge, I couldn't even get it to move let alone fight it with my little 8 ft rod. The next thing I did was probably the dumbest thing ever. I tried to put a little more pressure on the fish and then it happened. I felt the pop off, Slack line. NOOOOOOO!!! I guess now, I can only wonder and dream how big that fish really was, but if you ask me to tell you the story it will get bigger and bigger every time it is told. I'm guessing 10 pounds or maybe 50 pounds??? So by this time I was starting to feel a little sun burnt, tired, and hungry. So I worked the remaining shore line back to the boat having 2 good hits with the AP. It was a good day. I loaded up and just for fun I drove a couple miles up Currant Creek and tried at some brownies, the water was a little high and no signs of fish. (at least risers)
As I drove home I was thinking again about fishing with friends and family. On one hand I love it, but on another I go solo so I can fish and improve my own personal skills. I came to the realization that I need both in my life to be a well balanced person. I topped off the day with hitting Lambert Park for a nice little bike ride as the sun slowly set in the background.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Ice Off at the Berry

So all during the week I have been reading reports about Strawberry Ice Off. This wouldn't really mean much, except for the fact that "Ice Off" is known as the best and most prized time to fish any lake, especially the Berry. Any true fishermen would go through withdralls if he knew that "Ice Off" was occuring and he couldn't make it to the lake. So lucky enough for me my work schedule allows me to work only half days on fridays. So with that in place I hit the ole berry patch today. My orginal plan was to wake up at 5:30am and hit the lake at first light. But since I don't ever set an alarm and use my own internal time clock. I went to bed at 11:30pm and woke up again at 12:45am thinking it was time to go. I guess that must have thrown me off cause I feel back to sleep and slept like a rock until I woke up at 6:45am and saw that it was light already. Dang! I thought, I grabbed some clothes and I was off to get the drift boat. But today my attitude was a little different than usaul. I was ok with taking my time and doing things a little slower than usaul. I guess I get that way when I go fishing solo. So I finally got to the Berry around 8:30am. It was an interesting ride up the canyon, considering the last time I drove up I blew the Jeep engine. This time I was very paranoide and drove nice and easy. I even turned down the radio a few times to be able to better hear the purr of the engine. Like that helped. So like most things in life if you have a problem or an obsitcle keep trying and you will overcome it sooner or later. That's what the Jeep did. It drove like a champ!
So back to the fishing. I lanched at Chicken Creek and right off the bat I saw a fish rise about 10 feet from shore so. I paddle over within 20 ft and I sharted casting to where I thought it would be. Three cast later. Wham!!! As I was stripping my black wolley bugger in a hungry cutty slamed my fly about 10 ft from the boat. It fought great and finally tired and came to my net. It was about 17-19 inches long. All I could think at that moment was "I love Ice Off, YES"
So with this instant success and the skunk off my back. I was ready to have a killer day. But as any fishermen who has been fishing for a while will know, that just cause the day started off fast doesn't mean the rest of the day is going to be fast. Thats just what happened to me. I fished hard for the next hour without even a nibble. I finally stopped trolling when the fish finder said there was a school of fish in 10 feet of water. As I stripped in the line BAM! another fish one. This time the cutt was a brillantly colored male about 21 inches long.
The last hour of the day was spent drifting around trying to find some active fish to no avail. Even though it wasn't the best "Ice Off" experience I have ever had. It was still one of them. I learned some new things today and got a chance to use my fish finder which I have never used on the drift boat. I'm glad I finally was able to go out and finally get the withdralls out of my system. I feel so much calmer now. Isn't it funny how that works or is it just me?

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Thoughts, Goals, Plans, Places, Dreams...

So I have been thinking a lot lately about my commitment to fly fishing. For the past few years I have really lost my edge when it comes to fly fishing being my #1 past time. I have become a more rounded person and have experinced all kinds of sports due to this, but at the same time since I have saturated my time spent outdoors I feel like I am just average now at the activities I particapate in, espeically fly fishing. So like I said I have been feeling this for a while now. But now is the time I finally put my foot down and focas on time spent outdoors fly fishing and gaining knowledge in the sport.
So here are a few lists I have put together that have helped me in my fly fishing endevors:
My 2008 Fishing Goals

1. Green River 3 Day A,B,C float
2. Build my own fly rod
3. Better educated in Fly Fishing. (Little things, casting, bugs)
4. Montana Trip with Grandpa
5. South Fork Float
6. Wind Rivers
7. Catch a Muskie, Carp, and Striper on fly rod
8. Tetons Float
9. Boulder Mountains
10. Camp up on Lake X
11. Kern River- Sierras
*Uintas, Fish Lake, Current Creek, Fairview Canyon*

Future Trips-Dream Trips
1. Montana
Beaverhead (big fish)*
Big Hole*
Madison (Bows)*
Missouri
Blackfoot
2. Idaho
South Fork (Best camp-float, Dries)*
Henry’s Fork (The Challenge)*
Snake (Teton-Jackson)
Big Wood-Salmon
Blackfoot (Solitude, Cutts on dries)*
3. Wyoming
Salt*, Grey’s
Upper Green (Pinedale)
4. Green
Float A,B&C-Camp
5. Colorado
Gunnison (2nd week in June)
Frying Pan
Colorado River

Wilderness Fishing
6. Wind Rivers (Goldens)
7. Unitas (Lots of fish)*
8. Boulders (Big Brookies)
9. Yellowstone (Amazing scenery, Cutts on dries)*
10. Jackson Hole/Tetons (Tetons!!!) *
10.5. Idaho Bulls (Clearwater river system, Selway, Lochsa, St. Joe, Kelly creek, North Fork Clearwater)

Travel Trips
11. Alaska
12. Patagonia
13. Oregon-Washington (Steelhead)
14. Mexico-Caribbean (Flats, Deep Sea)
15. Canada

Still Waters
16. Strawberry (20” Cutty’s)*
17. Lake-X (Huge Fish)*
18. Fish Lake (Tradition, Splake)*
19. Lake Powell (Stripers, Bass)*
20. Pineview-Newton (Muskie)
* = Places already fished

Travis’s Fly Fishing Trip Planner

River-Lake:
Date:
Start Time:
Finish Time:
Crew:
Transportation:
Schedule:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Must Have Fishing Gear
Drift Boat
Rods
Reels
Waders
Boots
Vest/Flies
Fishing License
Polarized Glasses
Net
Fly Tying Gear

Camping Gear
Food/Water
Tent
Sleeping Bag/Blanket
Pillow
Lantern
Mat
Stove
Pans
Utensils/Plates/Cups
Chairs
TP

Clothes
Lucky Fishing Hat
T-Shirts
Sweat Shirts
Coat
Shorts
Pants
Underwear
Socks
Shoes/Sandals
Rain Gear
Can’t Forget Stuff
Wallet
Head Lamp
Matches
Knife
Camera/Camcorder
Bug Spray
Sun Screen
Bathroom Stuff
Portable Toilet
Movies/Mag/Book
Hammock


Quotes
“Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.” River Runs Through It

"Throughout this century I have roamed this wilderness, communing with nature, observing other creatures along with myself, merely desiring to live and let live. Because of this aloneness, I've learned to love, not only those of my own kind, but all life within a wilderness; the birds, the beasts, the trees, the flowers, and the grasses of the land. Only in wilderness, it seems, is man's love so thoroughly and completely returned, so unselfishly shared" - Finis Mitchell