So from now on I am going to pick a subject of study each week and post my favorite findings here so others can partake and I can have them as a quick index.
Study One: Damsel and Dragon Flies
http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/entomology/others/damselflies/
http://bcadventure.com/adventure/angling/bugs/damselfly/damselfly.phtml
http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/damsel-dry.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Damsel-Flies-and-Fly-Fishing&id=714326
http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/flies/spence_damselflies.aspx
http://www.flyfisherman.com/rmwest/gtdamsels/index.html
http://www.flyline.com/entomology/
This year we decided to create a different kind of firework show. In the spirit of Independence Day we decided to leave all friends and family behind and explore the wild side of the Flaming Gorge wilderness. Liz and I left Friday morning about an hour behind schedule, but that was just fine. This was more of a vacation than a rushed fishing trip. We reached the river at 11 am and right away. I started hooking up with all the little planter Bows they had planted the week before. 
We left the launch and started floating to the best holes that I wanted to explore this trip. I used a Cicada most of the day with a few fish that wanted to play, but the majority of them would swim right up to it and laugh, then swim away. One of the coolest experiences I have ever seen happened was on this float. Right as we were about to enter a rapid my rod that was just sitting in the back of the boat with its flies dangling 5 feet behind, started screaming as the line zinged out. I quickly looked back thinking I had a snag, but to my amazement there was a huge Rainbow fighting for its life on the other end. I grabbed the rod and horsed him into the net. It was the big fish of the trip and one I will soon not forget. (it hit my big PMX) 
The rest of the float was highlighted with Liz's amazing rowing job. She was a natural. She took over the oars for the last 2 miles and let me fish. Which was so much fun considering this was the most I have ever been able to fish out of my own boat. With the weather turning overcast and a little windy I tied on the crystal and ginger buggers and had fish hitting it right away. I hooked up a few times, but the bigger browns would hit it and I was having a heck of a time trying to keep them on. I must have missed 20 or so good hits. But that was all right...It was just fun to be out with Liz and having a good time together. After the float it was about 5 pm so we got the bikes unloaded and hit a 3 mile trail that takes you to an awesome lookout point of Flaming Gorge Res. 
With our hearts pumping and our legs tired we decided it was time now to find a camp and hangout of the night. We found a dirt road right off the main highway drove up it about 500 yards and had our own private campground that rocked. It was tons of fun to set up the tent, blow up the mattress, gather firewood and make a killer fire to cook our dinner on. This made me think how much I enjoy and miss real camping. Its funny now a days there so many ways to camp like cabins, timeshares, condos, and hotels that people forget what it is really all about. Too bad for them they are really missing out. The menu for the night was Liz's special Chicken Tin Foil dinners with delicious smores for dessert. 
The only bad weather we had all trip was later that night when it decided to blow really hard for about ten minutes and give us a light summer shower. Liz woke me up while she and I quickly zipped up the windows of the tent. The next morning we were charged and ready for another great day out on the river. I was full of anticipation of rising trout and lots of hook ups. Where Liz was glad to see we had another sunny day in front of us. The float started out a lot like the first day with lot of little bows right by the launch with a few larger ones mixed in the bunch this time. Liz ended up rowing most of the day and did a great job navigating a couple large rapids, while letting me try and catch some beautiful trout. We stopped and hung out right below roller coaster rapid and like the day before were surprised with another unexpected Bow that hit right as we ready to stop.
I fished the hole pretty hard, but when I switched to two ginger buggers. I had 3 hard hits and finally landed a nice male brown on my new streamer rod. (9 foot, 8 wt)
The highlight to the fishing was definitely when I stopped right below mother-in-law rapid. I hooked up my first two casts and ended up catching 6 fish in about 30 minutes. It was awesome and a needed confidence boost. I noticed that the fish in the last 3 miles were a lot more active with the light hatch of PMDS coming off. I fished the hole with about a 14 foot leader, San Juan and PTs right down on the bottom. 
The rest of the float I tried hucking the meat again (buggers) but the smart browns would chase, but weren't to hungry or it wasn't really the right conditions for them. Little sunny and early in the day. Both days I hitched rides back to the dam with fellow fishermen, instead of paying $84 bucks witch I personally think is totally rapping people. In all it was an awesome experience that Liz and I will never forget. I love going on trips with her where we can both be ourselves and let our love for nature and the great outdoors roam free like the wild trout we were catching. I am so lucky to have such a cool wife that loves the outdoors as much as I do, because there it nothing better that sharing experiences together that last in your memories forever. 
By 2 pm we had arrived at the old CCC camp along side the river where we had camped last year. (For the sake of the little streams and the little pressure it can handle. I won't give out any names to its location) We set up camp, which involves setting up the castle of all tents. Its a 21' by 15 ' wall tent that my father-in-law picked up last year and is so nice to have. Its like having a mini cabin to stay in. I didn't hurry to the river like I am accustom to doing. Instead I hung out got the Jeep unpacked and helped set up camp. As I glanced over to the raging river of chocolate milk below me I couldn't help but think we really messed up on the timing this year. I can remember thinking to myself I hope we can at least catch something. (with not much confidence) After many different thoughts running through my head like determining where to fish and what would be best. I decided to string up both rods and give it a chance. As I started tying on my flies I started thinking this was going to be awesome and the challenge I was looking for. As I walked along the trail I was looking for one thing, a pocket of slow water. My first hole I stopped at didn't produce with San Juan's and a Crystal bugger. I decided to move up stream in hopes of a better hole and that's exactly what I found. It was the perfect Beaver Pond that made a nice slow moving back eddy. My first cast with my double streamer outfit (Crystal and Golden) produced a hit. Then the second cast, I stripped once nice and slow and then I felt some tension, hook set fish on! It was a nice native Cutthroat trout and a confidence builder for myself. 
2 casts later I found myself with 3 fish in the net and a nice dinner to bring back to the crew. Aaron and Ty worked their way up to the hole and we all fished together having a great time. 
Aaron landed two more Cuts and Ty and I landed 4 more to finish up the first night of fishing. Later that night I fillet the trout, ate some tasty hot dogs and we sat around the campfire telling and listening to stories of past childhood pranks, Andrew's Taiwan adv
The next morning didn't bring much change to the the raging river. I guess that's the price you pay for having a good snow year. (Runoff into July) The crew decided to venture to another close by stream that was said to be running nice and clear. We got to the river around 7:30 am and could only fish until 9:30 am due to our tee time. We stayed about a half mile from the trail head where I imagine most people due their fishing. We only caught a couple fish each, but the clear little stream did allow me to fish dry flies and raise a nice little native. 
Next was the Red Barron which was just what I needed to hold me over as I attempted to play 9 holes of Golf. I will have to admit It was a lot of fun. Too bad Aaron, Curtis and I, lost to Dan, Bernell and Andrew and had to buy them shakes as we stopped by the Barron for some dinner. We stopped by the Lancaster farm on the way back to camp to see the grandparents. I always enjoy spending time with such great people that seem to have this complicated world all figured out. I love hearing their stories about past fishing and hunting trips and sharing with grandpa my secret flies and watching his reaction. They are the reason why small town life is so appealing to me. Its a simple, but hard working life style where you come to love the people and land around you. One day at a time. When we got back to camp I wasn't messing around. I strung up my fly rod and headed straight for the meadow.
I found a couple side pockets and some hungry trout. But when I finally decided to meet up with Aaron and Andrew at the Big Beaver Pond. 
That's when things started looking a little brighter. As I came around the corner Andrew had just hooked up with his first fish of the trip which ended up being the largest also. We all fished the big deep hole and all had a great time hooking into the little natives. As we walked back I was once again reminded of why I am so passionate about fishing. It's about the places fly fishing takes you, the adventure of the unknown and the people that you meet along the way. As Andrew and I walked back to camp well past dark. We were meet by the welcoming smell of peach cobbler. I loaded up the plate said my goodbyes and was on the road home. Back to my life that I had left behind. Now I have had some pretty bad drive homes but this one was pretty dang hard. I think I was seeing double vision by the time I pulled into PG at 2 am. 
