Other World!

I'd been itching for a Grayling trip. As things began to line up, I had one of my oldest friends in town from HI.  We woke up one morning and hit a REI garage sale to see if we could score a few things that we "absolutely needed," ha.  As luck would have it I found a righteous deal on a down bag and my buddy collected a few items as well.  Good start to a great outing!
We hit the trail in the afternoon and started the relentless uphill climb in search of Arctic Grayling! By its name alone the fish conveys something "other worldly."
Years ago it was this "other worldly" quality that relentlessly beckoned to me.  After quite a bit of research I settled on a group of lakes that seemed to be my best option for a local-"out of this world" fish.  It was these lakes that gave my wife her first fish on a fly rod, an Arctic Grayling! These fish and this place hold a strong place in my soul.
Enough of that tangent.

We continued our march.  Realizing this trip, unlike trips past, that there is beauty in the journey.  We marched intermittently enjoying the pleasures of our surroundings.  Trips past have been all about the destination and the fish.  To a large extent fishing is always the motivating factor through the miles, I rarely hike at all unless there are fish included in the destination. This is most likely why I did not remember the hike being so vertical, my only memories were of the fish and the lake.

I am lucky to be passionate about such a thing as fish.  They are very generous, both as table fare and often take you to the most beautiful places this earth has to offer.
Up and up!  Passed lakes, passed people. The trail peetered out into braided game trails.  We'd arrived! One lake, NO people! Ideal!

We surveyed the water as we prospected sleep sites.  The lake seemed to be barren!  We set up camp and strung the rod.

Down to the waters edge! The only sign of life thus far had been scattered tufts of Mt. Goat hair.  Wait, add one bleached mule dear skeleton.  As the sun set the water began to communicate fish locations.  I worked my way towards an end of the lake nestled below a cirque.  Structure began to reveal itself and I placed a peachy, little soft hackle, with a golden bead head just off the deep side of a submerged boulder.
Lighting struck! Not in a jerk-the-rod-out-of-your-hand kind of way, but just as sudden!
The evening light burst from the Grayling's fins as it attempted to liberate the soft hackle from its fluorocarbon path.

The remainder of the evening followed this theme.
We surrendered to the invading darkness and stumbled back into camp to share memories and updates of families gained.
I hit the sac this evening tired and rejuvenated.  An existence only mountains, fish and dear friends can conjure.
Thank you Father.
 By: Targhee Boss
Utah Fly Fishing Guide
Utah Grayling

Out with Dad

It had been a little while since Dad and I were able to hit the water together.  We exchanged schedules a handful of times and we weren't able to sync.  Well,  things came together and we put a day on the calendar.  I picked dad up at his place in the late morning and we hit the road.  I was hoping for thunderstorms in the late afternoon, and the forecast looked promising.

In the truck we talked; work, family, and of course fish.  We chugged up into the mountains and slipped down into Pineview Reservoir.  We started seeing fish in the usual spots.  Dad was throwing a massive, gaudily gorgeous fly. My rod was rigged with a relatively small, plain fly. 

I could see the tip of a tail peeking out from beneath some structure.  Unable to determine what fish I was looking at, I cast to find out.  My rig hit the water, strip, strip! The fish shot out from its shelter and ate!  

Fish on!  I really put the wood to the fish for two reasons.  

First to keep the fish from breaking me off in the structure.  

Second, the water temperature has really climbed.  

Fish generally tolerate being hooked in the face quite well if they are handled properly and quickly. But if high water temperatures are present being caught can be a real downer for a big fish!  

Dad netted the fish in short order.

We snapped a few pictures and sent the fish on its way.

We continued to fish.  We caught quite a few crappie and one nice little Smallie.  This smallie was by far the heaviest (by fight, not weight) smallie I have ever caught.  I thought is was definitely a musky until it showed itself at the surface.  What a stud of a fish!

Thanks for being Awesome Dad!

Utah Fly fishing Guide

Targhee Boss

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Report: Steely Nerves and Short Circuits

Great sharing the boat with Drake this past Thursday.  Drake had some engagements early in the day. We met up and found the water at about 12:30pm.  It was apparent early on that the fish were in for it this day.  Drake throws monster flies as well as he throws tight loops.   The wind was up and about, as it always is, so we put it to work.  We found fish quite consistently throughout the day.  Spotted a few females in the shallows.  The males were dogging them eager to make a contribution.
We found a location with enough water clarity that we were able to sight fish.  There comes a point in a fisherman's life that he may think he has seen enough eats to close the deal with a fish, despite its zealous rush upon the fly.  Let me tell you it is difficult "as all get out" to maintain composure when a pike rockets from 0 to 30 mph in an extremely small distance and explodes all over your fly.  This all culminates at your feet and I will be the first to say I lost it. With all this happening faster than fast, it is difficult to NOT react in a like manner.   It was such an exciting moment that I ripped the fly from the water as quickly as the pike reached it.  It is impossible for the hook to find flesh in this scenario, as it jumped from the water millimeters in front of the fish.  To much, too fast = short circuits! We laughed and enjoyed the moment.  Had this fish been monster, laughs may have been replaced with expletives.  Good day indeed!

 Snake

Eat!

As we drove down the road adjacent to the reservoir we couldn't help but be a bit disappointed with the turbidity of the water.  It was evident that the sight fishing high of last week would not be available today.  The wind was constant with some pretty powerful gusts.  We had one follow at last weeks hot spot that failed to culminate with an eat.  We were forced to seek other spots.  Water temperatures were 41* in open water and as warm as 46* at the back of wind blown bays.  We found fish in all temperatures although it took a few hours of searching to get the first to hand.  

Have you ever been fishing and felt a fish coming?  Not because it is a great cast or a great lie, but just because it is TIME!  Pretty good experience today.  I had that feeling.  I told my father "I can feel a fish coming," immediately, as if summoned from the depths I watched a pike flash out of the turbidity and savage my fly.  I'm not tootin' my own horn here because I "called" it.  Just saying that I like that feeling, a lot! I like it even more when it is vindicated, which often it is not.  

The other "feeling" I had was because of a cast.  My cast straightened out and the fly smacked the water.  I love watching a cast unroll.  I love watching a giant streamer swimming towards me.  Emphasis added, above and beyond the exclamation point, on this next one! I absolutely love watching an eat!

Another interesting note:  My dad threw a spinning rod for about a quarter of the time.  With a big rattling, wiggling lure on it.  I thought for sure he was going to be killing it.  I was surprise that the flies out fished the spinning set up 8:1.
By Targhee Boss
Yuba Reservoir