Mouse, JP and I hit up the Deschutes River last week while at MT Hood for a work conference. We were hoping the big bugs were out and the fish were keying in on them. When we showed up to Maupin we couldn't be more pleased to hear from the guys at the Deschutes Anglers Fly Shop that the bugs are everywhere and the fish are looking up. We talked a little shop and picked up a few flies in exchange for some local knowledge then went on our way down stream. The day started off well seeing fish jumping during the time we were setting up our gear. We were excited and scurried down the path to the river to give it a go. With in a few minuets JP had a strike and a miss. Then a few minutes later I hooked in to my first bow of the day. I fished that same run for about an hour and picked up a handful of fish. It was so much fun. Even a 14" fish is a fight and will give you a run for your money. I then headed up-stream to catch up with JP and Mouse to hear they both had similar success. At that point I was stoked and knew the day was going to be epic. We fished until the sun went down. We caught a fair amount of fish and missed a handful too. In all it was well worth the trip and each one of us couldn't have asked a better adventure. Enjoy the pics.
Help to Keep Public Waters Accessible- Support USAC
These guys have been fighting to keep our Utah waters open for everyone. Please take the time to learn more about their cause and show them your support at http://utahstreamaccess.org [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9BDOhAyE6s]
Hidden Gem!
I was on my way to Southern Utah to meet up with some friends and family for a weekend of camping, fishing, dirtbiking and all other sorts of good times that can be had in the outdoors. I decided to take the long way there and I rolled up on this stream. I couldn't resist from throwing a fly at it. My first cast was no more then 50 feet from the car I had already hooked a fish. After releasing that fish I walked up stream 10 feet and took another few casts and again fish on. I pulled in the second fish fish of the day and with amazement of the size and beauty I quickly released the fish and then ran back to the car grabbed my GoPro. I set it up on a timed delay at the next hole and again another fish. I caught a few more fish and then decided I better get on my way. I couldn't be happier about exploring and being willing to take the long route. It payed off huge catching some rad fish and getting to learn about a stream I have never seen.
Northern Pike Addiction
This spring a handful of the Brighton Anglers had the chance to catch another species of fish on a fly rod. Northern Pike! Kind of crazy we live so close to Pike water and how easy it is to fish for them. We all took plenty of time to learn about their habits and when the beast time to fish for them is. We all studied a bit about when they spawn, what water temps are best for fishing, how to fish for them, what flies to use and what depths to fish at. In a whole it has been an exciting and addictive new way to fish. By far we are not experts but all of us our having fun and are hooked on trying to land a monster. Here's a few pics of our first couple of trips out.
Jon's Fish Tales
First 2 weeks of Dec. on the Dolores, met an 85-year-old cat who let us pitch our tents on his land 100 feet from the river! We got a late start and the sun was falling fast, after driving every dirt road, side road, nook and cranny we could find not a single boondock camp site, with almost no light left on our way back to the highway we noticed an old man working on a pretty good-sized log after finally getting it onto his chopping block he reaches for this giant double-edged axe and takes a good whack, wiggles it free and does this bent old man side shuffle to the other side and whack again, amazingly the log splits and the axe sticks into the chopping block! With nowhere to camp yet and no light left I go talk to him hoping he might let us pitch our tents on his land, Knowing the campgrounds were closed for the winter and how desperate we where he asked in his soft raspy old voice, how tough are ya? a slight panic came over me as he grins, then he says ya know it's going to be less than 20 deg. tonight! after a good chuckle and a little fish chat he pointed us to a corner where he had a fire pit and said don't freeze. Woke up the next morning, no sign of old Ben so we chopped about 20 logs apiece and went fishing!
Fish Of The Day!
Check out this nine-pound lake trout sampled in a past Utah DWR gillnet survey in Lake Mary at Brighton Resort.
A Near Death Fishing Experience
It seems through out my life I have almost killed myself at least once a year recreating. My most recent scare was last weekend on the Frying Pan River in Aspen Colorado. I was with Jon (my bro) Luke and Jason. This was the first day on our weekend fishing trip. We were driving up the road to get to the gold medal public fishing spot and we saw this tasty looking hole. So we had to stop.
Luke and Jason decided to stick to the left side of the river while Jon and I took the right. I wadded through the river while fishing and watched Jon and his dog walk across a fallen tree across the river.
We all fished a bit and only caught a couple small bows. Then we were over it and decided to head back to the car to get to a better spot. After wadding across the river and going up to my waist in water the first time crossing I wasn't ready to do that again. So I headed to the log crossing and started to walk the bridge.
As I got to the middle of the log looking to the left I started thinking this would be a sketchy place to fall. Then my worst thought happened. My right foot slipped to the left and suddenly I was in over my head in white water. I popped up a few feet down stream next to a rock wall. I couldn't touch! Scared that I was going to get pulled under the rock shelf by the current I swam as hard as I could to avoid the under tow. After avoiding the under water cave came the rapids. I hit a few small water falls and then went trough a bush and finely was able to grab some sticks on the side of the river to pull my self out.
I was alive! Soaking wet and happy that I didn't die I realized the last place I saw my rod was up-stream. I then started stressing out. $1500 in fishing gear was floating around in the river. I remembered the last place I saw my rod was in the first set of rapids. I decided to take off my fanny pack and shirt in case I had to swim and grab my rod floating by. No luck didn't see it any where. Jon heard me fall and by the time he got the river he saw me running around with my shirt off looking for my gear. We both frantically searched and after a 10 or so minuets we noticed my fly line in the water. The current had pulled it loose. Jon was able to grab a stick and pull the line to shore. He started pulling the line. But all this did was un wind it off the reel. He got all the way through the backing and felt a tug and suddenly the rod went free. I was down stream and was able to grab it as it came by. I was blown away that my 9' 4pc Sage One was still in tact. Not a noticeable scratch. I couldn't believe we found it let alone all in one piece.
I was so stoked! I cheated death! Not even my I-phone or Digital camera were harmed. I didn't lose a thing and came out with only scratches and bruises. We went back to the car shared some beers and laughed then went up-stream to have over a 100 fish day. This will be a day fishing I will never forget.
When I got home from our trip and went straight to the fly shop to grab some studs for my boots.
Colorado Fishing!
Jon and his friend Nate have been taking some journeys across the boarder in to Colorado. They have found a sweet little spring creek full of healthy fish. Im told the days are full of count less fish. I couldn't get him to tell me exactly where but I am told its easy to find with google maps. So if your into a little adventure from Utah head East and explore a bit. Im going to give it a shot.
