Lake Report: Memories For a Lifetime

Click on photos for full size image.

Friday turned out to be a very nice Spring day, and with the kids home on Spring Break we finally got them outside to do a little yard clean up, raking and burning. That eventually got all of Jeremiah's friends over to our place, and as they were sitting by the fire and messing with the dogs the subject of fishing naturally came up. 

I agreed to take them, if they agreed to go to the early season trout lake.They agreed to that, if I would agree to then take them to the other lake so they could...wait for it...swim. It was such a nice day, and they were so hot, they said. As they sat three feet away from the fire.

We got to the lake and eventually got everyone rigged up. Except me. They're getting better at taking care of themselves, but with all four of them fishing I'm still kept pretty busy replacing hooks and sinkers and untangling line. Right away someone on down the bank caught a fish, so all the boys scampered down there to fish. Because obviously that's where all the fish were.

Fortunately, those folks knew Juan and Brian, and were very nice about sharing the bank with the boys.

She caught another one, and the boys watched closely and tried to do everything she was doing. They gradually eased on down the bank and staked out a nice stretch of their own.

Jeremiah left his rod on the ground and went off to pee. Just as he disappeared in the bushes, he got a bite. Juan saw it and set the hook and began to reel it in. Then, just as Jeremiah got back and took over his rod, Juan got a bite. 

That smile says it all. They had great fun reeling in their fish together, and then they had great fun acting the experts for the other boys, who ended up not catching anything. Ian really wanted to catch a fish, and kept running here and there trying new locations. Finally he said, "I think I'll go pee." Unfortunately, it didn't work for him the way it had for Jeremiah.

It was good to get some photos of trout, and especially of this trout. It's Jeremiah's catch, and this year he has the honor of catching the first still water trout.

Oh, and by the way, this wasn't catch and release. Juan and Brian were going to take anything we caught home to their family. Brian went to find a rock to kill the fish with and brought back this boulder. The boys didn't hit their fish with it, they just draped them over it. But that worked; the fish died.

They fished on until after 7:00, and then they started thinking it was time to go swim. I couldn't believe, as I stood there feeling a bit chilled, that they were still serious about that, but we packed up and drove down the road to the swimming lake.

The plan was for them to all rush into the water at once, like lemmings, but it didn't work out quite that way.

But they did it! Unbelievable.

Click for animated photo series.

They were all feeling good after this trip, and I have a feeling this is one they'll remember for a lifetime.

Home Folks: Fred

Click on photos for full size image.

So there's this wiry old man who lives up on the ridge overlooking the early season trout lake. He lives on the land he's been working all his life. He officially bought the place in 1961. But before that it was his father's. And before that it was his grandfather's, the one who first bought it for a dollar an acre, cleared the sagebrush and worked it into a productive piece of land.

Fred is a lot of things, but one thing you wouldn't know just from looking at him is that he's a big time Ford Man. Oh. Yeah, you would; just look at his hat.

OK. One thing you wouldn't know just from looking at him is that hidden on his place, which looks like a salvage yard, are amazing treasures. If you're lucky he might take you into one of the many sheds and workshops and show you some.

Like this one.

Or this one.

I've seen those before. He loves to drive and display them in the many parades and car shows in the area. 

But today he showed me his newest project. Man oh man.

This one has been worked up from the bare frame. Over $100 K in it so far. It's official coming out day will be June 16 at the local car show.

I want to be there. I want to see this thing on the street. I want to hear it. (Fred says he goes out once in awhile and cranks her up; you know, just to keep the pipes clean.) Maybe, just maybe, Fred will even give me a ride in it.

Pictures at 11.

Nothing But Memories--But They're Really Good Memories

Click on photos for full size image.

The Bridge Run

October, 2009

The Glide

January, 2010

The Bridge Run

November, 2010 

The Glide

February, 2011

 The Glide

February, 2011

River Report: Nothing But Memories

Click on photos for full size image.

I went out this afternoon, but I stayed close to home. The river was up a bit, so I thought it was worth trying the runs I knew rather than wading into some unknown stretch. It seemed a good chance that the higher water might mean a fish or two in the usual lies.

Not only was the river up, it was also a little murky. The rule of thumb is that if you can't see your boots in two feet of water, go home. I could see mine just fine in two and a half feet of water.

I worked the bridge run pretty well, with no luck, so waded across in waist deep water and went up to the glide.

The only things moving were birds: swallows, killdeer, geese, and ducks. And then this Osprey, riding the strong south wind.

I worked down the other side of the island taking a pass through the back channel, so I did cover some new water. But it was as quiet as the old familiar water. I climbed over the island and came out above the bridge run. It seemed like a good time to say goodbye to the river for awhile.

On the wade back across I fished the bridge run one more time. Nothing but memories.

It's time to switch gears. I know where I can get a rack for the new pickup so I'll be able to load up the canoe. But the weather has been so nice that I'm thinking I might go straight to the float tube. I'll hang up the heavy rod for now and get down the 4 weight. I'll take a few fly boxes out of the vest and put a few different ones back in. And I should be ready.

Next time, I'll make the trip around the mountain and over to that early season lake. I hear it's fishing better this year than it did last Spring.

Elderly Man Spends Quiet Afternoon in National Park Feeding Trout to Eagles

From The Onion.

River Report: Pussy Willow Day

Click on photos for full size image.

It was either try the river again or switch gears and go to the lake. I decided to stay with the river and drove upstream a few miles to explore some new water.

It was a springy, pussy willow kind of day, but a chilly wind was blowing hard right down the gut of the river, and, though I had a few bumps and tugs by little fish, the Steelhead were nowhere to be seen.

I'll go out again tomorrow and probably hit another new section of river. It would be nice to run down one more Steelhead before hanging up the heavy rod.

Soccer Practice Begins

Isaiah loves it. He ran like a frisky colt.