News Flash....

We unfortunately still cannot bring you tales and stories of the past couple of days, because today was way too phenomenal a day not to have a post of it's own.

"Boy it's a beautiful day," Rick told me as we headed toward the stream. That's been our mantra the past week, as no matter what bad cast or bit of bad luck came our way, we reminded ourselves where we were, and what a treat it was to be here.

Rick and I started out back at his corner where a giant fish tormented him this past Saturday when we were out. He worked a "special" fly through that he'd had a lot of look with the other day. Unfortunately, it didn't even receive a passing glance, so I handed him my fly rod and let him cast the fly through the pool that I'd been using. On his second cast he had an enormous hit that he just missed.



He tried another fly with no luck, and told to me to step in. I proceeded to miss two strikes myself, and after a few more fly changes, we decided that we were defeated and moved on. We continued to fish a few more stretches with not much more success. When we reached a big pool and both missed a take or two, we decided that we'd head back to the car for a sandwich and try to hit that pool on the way back out as we continued up stream.

Apparently, 1/2 a chicken sandwich with mustard and a cold beer must be the ticket, as when we hit the pool on the way through after lunch, we immediately saw some rises. A few casts later, I was hooked to a monster.



A few minutes of fighting and delicate maneuvering to make sure that I didn't pop the fish off my line, and I had him to hand.



And Rick took a bunch of exceptional photographs of the fish.



It was a really great feeling. My second exceptionally large fish since I've been out here, where it's rare to see fish this size at all. An absolutely spectacular pure Cutthroat. Deep green and gold on it's sides, with beautifully bright orange gills and fins. It was such a special feeling to get that fish to hand, and Rick seemed to be as excited as I was which made it all the more enjoyable.

We proceeded up stream and Rick was able to land two nice fish himself. Each time he saw a rise ahead of him, executed a nice cast ahead of the rise, and the fly drifted perfectly into place each time for the fish to eat. I know Rick was pleased with his execution in landing both of those fish.

We fished side by side for a bit as we hit a wide stretch of water, but as we neared a bend in the river, Rick told me he was ready for a break, and was going to hop onto the bank for a few minutes and I should keep going, and he'd join me ahead. Well, as he was getting out of the water, I made a cast or two to the side he was fishing, and missed a monster take.

I sent the fly adrift over the same area a couple more times, but no luck, so I decided to tie on a new fly and give him one shot at a different look. Sure enough, he hit the next offering. I knew it was a nice fish when it struck the fly, but as I got him closer, I was again astounded. Another giant Cutthroat. WHAT A DAY!!!

And if catching the fish weren't enough, check out this magnificent photo that Rick snapped. Could you imagine a more perfect backdrop?



As I released the fish and shook Rick's hand, I had to admit, "Man, I feel a little bad. I feel like I got your fish." After Rick said not to worry, I had to confess, "Well, not all that bad, but a little."

Rick got back into the water, and continued to fish a few more rises that we saw. I think he nearly got two really nice fish himself, as one nice one I saw roll on the fly but Rick just missed the hook set, but it wasn't meant to be. We had to head back as I was already late for softball games, and Rick was cooking dinner tonight.

Beautiful lighting and scenery on the ride home. Boy it was a beautiful day.



I'd also like to say a special thank you to Rick for all of the outstanding photos he took, and the genuine excitement he shared with my catching these fish. It really was a team sport today. Thanks Rick.

Tales Wil be Told.....

...because there are tales to tell, but once again, I'm wonderfully exhausted from another day of hiking and fishing. So, since pictures are worth a thousand words, here you go:

Sid, Rob, and Rick over "The Pass"

A nice fish Craig caught just after being released.



Fish food.

A shot Craig snapped of me....

...in what feels like "our own little Idaho" to quote the Bodeans. (And yes, that's me on the stream lower left)

"Wow, What a Great Day!"

A sentiment echoed by all....tales to come tomorrow after a good night's rest....

















Also, photos added to yesterday's blog.

Fun, Fun and More Fun

My day got started as I headed down to breakfast and saw Rob was gonna have Cheerios instead of eggs and ham. I of course had to grab him the Cheerios Children's Book that Wendy brought Sid's daughter so that Rob could have some mental stimulation during breakfast.

Kids' games, breakfast, and somehow countless dirty jokes later we were getting our gear into the car and set to go fishing. I get all my stuff and the lunch loaded, and as Rick's loading his stuff, I look up just in time to see him shudder and hear him mumble "Man that was a big fish."

Clearly we were ready for another beautiful day.

We ended the day with more jokes, laughter, and a night of stargazing. Rob and Craig were seemingly challenging each other as to who could spot the next satellite moving across the sky. Yes, it's so clear and dark out here you can see satellites in orbit. I saw two shooting stars in the matter of about thirty seconds that were spectacular as well.

Sandwiched in between our nonsense we managed to catch some fish as well. I caught one that might rival the smallest fish of the summer that I posted yesterday, and a few nices ones as well. I think there are a number of pictures of each of them, but they weren't taken with my camera, so hopefully I'll get them and maybe post one or two tomorrow.

Photo Updates:

How Does a Grasshopper Practice Safe Sex?

"Get your F---ing camera! NOW!!!"

I'd be excited too if I were Rob. Sure, the flies he ties might catch a fish or two, but how many can tie Hopper Fly and fool Hoppers as well?

It's All About the Potential

Took a ride to Jackson Hole, WY today with Rick and Rob, who I've fished with the past couple of days, as well as Craig and Wendy, as Wendy heads home tomorrow. Stopped at a couple of fly shops and then had an early dinner at the Merry Piglets, a good little Mexican restaurant that Craig and Wendy found on their last stay in Jackson.

The ride was a nice little breather. I caught up on some rest in the back seat, and it also gave us all some time to reflect on the past few days fishing. Rob mentioned that he had been keeping notes from the trip so he could recount his tales from the trip to friends and family, and his starting note for Thursday was "The potential to have been the best day of my life." All the while, Rick was riding shotgun, and every half our or so, you'd hear him mumble, "Man that was a big fish."

This was the extent of our picture taking from Thursday....



Yes, I caught this little beauty, and it was a riot. When we got to the next pool, there was an absolute monster that Rob hooked, but it immediately popped off. I stepped in and threw a different fly at it, and he came back and hit again, but I missed as well. Rob then decided that he'd swing a Wooly Bugger through the pool, and the fish hit that as well, but as quickly as Rob's line came tight on the fish, it went slack again, and after three strikes, we were out.

We fished a bit longer in the same stretch, but it was high noon, and though we saw a lot of fish, it seemed like no one was at the buffet line, because we weren't even getting refusals. The fish weren't even looking at what we threw. I think we'll head back there next week either earlier in the morning or later in the evening when it's not so hot.

We headed up the road to a different area, and had some better luck there, each landing a few nice fish. I caught a great one near the end of the day after we'd seen a nice rise by the bank, but no picture as when I got the fish to hand, he'd inhaled the fly so deep into his mouth that it took some time to get the fly out and the fish was bleeding, so rather than photo, we spent the time resuscitating the fish and making sure he was good to go and swim strongly back to his hole.

Just up the bank, though, Rob and I were at it again, as we saw another huge rise. It was like deja vu to the earlier session, as Rob got a hit and missed, then it was my turn, and then Rob again. Three strikes by a very large fish, but no luck. In the end, it was a great day....memorable more so for the misses, but incredibly exciting nonetheless...and we'll of course be back to try to settle our unfinished business.

Friday we went to one of my favorite spots from last year, as we fished and hiked up a canyon in a tiny little mountain stream, which is different from most of the other water we fish here. Mostly small fish in this stream, but a lot of fun, a lot of action, and magnificent scenery.







And every time some does this hike for the first time, their photo gets taken at the top of the pass, which is the highest point we hit on the hike. Here's Rob:



Once we hit the pools in the upper meadow above the canyon, I caught a really nice fish that Rob got the end of the fight on video, and I'll hopefully download that and get a snapshot off of it to post later.

This morning before the trip to Jackson, Rick and I went out for a couple of hours. It was a beautiful morning, but the fishing was slow, we only had one bite, but boy was it a doozie.

We hit a part of the stream that was shallow and the water was moving quickly, and it seemed like we were making a lot of noise. There was a nice deep pool ahead and a reasonably clear bank on the right side of the river, so I suggested we get out of the water to hopefully make a more stealth approach. Once we got up onto the bank, I saw a very large rise from a feeding fish up at the head of the pool.

Rick began casting, and made a few casts to the back and middle of the pool with no luck. When he made his next cast to the head of the pool, the fly floated no more than a few feet before it was hammered, and the fight was on. You could instantly tell the size of the fish by the fight without having even seen it.

Rick got into the water and started backing up to move the fish towards shallow water. As Rick gained ground on the fish and the fish came shallow, you could see the tremendous broadside of the fish, an absolute monster. I dropped my bag to grab my camera, and no sooner did I have it ready and take a few steps towards the water when I saw Rick's shoulders slump, the international angler sign language for "Damn I broke him off."

But Rick quickly gathered himself, and as he turned to me, smiled and said, "What a beautiful morning, huh?" We had a good laugh and enjoyed the fact that Rick got a chance to play such a wonderful specimen on his rod. But all afternoon, just thinking about that fish, you'd get some goose bumps and chills and just have to shake them off as you said to yourself "Man, what a fish."

I think Rick's plan is to catch some live grasshoppers, go back to the pool and drop them in each day to feed that fish, hoping that the fish will get comfortable again and forget today's experience, so that maybe one day next week he'll let his guard down and give Rick another chance.

So as we headed back from Jackson and happily remembered our nice catches and near misses, I think Rob said it best when he noted that even though Thursday was the potential for the best day ever, really, every day on the water starts with that same potential. I know I'm excited for the potential and promise that tomorrow will bring.

Woo Hoo Buckaroo!!!

Scenes from the Little Buckaroo Rodeo, Caribou County, in Grace, Idaho. Give the kids credit, they really laid it on the line for our entertainment.

Notice the boots, bracelet, and the priceless look on the sheep's face.

"I can fly!"

"Or not...."

"Just hold on....."

"Oops"