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.