East meets West

Since both you boys were out here this weekend....no need to wax poetic on what the happenings were, but I still thought I'd post the trips photos and welcome any insight or words you may wish to add. The "on the water days" have been updated for each as well. So enjoy, and dream on till next time.

Tight lines.

I had to post this one of Hans-in-ator sitting in the found lawn chair, reminds me of the Yellowstone days...ahhh.

Hans-i-nator's first time out!

Ok, I’m finally participating. Yes, I may not be the best at words or even the best at anything, but I’ll have the most fishing days in the year of 2007. Mark my words my brothers, Laman and Lemuel, I will lead you to the promised land.
My fishing year begins in the tiny stream of the Big Cotton Wood Canyon. It’s probably the most beautiful stream you will ever fish although the fishing isn’t that great…yet, but it will be as the year progresses. John can attest to its beauty since he has been there with me. And while on the subject of John, I don’t think I’ll take him again since he so easily out fished me that past day. Well, on Saturday 3/17, the water was crystal clear and extremely cold. It was 70 degrees, sunny and calm winds when I got put my waders on at 10AM, just beautiful. I found it very strange to see many people wearing winter attire getting ready to go snow shoeing at the very spot I started fishing. Maybe they thought the same as they gazed at me, with my short sleeve shirt, fishing vest, and speedos. Yes, I had to cross several feet of snow just to get into it water.
I only caught one 11 inch brown trout about half way through my three hour fishing time, so in other words, the fishing was fantastic. I caught him on the first cast after replacing my favorite fly, the Orange Stimulator, with a Pheasant tail nymph. I’m still paying my debt to the fish gods for stealing flies from Wal-Mart so many years ago. As John pointed out to me when we talked later that afternoon on the phone, I have no evidence of my fishing excursion. So, you’ll have to rely on my word alone. I’m an honest man, honest.
Please understand why I’ll have the most fishing days this year. This little fishing spot is only a short 15 minutes from my office cubicle, and since it’s in the heart of skiing territory, I get great cell reception. I can just work right from the stream boys. On top of that, I don’t have to do any “honey-do’s” to make up for it. So don’t feel taken aback if I eventually lead you all on this year’s journey although I know you both will catch more fish than I.

St. Patty's day fishing

OK, OK, I admit I was not thinking the other day....but no harm done..it was correctable. But just think...some "kiss and tell" fool has given us many nice streams..ie..gooseberry (not that great anymore, so I will mention it) and of course our beloved "BS". So I ask, where would we be without a few kiss and tellers? Right O.
I took off on Saturday..up left hand fork..I knew there would be many "heathens" running around flinging bait to and fro, but knowing the gate was still locked, I brought the old bicycle along. I rode in a few miles..passing all the lesser and bi-peddle fisherman en route to clear virgin water. I tell ya brothers..there's nothing like fishing "new" water that has yet to be sullied by the hoards that descend upon water that has a road running stream side. I caught many, many fish...they were rising here and there, all browns. Had an excellent day, minus the fact that I stumbled miserably due to having no felt on the bottom of my wading boots. Tis time to replace that 15 year old pair. Cabelas here I come.

DO YOU HAVE A PERSCRIPTION OF IDIOT PILLS

OK, little brother who has repeatedly chided me for my spousal fauxpas.. do you realize that you have just become the worse of all fisherman- the kiss and tell- worse, the kiss and publish fisherman. From your last post, any reasonably intelligent piscator (granted, there are precious few who fit that description) can now deduce the location of the beloved cane based sweeter stream we are so fond of (some more fond than others). I can certainly understand your horror and subsequent relief and that such a poignant episode my cause you temporary insanity, but you have made the GREATEST BLUNDER OF ALL! Poisoning would be a welcome relief compared to standing shoulder to shoulder with worm throwing plunkers intent on pilaging and robbing the virtue of your dainty delight!

A collective sigh of relief-

Believe me, I about lost it. As I was doing some "honey-do's" to make up for the "episode" this week, I picked up a 2007 Proclamation at the grocery stand checkout and thumbed through it. Under ****** Fork River it read, "from **** Forks crossing upstream including ALL tributaries, closed to fishing". See, See, you should be thinking "hmm, that includes "brown sugar" and then a rush of panic and pain should shoot through your body as you let out a primordial scream. The poor girl at the checkout stand wet herself, but I didn't care, this was serious. An immediate phone call to the DWR in ****** gave me the information that all those tributaries had been poisoned and would remain closed for sometime. Through my mumbling and sob chocked blurting, I asked.."does.. sniff sniff.. that included...soft wailing...sniff sniff....."brown sugar"? Like the balm of Gilead..the soothing words of, "no, no, that tributary is below Three Forks" came to my hopeful and now joyful ears. The Hallelujah scream that escaped my lips made the poor girl on the other end of the phone deaf, and also slightly embarrassed from wetting herself, but again, I did not care.
So hear me brothers..we dodged a bullet on that one, June will still yield the sweet tooth pleasures.....and please, don't ever take away a man's brown sugar.
Forever your piscator brother...jp

3-14, Lower Porcupine (Lil Bear)

Ah dear boys...twas good to get out again. Dipped out around noon. Water was low and clear. Fished a couple beaver ponds...you know how that goes..but more trout were caught (and larger) than yesterday. This water does not hold as many trout..but they are bigger..

Hans, you've fished this water, remember crossing over into the "no trespass" area (ie..invitation for fisherman to fish) and fishing up stream? Glorious day boys...eat your black hearts out!

Can you believe these photos?! Ok ok...just one more..

Ok, maybe two.

The weather turned off a little cold, windy and cloudy...so I didn't stay as long as I would have liked...plus my boy back home needed some meds..and I was going to hit the store on the way home..(aren't I a thoughtful father?)

I could tell the stream had not seen another piscator in some time...hence the easy rises, but you know, most of these trout were in places you wouldn't normally expect them.

But seeing how the weather and bugs have just turned nice recently..that must explain the lack of shyness and eagerness of these browns.

With that said...it's a fools paradise out there boys..come and get while the getting is good. ps..it's only 15 miles from home to streamside.

Cardinal Rule #1

Never, and I mean Never! rat-out a fellow trout bum by telling his wife when and where he went fishing!!! Alas, boys, I am deep in the doghouse. An unnamed caller (initials MB) called and inadvertently told my wife where I'd been yesterday. It was not so much the fishing on her birthday, as it was leaving a sick kid at home to watch the little kids. There's not much worse than having your wife spring that information upon you, without you having been aprised of the information ahead of time. (ie..call the bum and tell him you screwed up and ratted him out and that he's going to catch hell-fire when he gets home) It's going to take some real sweet talking to get me outta the house this time. any ideas?

A horrible, horrible blunder

Dropping a fly box in swift water, swimming with your new video camera, stepping on the tip of your rod... all mistakes, but leave it me to create THE HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE BLUNDER! So I call JP to comment on his first day and the trout cam and all and his wife answers the phone...
Mick: John home?
wife: no, he's got young mens on Tuesdays
Mick: Oh yah, I always forget that...
wife: did you call to wish me happy birthday?
Mick: Yep, as a matter o' fact I did, Happy... 39th, it's all down here from there.
wife: yah that's what I hear- that's not really why you called though is it?
Mick: umm, yah, I was just calling to harrass John about fishing today
wife: what?
Mick: ummm, I uh, I was calling, umm, see I ummmm
wife: John went fishing today didn't he! He went because Noah was home sick and he left Noah with the little kids so he could fish. And it's MY BIRTHDAY
Mick: umm, I got a bad connection, ummmm I gotta go now my mom, i mean wife is calling for me, happy birthday, hope you have a great one, bye.

First Day: 3-13-07, Left Hand BF.

Let just say...it's a true trout bum that begins his season by fishing on his wife's birthday! Yes, take note friends.

Nice day, nice day. Headed up the stream..68 degrees..though the Main fork of the river was a bit muddy...had me nervous. When I turned up the LH Fork, all the fears dissapated...clear water boys!

Even a small hatch of midges was coming off...but that didn't stop me from putting on a royal wulff and flinging away. First two casts found me in the trees..but I quickly recified that problem and landed the fly in the water.

It was SO nice to be out...I landed and missed several nice trout. Mostly browns..one cutt.

I even tried out my new digital camera that takes under water photos (jealous Hans?) Here's fish eye view...pretty cool eh? I tried sneaking up on some fish, to get their photo..but none would stick around, so I went back to catching them.

check em out--so I'm on the board, count me in.