Spring Consumed!

Well I mowed the lawn yesterday.  Spring is finally here, but not final.  It snowed today! The trees we planted last year are starting to blossom!  I'm simply happy that they didn't die during the winter.

Busy! Busy! Busy!  I was already chasing spring way back in Dec. in pursuit trout.  We definitely took care of the itch during the cold season.  If I could give any advice to cold weather anglers to make your outings more pleasurable, it would be to keep a pair of  "hand warmers" in your pockets.  They are cheap and so effective at conducting heat into your hands.  Also of note, I camped out a handful of times this winter. The next best thing to having your loving companion next to you, is to sleep with these hand warmers.  You will likely end up tossing your warmers out of your bag, removing your hat or sleeping bag hood.  When you have these guys in your bag the chore changes from attempting to maintain heat to regulating it!  What a wonderful problem to have in below freezing temps!

Now I'm sure your are more interested in this winters photography records.

New ball cap design I put together, SOLD OUT! Thank you all!

My buddy who sticks fish and puts together some Sweetness in Graphics, he is called Mike Larsen.

Seam Shot! by Jordan Gilbert of Crimson Jaw

 This Little Piggy! Photo by Jordan Gilbert

Runnin' Shot by Cortney Boice

Carp Photo by Scott Jackson

 Photo By Phil Tuttle of OutSmartingFish.com

Bloody Pike Photos By Colby CrossLand of TheTroutSmith.com

 The Crimson Duo haulin' slabs!

 This Photo by Jordan Gilbert of Crimson Jaw

Photo by Jordan Gilbert

The Gall

Check in with CrimsonJaw.com for a solid Steelhead Post!

Masochists

I couldn't believe the most recent post here is all the way back in September.  Unbelievable!  The fall leaves have flown as has the time.

Plans were set.  Jake and myself had found a day that we could both be on the water pursuing Tiger Musky.  Another friend, Derek, and myself sent a phone call out to Jake from the boat ramp late in the morning.  Jake who had been serving time behind his rod all morning in pursuit of Tiger Musky met us in short order.

 As he rounded the shoreline into view, a musky size net sat  perpendicular to his person across his back.  The net bag was clearly carrying a burden. One not typical of a fishing net.  My first guess was that Jake's shore lunch was too large to fit in his pack and he had made convenient use of the depressed and empty net.  It was clear when he arrived at the boat that he not only brought the tools and skills to entice an eat from a Musky but he was building karma to close on a musky as well.  His net was full of garbage and flotsam! Boom! Look out musky, you will eat! TODAY!

Fast Forward.

Musky appears, Beast!  It seems that it has just come off a good run at Jake's fly.
No eat.  Musky! Here! Gone!

Fast Forward.

The boat crew has now built to 4, with the addition of Phil.
Jake's fly has not been out of the water long enough to catch its breath.  If his fly were a terrorist, it would have relinquished any information Jake asked of it and then started to fabricate information long ago.

"Here's one!
 Here's One!
 Here's One"
said Jake.

I looked over the gunwale from the console and there it was.  Nearly 4 feet of it!
All 4 of us, now peering over the side intently, studying every move this marvelous fish was making!
All 4 of us, peering over the side intently, studying every move Jake's fly was making!

The musky was on the verge!  4" of water was the only obstacle preventing the musky from ending Jake's fly.

Jake killed his fly and let it sink.  The musky maintained it's 4" buffer!

Jake accelerated the fly.  The musky maintained it's 4" buffer!

Jake figure-eighted his fly.  The musky maintained it's 4" buffer!

These scenarios repeated over and over again as the boat coasted about 50 yds.  All 4 anglers, hearts pounding out of their chests, leaning over the fly and musky, absolutely enraptured!

After an extremely short eternity the monster settled back into its abyss, leaving a boat full of shaking knees and pounding chests!

MUSKY!  One word, shouted as both an expletive and a jubilation!

Terribly awesome!

So much success and so much failure experienced in the same moments.  A truly fearsome monster raised from the depths with craftsmanship, skill, and karma. So close to capture and so far.

Truth be told, what a wonderful fish to take four grown men back to the youthful anticipation of Christmas morning only to rip it from their grasp!

The musky can give you everything you've ever desired of fishing and take it all in the same moment.

And we LOVE them for it!

PS.
Karma collected this day!  Jake stuck a hog musky 20 mins after the rest of us hit the road! Some people deserve fish.  Not only because what the fish means to them personally, but because they have put in the work, time and effort to be rewarded.  Musky are-----Work, Time, and Effort!
Congratulations Jake!

You can find more of Jake's good work at The Colorado Trout Devotee.

Derek and Phil are part of a site known as OutSmartingFish.com.  They put together tremendous content!

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

Tiger Musky Extravaganza!

Nate over at OutSmartingFish.com has put together some tremendous content.  Do yourself a big favor and discover this post for yourself.  Some of the best non-fishing moments of my day were spent on their site savoring every delectable morsel of this post. get on it!

OutSmartingFish.com

Photog Skillz courtesies of Cortney Boice, Click Here!

All orange text are links, click on them!


By: Targhee Boss
Utah Pike Guide

Forbearance!!

Shared the boat with Scott.  Musky fishing makes for some long days and Scott stuck with it and stuck this fish.  Follow, after follow, after follow, Scott persevered and when this fish committed he drove the steel home.

 Smiles, High Fives, Photographs and Memories!!!  Thanks Scott!

By:Targhee Boss

Utah Pike Guide

Top Shelf!

We arrived at the boat ramp, prepped the boat and backed her down the ramp into the water. We quickly ran to a bay that I have been watching since ice off. Hoping that the pike would find our timing agreeable with their most pertinent needs.  

Coming off plane at the mouth of the bay, we immediately spotted a small male cruising.  Dad rigged up and I decided that I'd better eat something before getting started.  I am not a pleasant person when I have not eaten, especially when quarantined on a small vessel.  So I spread some PB and Honey on some bread quickly and downed two slices. 

 Dad was asking what fly to use.  I had tied up some mammoth hula bugs that I was excited to swim.  I recommended one to him.  He tied it on.  I tied on a no weight, "slider" style fly.  The description of "slider" used very loosely here.  It was black with various flashabous throughout.  

The slider cast like a dream!  The hula bug, cast like an umbrella!  We switched set ups in short order and Dad fished my Christmas Echo Ion 7wt with a 8 wt line on it and the slider.  We found more fish shortly and Dad put on a clinic.  Slow retrieve seemed to be the key.  

Dad's first ever Pike! 

We continued to fish and catch mostly small males.  My wife called to check in on us and mid conversation I turned and looked over my shoulder, 40 ft of the starboard side was a beautiful voluptuous gal.  Of course, I turned to the stern deck where my father was fishing and conjured up the most flattering description of a heavy, beautiful female I could think of.  "Pig!!!!!"  Lifting my rod parallel to the water in an effort to put Dad's eyes on the fish.  There was no missing it though!
 She was lying there, basking in the sun's radiance.
 "Here I am boys, look at these curves!  Would you be obliged to toss that delectable morsel my way! I know you are more than capable of making it swim just how I like it!  Heck,  I don't care how you make it swim!  Put it in the water any where near me and I'll tear its face off and eat it head first!"
My wife knows me well enough and understood the dire circumstances that had just presented themselves.  I don't recall the dialog but I do know that she initiated the Good-bye.  Ended one exchange with a wonderful woman to begin a dance with another.  I'm a lucky man!
Dad didn't need any persuasions.  He loaded his rod and shot the slider 10 ft beyond the she-pike and perpendicular to her.  As the slider swam, the she-pike began her course of interception. She was as nonchalant as I have ever seen a fish, but had a very certain intention.  Dad was collected and maintained his swim, slow and casual.  With cool intent she arrived at the intersection and in an instant the 8 inch fly disappeared.
I have never been able to determine whether my brain short-circuits at intersections with big fish or if it goes into hyper-drive!  Most likely a little of both.  The fish was secured in short order and we quickly set up a photo shoot.

The curves being held.

Or if you prefer, behold the curves!

 Dad is in love with the Echo Ion rod to say the least.  Family tradition dictates the plastic cork wrap stays on the rod until it has landed a fish.  Thank you dad for shedding the plastic!  Cheers to many more fish on this stick!

 The return home!  What a beautiful state to live in!  

Savoring a successful fishing trip! Delicious!

 Topped off the evening with a Walleye Seminar by Rocky Mountain Anglers at the DNR autotorium.

Good Day!

By: Targhee Boss

100% Predator

I can not recall the moment or moments through which I led myself to Pike.  I can only surmise that all my experiences in angling brought me to the pursuit of bigger, stronger and meaner.  One of my first expeditions for pike, found me in Minnesota.  I was working and was intent on finishing the job with enough time left over to purchase a license and hit the water.  The work van had some tools in it and a float tube and of course my fishing gear.  I had done a bit of research before hand and found a convenient destination to the job site.  Time permitted and I hit two gas stations before I found a license.  Following the GPS down a muddy road I came to a lake.  I decided it wasn't worth getting the van stuck and hearing about it from the higher-ups. I parked as far down the road as I dared and climbed in the back to pull on the waders and ready my gear.  I opened the door and climbed out.

Look out here comes a tangent.  If there is one thing I despise about the mid-west it is the bugs.  I'm not talking about the mosquitoes  although I have a distaste for them as well.  I am talking about the ticks!!!  I don't know what it is but they have a strong affinity for me.  Small tangent here.  My dad, brother and I are turkey hunting in South Dakota.  After hunting through the day we return to the cabin.  Tick count: Dad-0, Brother-0, and Me-3.  One buried in the back of my head, the other two still locating a good insertion point.  Seriously this scenario turned into the norm for any outdoor pursuit I was involved in for my 3 year stay in Nebraska.  I despise chiggers as well!!!!!

Sorry, back to pike.  Now that I've suited up, I walk down to the lake and jump in my belly boat.  I kick out and begin casting.  I quickly decide it is going to be a great day after catching a number of Large Mouth Bass.  I continue to methodically pound the cattails that extend 10-20 yds from the shore and consistently catch bass. 

 I work my way upwind and half way up the lake I find my first Pike!  He was holding under a large lily pad area extending out into the middle of the lake.  He was small.  But I was instantly sold. 

 One quality that I absolutely love in a fish is commitment.  The pike that open their mouths are committed.  If you miss an eat on one, many times you throw to the exact same fish in the same spot and get a second eat from a fish that is intent on eating.  So I snapped a few photos and continued fishing.  I believe I caught 2-3 more small guys before a storm moved in and I had to drive 4 hrs home.

  

Back to the bug tangent.  3 hrs into the drive I felt something crawling up my neck.  Of course it was a tick!  Quite unbelievable to me.  I was completely covered head to toe.  Pants, socks, and shirt all inside the waders.  Rain jacket with hood on top of this.  After fishing I climbed in the back cargo doors and shed all my fishing gear.  Waders, boots, and rain jacket.  From there I walked up to the drivers seat and hit the road.  That persistent, deliberate, disgusting, little bugger marched for 3 hrs straight.  Through all my fishing gear and tools and located my sorry butt in the drivers seat.  He scaled Everest and was just about to summit and stake his claim before I found his miserable little carapace soft shoeing my neck.  You would think after having so many ticks on me I would get used to it, but they always disgust me. 

Back to pike, I am in love.  There is something about a fish that is 100% predator.  "Young pike are known to grab the head of a fish nearly their own size then swim around with the tail sticking out of their mouth until they can take another bite." An ambush predator, lying in wait behind plants and rocks, then darting out at 30 mph grabbing, puncturing and swallowing their prey.  There is nothing much better than attaching your line to one of these guys while watching them viciously explode on your fly!

Ecstatic for this years PIKE!!!!