Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

Fly Fishing Reports => Local Trip Reports => Topic started by: hcrum87hc on September 05, 2019, 09:11:18 AM

Title: Blessings abound
Post by: hcrum87hc on September 05, 2019, 09:11:18 AM
As some of you know, my wife recently gave birth to our second daughter.  I've been out of work the past two weeks to help her on maternity leave.  I was scheduled to go back to work Tuesday, but due to a miscommunication with my boss, she assumed I wasn't going back until Wednesday.  I spoke to my wife about it, and she told me to take advantage of it. Since I'd been helping her so much, she suggested I take a day for myself, especially since our oldest daughter was returning to daycare on Tuesday.

I normally know in advance when I'm going fishing and have time to plan where I'm going, but this decision wasn't made until Monday night.  Since I didn't have any time, I made a split decision to go fish a very high elevation stream in a popular area that I've always wanted to experience. I'm sure many of you will recognize it.

Getting closer
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Almost there
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The trail down to the stream sure has some nice views
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Well this is new
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The trail was a little overgrown and narrow, even though it was well trodden.  I was waiting for a surprise encounter with someone or something around every corner, but thankfully that never happened.  I did walk through a few spider webs, which was encouraging since I was likely the first person through there that morning.
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Finally made it down to the creek, but boy was it low. 
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I crossed it and walked down a little ways until the trail started to leave the stream, and the gradient of the stream started dropping off severely.  I found a path down to the water and decided to fish up from there.
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Caught my first one out of his hole, which was surprisingly deep.  I think it would have been over my head at 6'2".
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I climbed up to the next hole where I caught two more feisty little brookies. They were smacking that little stimmy like it was the last thing they'd ever eat.  The fish were small, but you couldn't beat the views.
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After climbing up to the next hole, the gradient got a lot flatter, and the stream became very shallow; less than knee deep in most places.  I could see plenty of small brookies, but they could also see me from a mile away in the slow, shallow, clear water.  I decided to fish on up, only hitting any deeper holes I encountered and could approach stealthily, which wasn't many. I did pull this one out from under a rock in a nice little run just before leaving the stream to hike out.
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I took another route back to the truck, which was a better trail, as it was more in the trees than out in the open under the hot sun.
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By this point it was only 12:30, and I still had a few more hours to fish.  I decided to drive over the ridge and hit a trib of one of my favorite streams that I've never hit before but heard good things about.  After hiking down into the gorge, I was happy to see a lot more water in this drainage.  Approaching the trib, it didn't look like much.  I'm glad I gave it a chance though.
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It was one of the more beautiful streams I've been on, and boy did it produce.  I was pulling at least one out of nearly every hole. 
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Alright bug nerds, but kind of butterfly did I come across here?
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I'm really ticked this one wasn't super photogenic.  He was the prettiest fish of the day with very vibrant colors. I had to coax him out of his hole after he nosed my fly several times without committing.  I've been trying to take several quick shots in hopes that at least one of them will turn out good, but sadly this was the only one I got before he decided he didn't like my company.
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It was a much needed day to destress and unwind after the past two weeks, however when I returned home to dinner in the crock pot and my wife and girls out front playing, the frustrations of the past two weeks melted away as I remembered I'm a very blessed man.
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: Al on September 05, 2019, 10:13:35 AM
Good one - kept me scrolling all the way to the end. 'c;
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: Yallerhammer on September 05, 2019, 11:00:52 AM
Good deal to get an unexpected day off, and a great report!  'c;

That first creek hardly ever gets much bigger than that unless it's been really rainy. There are some surprisingly good sized fish in there, though. A couple years ago, I caught one nearly 11" right above where you crossed to head back out the lower trail. It's a beautiful place, but it has been absolutely packed with people the last couple times I was in there. Looks like you hit it on the right day!

I haven't fished that second one in a good while, but it's a good one for sure. It gets rough as a cob as you go on up.
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: itieuglyflies on September 05, 2019, 11:23:55 AM
Sounds like a well deserved trip and some fun with the brookies.
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: hcrum87hc on September 05, 2019, 12:01:59 PM
Thanks fellas.  It certainly was a great day.

Quote from: Yallerhammer on September 05, 2019, 11:00:52 AMIt's a beautiful place, but it has been absolutely packed with people the last couple times I was in there. Looks like you hit it on the right day!

I haven't fished that second one in a good while, but it's a good one for sure. It gets rough as a cob as you go on up.

When I got there, there were about 4 or 5 cars already there, but they were all covered in dew, so they'd been there at least overnight. I didn't see anyone else until I was almost back to the truck.  I passed a site where some people were packing out.

I could definitely see the second stream getting rough.  I'd like to go back and fish farther up.  I stopped at a waterfall that looked like I'd have to leave the water to get around.
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: Stone-Man on September 05, 2019, 12:11:31 PM
Good that you are young enough to fish and hike places like that .  Pretty fish and great photos

  JT
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: hcrum87hc on September 05, 2019, 12:40:40 PM
Quote from: Stone-Man on September 05, 2019, 12:11:31 PMGood that you are young enough to fish and hike places like that .  Pretty fish and great photos

  JT

I just wish I had started earlier in life.  I'm starting to feel it more and more in the days after.  I still have a lot of backcountry blue lines I'd like to explore.
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: Dougfish on September 05, 2019, 14:23:25 PM
Pretty sweet rewards day, right there.
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: Phil on September 05, 2019, 18:08:33 PM
Verrry Nice! Love brookies, yes I do!  'c;
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: Big J on September 06, 2019, 08:40:03 AM
Great way to take advantage of the circumstances.  Props to the wife as well.
Title: Re: Blessings abound
Post by: troutboy_II on September 08, 2019, 12:55:36 PM
Awesome!   'c;  'c;