Large Mouth Bass Are Snobs

There's talk of picky fish like carp and trout feeding on specific bugs but few fish swim away with the smugness of a largemouth bass. Bass don't just refuse your fly they do it with a fishy version of giving you the finger. I recently found some huge largemouth bass holding close to downed trees near the bank. I cast a few flies and the large bass just ignored it. One fish in particular gave my fly the same look cute girls gave me in school. Like they had just stepped in gum, it was annoying and they wish it never happened. They don't even swim away a lot of times when your fly falls near them they just ignore it and act like you were stupid for even trying. Few fish give more of an indication of who is more clever than the largemouth. I guess I love to hate them because I keep going back for more punishment. More looks of pity and anger from the bass as they wait for this idiot to stop raining trash into their fishing space. I think maybe that is the only reason they hit at times. They think ENOUGH and just hit out frustration and the desire to be left alone. We think we're smarter as we take pictures and release them back to where they came from. More often though we leave empty handed cussing under our breath and the bass watches us walk away with that dumb permanent frown. 

Son's First Trout

Took my son to a Delayed Harvest stream to catch his first trout. These streams are great for teaching children to fish. The waters are stocked heavily and the fish love nymphs especially soft hackles. 

He was able to cast, hook and bring this fish on his own. He didn't catch any more but he was content having me hook fish and then hand him the rod to bring it in. It was a wonderful day. 

Daughter's First Trout

I've been trying to figure out the right timing to fly fish for trout with the kids. I tried last year and it went great until about 20min in my son fell in the river. He wasn't swept away by the current but he did go in face first and got soaked. This time instead of taking both I decided to try just going with my daughter. The weather seemed to cooperate and I knew a stream had just been stocked. My mother was able to come along and things were adding up to make a great fishing trip. We got to the river and only one other car was in the parking lot. I rigged up our gear as fast as I could and my mother talked to a gentleman who was recently fishing. He said he didn't think it was stocked at all. My heart kind of sank when I heard that but I was skeptical and decided to check for myself. I looked in a location I knew always had fish and sure enough there were 4 or 5 just hanging in the calm water.

 Fish were here and I knew a run where they stack up after stocking. I put my daughter in position and watched her cast upstream. I tried to explain how to watch the drift and keep an eye on the indicator. On her third cast the indicator dipped. She lifted the rod late and felt the tug of a fish and instantly had that smile you get when you hook a fish. "I felt it fighting!" she said. The next several casts she had several strikes and her timing was just a bit off from setting the hook. I figured this is how it would go most of the day then all of sudden she shrieked "I GOT ONE, I GOT ONE" and I saw a shimmer in the water. Before I could say anything she hauled the fish out of the water and brought it over to the bank. I ran over and put the fish in the net and I told my daughter "try not to slam the fish on the bank but that was awesome!"

I was still amazed at how fast she caught a fish. I knew she'd probably catch one but not in the first 10min of fishing.

We were both a little giddy. I thought it was beginner's luck but a few casts later she had another fish. Then while I was helping my mother untangle her line I heard behind me "I got another one!" 

She caught another fish shortly after and then asked if she could take a break.

I explained that fishing isn't always like this and some days you don't catch anything. She knew that and wanted to take a break to check out the flowers and do some other projects. She proceeded to start building something using the river rocks. I thought about talking to her about how those are a home for other animals and some of the consequences of doing that but just left her to her fun. 

I love that she enjoyed just being outside and it wasn't about how many fish she caught. She learned this a lot faster than I did. It was an amazing day for everyone and the best part is that I could share it with family.

We all caught fish and the weather couldn't have cooperated better. I can only hope the future trips we have will be half as successful.

Spring Like Temps

80 degrees today and it was too nice to not get out. I went to one of my favorite spots for lunch and the fishing was slow but I did get one good one.

So nice to get out and cast a line again. I was in such a hurry I missed a guide when setting up the rod. 

Cody Wyoming

God, Country, Family, Rodeo. That's Cody Wyoming's motto and after staying in Cody and attending the rodeo I can believe it. It's a must do if you're ever visiting this town. It's fun for the whole family. My kids had an absolute blast and even got in on the action. 

The rodeo has always fascinated me. It's where man and beast work together or against one another depending on the circumstances.

Women look just as tough as the dudes and there's an intensity watching this live that can't really be matched with other events.

These people risk their lives on a weekly basis to do the thing they love for hardly any money at all.

It has to be a hard life living in the rodeo scene but all the people that were participating genuinely loved it. 

 The audience sits on the edge of their seat most of the night and it was fun to see the kids get involved.

They had an event where the kids tried to get a flag that was tied to a calve's tail. You might think to yourself poor calf but compared to some of these kids the calf probably had an advantage. I was surprised that in a time where people can be so litigious they'd let something like this happen. The calves and kids were fine and everyone had a good time. 

The Dumbest Brook Trout in CO

Before Yellowstone I visited my brother in law in Denver. It was my first time there and I found it hard to believe that a decent trout stream would be anywhere near a large metropolitan city. To my amazement there is a ton of trout water with in forty minutes of downtown Denver. You can have it all small stealth stream fishing, trophy monster hunting, and everything in between. I fished a canyon that had some of the most beautiful water I had ever seen. 

Plunge pools for days, bugs fluttering here, and there with fish jumping in the distance. 

You could literally see the fish in the water at times and I ignorantly expected to catch a fish on my first first few casts. A hundred casts later I realized my expectations may have been a little off. 

None of the fish even sniffed my fly but there was a brook trout sipping bugs off the surface right at my feet. I would leave the fish alone for ten minutes then send another cast its way. Each attempt I tried a different fly and the fish came up sipped the fly off the surface to only have me pull it out of its mouth. What fish hits a fly multiple times and feeds 3ft from the bank? 

This fish apparently. Fell for an elk hair caddis. 

It was a gorgeous fish even if it was the dumbest brook trout in CO.

I Heart Boone

There's a small but growing town tucked away in the mountains of North Carolina. Most people only know of it because of its college Appalachian State. There is a lot more to this place than just a college town. The location is a tiny paradise for outdoor recreation. Fishing, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, take your pick. All can be done in this area. The location of the town isn't super convenient. It's a 2hr drive to the closest metropolitan city but that only adds to the charm of this mountain town. When you get there you can't be in a hurry and while exploring you'll be happy you're taking your time. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs along the edge of town with spectacular views, small lakes, streams, and of course the explosion of color in autumn. The great thing about Boone is although it's bustling in town it doesn't take much to get away from the crowds. Travel 10miles in any direction and you can find a secluded piece of paradise all to yourself. There's one I visit often and I rarely see a sign of another human. 

Even though I'm alone I feel nature is my companion and I find her very entertaining.

 My only fear is that one day this place will be corrupted by greed.

I try to show my kids the wonders of this area and instill the importance of these places for our mental well being. In an ideal situation they can come here years later and have the same experiences I've had.

Until then I heart Boone.