Totally Legal - I Used to be Blond

Well, at certain times of the year (like summer) when I was young (or an infant), I was a sandy blond.  Just finished cleaning an 18 inch Cutthroat after a noon to 2:00 p.m. fishing session by the bridge.  Earlier this morning (since I was legal), I headed to the river and the other side of the bridge around 6:00 a.m. to fish for a couple hours.  I seemed to be mostly praying for the sun to rise over the mountain to the east of the bridge and bring some warmth to my chilly hands as I tried to catch that elusive big Cutthroat that had slipped away a couple times earlier this past week -- frustrating week it has been.

I had two long sleeved shirts on under my fishing vest and jeans to keep away the pesky mosquitoes and flies after fishing in my shorts the evening before and getting eaten alive -- wasn't legal then but, figured I wouldn't be fishing much past sunset tonight (that's 24 hours of fishing).  As I eagerly awaited the sun and its warmth, a nice 16 inch Lake trout took my lure and I gave thanks for it and the arrival of the sun soon after (to warm my chilly and now wet hands).  Mist was rising off the river and I heard cow bells ringing in the valley on the eastern side of the bridge but, I was thankful for having brought in one nice fish before the 7:00 a.m. shuttle bus crossed the bridge.

On my way back to the RV with the Lake trout, I heard a little kid yell to his friends that the "old man" had a nice fish on his stringer -- thought they might coming running but, that didn't happen.  After some oatmeal, toast and half a banana, I rested for awhile before heading out for the noon session.

Let me go back and tell you how that first walk to the river started in the early a.m.  I didn't take any binoculars with me as I usually do (to scan for game wardens, wildlife and such) so, when I got half way down the foot path on the hillside from the campground, I spotted something in the distance near a pond where I had seen a nice white-tail buck with a huge rack cross a dirt/gravel road on my return from the river the previous evening.  At first, I thought I saw some movement and the object looked to be the approximate shape and size of a Grizzly Bear so, I stopped my decent to the roadway it seemed to occupy (wished I had those binoculars).  I cautiously backed away and took the next foot path at a slower pace to see if I could detect any movement thinking it could be stalking that white-tail deer (maybe drinking at the pond).  Turned out to be a huge uprooted stump.  Wheewie!

I took the same route around noon time and hoped for better luck on the other side of the bridge -- took two Coors (Commeraive Cans) as well to enjoy in the warmer temps of midday.  Finished one of the Coors on the side of the bridge where I caught the Lake trout and fished for maybe 30 or 40 minutes before deciding to head to the east side of the bridge (upstream) toward the creek feeding the river from the south.  As I crossed over the bluff or cliff near the stream, I surveyed this section I had tried before with only some hits and chases by fish of some type.  My attention was drawn to a pool just upstream from a large boulder and I thought (hoped) this might have some fish in it -- maybe repositioned from the large pool downstream by the bridge.  I felt that a couple from Colorado and their two young daughters had pretty much muddied up that best pool I told them about -- they caught and released but, a couple of the fish were dead and floating around the pool after they had left (a couple evenings prior).

So, when I climbed down the steep bank to the rocky shoreline and popped my second can of Coors, the scene looked really promising to me and after just a couple casts into the pool there were two small trout popping the lure and chasing it -- the third cast into the pool attracted the 18 inch Cutthroat and he hit the lure hard and rolled a number of times at the surface of the pool and then ran upstream and back down as I tried to play him out enough to get him to the shore.  Oh! Thank You Very Much for this beautiful fish.  After getting him on the stringer, I went farther upstream to try the area of the river up to the creek and got several chases and hits -- landed two fingerlings and released them.  Content to head back after finishing the second can of Coors.

This time when I made my way through the campground, a family of four came out of their camper to check my catch and asked where and on what I had caught the beautiful fish.  A park ranger even drove by at the same time and wanted a look at the fish (had my license in my pocket so, what the heck).  He wanted to know when dinner would be ready but, I told him I might be fishing again this evening -- before grilling the three fish already on my platter.

Let's see, it's not even 4:00 p.m. yet and maybe a couple more Coors will produce the same results -- if not, it's been a great day anyway.  If only some company would arrive.

Red Sky In Morning - Sailor Take Warning

Yes!  There were reddish pink clouds in the eastern sky showing through my bedroom window shade when I awoke this morning and in my stomach I had hoped this wasn't an omenous sign of the day ahead (as my hopes for getting the Jeep back weighed on my mind).

My morning walk to the bridge at the Snake River seemed really pleasant and my hopes were building in my mind as I looked over the side of the bridge and downstream with my binoculars -- camera in my vest pocket ready for a chance sighting of some wildlife.  As I walked beside the stream toward the frequented cutbacks with boulders, I did spot with my binoculars a huge white bird with black wing-tips soaring high above the trees in the distance and it seemed to be rising on the thermals of the warming air.  I still don't know what type of bird it was but, a Condor came to mind -- lost sight of him in some streaky grey clouds as I continued downstream.

Since the warmth of the late morning began to make me perspire, I decided to head back to the RV and get some breakfast before calling the repair shop around noon to see if the new transmission came in as scheduled and if I should plan on catching the 2:30 p.m. bus into Jackson.  Didn't have any eggs left so, I cooked the last 6 strips of bacon to make a BLT (without the tomato -- ran out a couple days ago).  Barely had enough Mayo and added a piece of provolone cheese to bind the bacon together (with lettuce sprinkled over the top).  Orange juice and half a banana completed the meal after having two cups of coffee earlier.

Well, the moment of truth arrived in the lodge as I used one of their desk phones to again call the repair shop.  Good News!  Ryan said the transmission had arrived.  Bad News!  The electrical control switch from the old transmission had not been sent back to them with the old transmission.  So, now it will not be ready until Monday.  "Catch the early bus Monday", he said and call on the way down to Jackson.

"Sailor should have taken warning" and I should have brought a gun with me on this trip or picked up some Bear spray to blow up somebody's ass.  Now booked through Wednesday night here and leaves me looking at an overnight stay around Salt Lake City with hopefully a few nights around Moab and Canyon of the Ancients before arriving back in South Fork next Sunday (July 1st) -- if everything goes right from here on out.  Won't hold my breath for sure.

Still No Jeep

Hopefully, that will change today (Friday) and I will then be able to get into Yellowstone to see the sights there -- on a whirlwind tour tomorrow and/or Sunday before heading out to the south.  Warmer temps did arrive yesterday and appear to be forecast for the next few days so, fished in shorts and sandals yesterday with a layer of Coppertone Sport.

Went back to the spot on the south side of the river by the bridge and hoped to get that big fish on again -- even went at about the same time from the day before (when I brought in a 16 incher and then had him on all the way to the shallows by the shore).  This time, I hooked him (or his big brother) just after about half dozen casts right at the edge of the hole and just beyond the big submerged boulders I looked to avoid.  This time, he broke the surface a couple times and rolled a few times more before he spit out the lure and disappeared just beyond the boulders.  I tried for about another half hour or 45 minutes but, couldn't get any more action so, I decided to head back to the half dozen cutbacks in the shoreline on the north side.  On the way back over the bridge, I yelled down to a fly fisherman on the opposite side of the river (who didn't seem to be having any luck) that there were plenty of fish breaking the surface in the hole I just left (saw him and his wife and two daughters later through my binoculars fishing the hole I told them about).

My reward (I guess) came just a short while after that when I brought in another 16 incher from one of the cutbacks with boulders at the points.  Since it was sunny and in the 70s, I even waded into the shallows of one cutback to pull out what I thought might be a log where I had lost one of my lures on a previous day -- turned out to be a skeleton of an Elk or a Moose -- bigger than my leg bone.  I could also see more of the skeleton extending into the water but, left it lay and the bone I had grabbed too.  Later, one of the camp security guards told me he had heard from someone else in a camp near the bridge that last fall a Grizzly bear had taken down an Elk in that area -- must have been what I found.

So, I grilled those two 16 inch Cutthroats last night and built a fire to celebrate the warmer weather -- stayed by the fire until 10:30 or so and tried to star gaze a little but, some clouds were blowing through.  I did enjoy half of one those fish by the fire and took some in to share with Tiger and Molly -- enough fish left over for the three more nights left here.

Hopefully, I will celebrate the return of my Jeep this evening.

Sunset on the Snake River

Since I had forgotten to take my camera last evening for my first fishing session at sunset on the Snake River, I decided to go back today after most of the rain and clouds had cleared hoping to catch a better sunset than I saw last night.  I think I lucked out and really got some especially nice shots -- also caught another Cutthroat before the sunset spectacular started.

Eastern  Meadows

Before I crossed the bridge to the south, the low sunlight on the eastern meadows got my attention and the first shot of the evening -- before I rushed down the embankment on the other side to make my first cast of the evening (and the day).

After two casts, I had a nice 12 inch Cutthroat on my stringer.  No more hits after that but, the sunset provided a nice nightcap -- unless I decide to have a Johnny Walker Black Label on ice.


From above the Snake River bridge












Looking west from under the bridge

Both good fishing spots on the south shores of the Snake River bridge near Flagg Ranch.  Earlier, I had already enjoyed half of the 19 inch Lake Trout caught yesterday midday -- froze the 17 inch Cutthroat and another 12 incher caught later in the day.  Good Father's Day of fishing -- only better if Tim and Laura had been here too.

Father's Day 2012

Guess as I am travelling around continually and at my own pace (except when the Jeep is in the shop), everyday could be considered "Father's Day" -- minus the presence of my beloved son and daughter.  A brunch or dinner with them would be the highlight for another day in the wilderness up here in Wyoming.

Yesterday, I took the 7:00 a.m. bus south in search of a fishing license and to see some of the sights along the Tetons and its lakes.  It was the first morning I had felt well enough to awake early and take the chilly ride south (thinking how nice and warm it had been in Florida and even Colorado).  Looking forward to the month of July in southwest Colorado.

Signal Mountain Marina

I stepped off the bus at Signal Mountain Lodge since it was the first stop noted to sell fishing licenses (thought I should be legal for at least a couple days of fishing instead of hiding behind trees and boulders while catching those tasty Cutthroats).  The ride in the bus (right side) provided the best views of the lakes and the Grand Tetons.  When there weren't any sights to take in, I studied the bus schedule to see how I could best spend my time (after getting my fishing license) before getting the bus back to the ranch (hoping to arrive back at 2:30 p.m.).

After getting my license in the lodge, I wandered around and took some pictures while awaiting the next northbound bus to take me back to the Jackson Lake Lodge (where I planned to have breakfast and take in the views most locals raved about).  Since it was such a beautiful day, the views were spectacular and worth the $14 bus ride(s).  I also checked out the store at Signal Mountain to see if they had any better selection than the one at the ranch and decided not really (did purchase more cough drops).

The ride back to Jackson Lake Lodge went over the dam and I could see one or two fishermen on the south shore below the dam trying their luck to catch some trout.  We also passed through the meadows beyond the dam and a section of the road had been marked with cones and signs telling people not the stop -- an area where a black bear and her three cubs had been sighted the day before.  On the way south earlier, I had heard a woman in the seat in front of me tell the cowboy next to her about her sighting of the four bears and she pointed to the area where she had seen them.  No such luck on my two trips past the sighting area -- Darn!

Mount Moran beyond Lake Jackson

Jackson Lake Lodge is spectacular and the views upstairs looking out over the meadow and lake at the Tetons are everything the locals had said it would be.  I had the additional pleasure of getting a seat next to the windows in the restaurant and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast buffet -- Father's Day one day early (no breakfast like that today).  After a sumptuous breakfast I enjoyed getting out on the patio and paths to take pictures and even spotted an Elk way out in the meadows/brush with the help of my Nikon binoculars -- and the mention of the Elks presence by a young girl to my left.  Her brother vehemently denied that she could have seen the Elk but, I confirmed that I had seen it too before it ducked into a hallow by the bushes.

Jackson Lake Lodge (interior)

I spent some time in the lodge afterwards not far from one of the two walk-in fireplaces which were away from the huge windows -- maybe napped a little too after the satisfying breakfast.  The next bus north wasn't due for about an hour and a half and I hoped to get to Colter Bay Visitor's Center where I planned to await the next bus back to the ranch.

Colter Bay had been my second choice for parking the RV and it definitely is a hub for activity around the Visitors Center, its campground and the busy marina.  It also had the best selection of food and supplies in its vastly larger store area (more than double the space here at Flagg Ranch) -- and you get cell phone service there too and 10 more amps of power ($12 a night more).  Me?  I wanted to be closer to Yellowstone for those longer drives around the park.  Just another of my bad decisions -- Cats have been no help in these matters.


Colter Bay



View from Colter Bay V.C.



Father's Day on the Snake River

After getting back to Flagg Ranch, I headed out mid afternoon back down the hill to the Snake river where I hoped to catch my limit -- only brought back one and two others got away (would have been my limit of 3 Cutthroats).  So, I will go back again today before noon and fish a couple hours around the noon hour and head back again around 6:30 for another couple hours.

Now for a simple breakfast and open those Father's Day cards.  Happy Father's Day to all.

Stuck at the Ranch

Saw my first moose during a morning walk along the Snake river -- it was on the opposite shore heading into the woods as it munched on the leaves of the small bushes on the riverbank.  I wouldn't have probably noticed it but, a man fishing with his son mentioned its presence and that they had seen one the previous day on the other side of the bridge and in the brush on the south side of the river.

This creature was huge and am sure its back side was as tall as me -- rather mangy looking as it appeared to be loosng its winter coat (no anlers either that I could see -- with my binoculars). No picture either as it seemed to be mostly in the shade.

Found out earlier this morning that my Jeep needs the transmission rebuilt and will not be ready until early next week.

Only bus service from here (Flagg Ranch) seems to be twice a day (7:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) and costs $14  day.  It only runs into Grand Teton and Jackson to the south.  No bus service runs into Yellowstone from here so, will only plan for time being to get better views of the Tetons and hope to have time for one or two trips into Yellowstone (depending on when the Jeep is ready).

By the way, Yellowstone is only 2 miles north of here and no shuttles or buses run that distance  yet, the first stop going south (Colter Bay) is 16 or 18 miles (at 45 mph).  Tow truck charge to Jackson is $415 (where the nearest auto repair shops are).

Can't find my camera cable for downloading images so, no pictures until I can find or remember where I had put it.  Hooray!  Found it.

Did manage to catch an 18-1/2 inch Cutthroat trout earlier this evening and boy was it fun as heck to get it landed using my micro-mini spincasting rig.   Will cook it tomorrow evening or early afternoon -- should last at least two meals.  Biggest trout of the year for me.  WooHoo!  What fun!




                                                                                                                                         

Wedding Celebrated - Heading North

As I have lingered here in Golden, Colorado waiting for the temperatures to warm in Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, it has been fun to have closest family nearby and to have the occasional visits from son, daughter and my brother's family -- a few fishing trips to Clear Creek canyon and the South Platte at Deckers filled the other empty days.

The trip to Deckers by myself harkened back to times more than 50 years ago when my parents were still alive and I tried to find the spot in my mind where I remembered us last fishing there -- downstream from a large boulder with a nice pool to one side where we cast numerous time in hopes of catching some fine trout.  That area now is another "Gold Medal Stream" and had been closed (because of a forest fire) during my visit last July to Denver.  This year, I found some wonderful and productive spots to fish both the north and south forks of the South Platte River.

South fork -- pools await you

I caught and released a few nice Rainbows in the section I thought was the "Gold Medal Stream" but, I had forgotten my Colorado fishing regulations and found out later that I probably could have kept them all -- one I did keep because it didn't survive swallowing the lure (a Panther Martin with a red and orange tail).

My trip to Deckers was a scenic drive down Route 285 for about 25 miles to County Rd. 126 (Pine Valley Rd.) and another 20 plus miles -- some of the remnants of the fire last year were the barren mountains with dead tree trunks sticking up.  Now that I know the area, I would skip this depressing section of road on 126 and cut off to the east on County Rd. 96 which follows the north fork of the South Platte through Foxton -- if you cross over the north fork by way of the bridge on 126 then, you have gone about a half mile too far.  This section of the north fork cuts through a canyon below Foxton and there are narrow little pullouts for parking by the asphalt road -- just a hop down the banks to bouldered pools and stretches of white water (not so good for lures).  My first cast on this stretch had a nice Rainbow on but, he quickly rolled and jumped on the surface and spit out the lure.  I only managed to catch (and released) two additional small browns but, the sun was nearly down and I needed to head back as I had come in the long way -- from the other side of Deckers.

north fork of South Platte river

On my way to the north fork, I fished the south fork with little success until I found some bouldered sections with pools where I could see the fish laying in the deepest parts with their heads pointed upstream.  Most of the flat water sections were made for fly fishings as the lures only seemed to gather globs of a gooey, grassy mess -- no fish.

Huge boulders on south fork

Some of the bouldered sections were absolutely mind boggling as some of the boulders were as big as houses -- on one the north fork seemed to resemble my RV in size and shape with one third of it in the water and the road went around the other end.

If you prefer floating flies, the "Gold Medal" section may reward you with a trophy fish or two (they have to be 16 inches or more to keep and only 2 is the limit) but, for me, I would focus on the section downstream from the "Scraggy View Picnic" areas where you can keep as many as 4 fish less than 16 inches (or over).  And I saw those big boys in those pools near the boulders.

Where the dirt road (I think it is the Platte River road) crosses the bridge at South Platte (marked by the deserted old hotel and the joining of the two forks), continue on toward Foxton until you reach the asphalt section of road and the canyon with those boulders and pools -- so fun to fish and so scenic (watch your footing as you scramble down to the water).

Wedding Weekend

I arrived here in Golden, Colorado last Friday, the 18th after spending 2-1/2 weeks in South Fork, Colorado (in the San Luis Valley).  Weather has been typical springtime Colorado weather with wild fluctuations in temps from the 50s to 90s during the past week -- no snow here in Golden but, I think I heard some hail beating on the RV one night (low lighting didn't allow enough light to see clearly to confirm it visually).  My first full day had me heading to nearby Chatfield Reservoir on the South Platte river only fifteen minutes south of here via C470 freeway where I had never been previously -- the $8 entry fee didn't make it appealling to return as the fishing only yielded a couple fingerling trout from the river just upstream from a bridge on the park road.  Only other fish I caught there happened to be a good little fighter -- a 12 inch largemouth bass (didn't keep any of the fish but, had fun walking and checking all the options).

The place where I caught the bass was a gravel pond and the park rangers said some folks had been catching Rainbows there in the morning and that it is regularly stocked with trout -- the water was nice and fairly clear (until the dog owners showed up with their paddle boards and stirred up the waters).  Later, it seemed one of the local swim teams showed up too as they swam from end to end in the pond amid a half dozen or more kayakers and canoeists.  I tried the beach area first that the guard had recommended when I entered but, had no action and quickly left to check out more of the park (left that spot to another fisherman who had arrived a half-hour earlier and had one line already in the water and getting another ready).

The best fishing nearby I discovered to be in Georgetown, just west of Idaho Springs where my brother Rick, his wife Kay and I had fished last year in July (with no luck).  I went there this past Tuesday around midday and walked most of the south shoreline almost to the dam -- a really nice hike and the weather was pleasant enough for shorts and short-sleeved shirt (with fishing vest over).  I only caught a couple small Rainbow trout in the 9 to 10 inch range and released both of them -- thought the huge boulders nearest the dam would have produced more but, the wind kicked up and I headed back toward the bridge near where I parked and worked the coves all the way  back with only a strike here and there (more shielded from the wind though).  When I arrived back or near the bridge, I noticed one guy on the nearside caught a small brown trout and a couple guys on the other side of the bridge were beginning to get some action (think it was around 3:00 pm or 3:30).

I had been thinking of getting out that peanut butter sandwich, chips and water from the Jeep but, the guy on the nearside seemed to be getting ready to leave so, I decided to take up his spot and see what could happen.  In no time at all, I had my limit of four small trout, and kept catching and releasing others after that until the two guys on the far side of the bridge packed up and left so, I decided to put my fish in the cooler in the Jeep and try fishing there for awhile (maybe until sundown).  Kept catching more of the Rainbows and realeasing until two new guys showed up and offerred them the most recent trout (which they gladly accepted).  They used Power bait or something like that and soon were catching an occasional fish but, I continued to catch fish on almost every cast using my Panther Martin.  Another guy took up a spot on the farside of the bridge too and he shouted over to "stop making it look so easy" -- soon he started to catch a fish or two as well.  Finally, my hands were getting cold and the sun had gone down behind the mountain on the other side of I-70 so, I left around 7:10.

Two days later, I headed back up to Georgetown again planning to arrive sometime before 3:00 p.m. and see if the trout were still hanging around and biting like they were Tuesday evening -- they certainly were and I again had my limit in the first hour (after releasing my first trout).  I fished the spot on the nearside of the bridge as someone else had already taken the spot on the farside of the bridge -- he said he had a couple bumps but, that was all.  I told him that around 3:00 p.m., he should probably see some action and sure enough he soon thereafter had his first trout of the day.  He and his brother were from Littleton and they left before I did but, they were glad to know the good fishing started around the time I told them and said they would be back again another evening.  It was a lot colder and windier so, I had on jeans, two long-sleeved shirts and my vest and when the two brothers left, I took over the spot they had been fishing and continued to catch more fish as another fisherman arrived to the spot I had vacated -- he in waders and floating a fly into the currents running from under the bridge.  He too started catching fish after fish and released them all (I noticed when leaving that his license plate frame had "Catch and Release" on it).  He asked what type of lure I was using because he hadn't seen anyone catching so many with lures before -- me either.  Thanks to Panther Martin and maybe the fact the lake had been recently stocked for the holiday weekend.

The Big Event is today and the rehearsal/dinner already happened last evening -- starting at the beautiful Romantic Gardens of the Denver Botanic Gardens and then to Olivea Restaurant on 17th street nearby.

Kathryn (the bride to be) accompanied by her father Steve on the long walk down the aisle to an eagerly awaiting groom (Tim).

A Dream Come True

The Happy Couple