Monday, October 27, 2014

5th Annual HBD!

Had the T-Rex this trip and we finally trekked up to a high mountain lake. 28 miles on the T-Rex and a two mile hike in. 

Dalt making a sandwich at the trail head.

Said lake with Dalt fishing off a point.

We thought we were bad ass and then we saw this guy show up with a canoe on his shoulders along with a full backpack. 

Took a swim despite the snowy peaks... It felt like a million bucks (whatever that feels like)...

Bridge at the trail head. Lennon made the trip.

The view from camp! Set up on a ridge and it got cold! had a big bon fire and cooked up a tri-tip and tatters. 

Another shot of the view in the morning.

On the way out our fishing party was greeted by a huge herd of sheep and a bunch of sheep dogs. Gotta have some respect for these dogs when they can spend all their time watching the sheep. One indication of an intruder and the dogs mobilized, before we knew it we had 5 sheep dogs barking at us and chasing us down the road...

The next day we hit the RIVER!!!!

Caught a bunch but here are a few choice shots. Dalt with a big Cutty...

Me with a big Brown!

These weekends are never easy and they require a lot of walking/hiking/fishing/cooking/camping...
Wouldn't trade it for the world. Thanks for those who made the trip and those who couldn't...
Thanks,

Chris Giles

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Sales Trip

 I have been doing a lot of research on the Bozeman and surrounding market for work. I needed to get out on the road after some tough news on a big project that went to the bad guys!... Sales can be tough

 On the way I stopped for as few hours on the Madison. 2 browns, 5 rainbows and 5 whitty's.

 Felt so good to be in the sun and fly fishing.

 Bozeman was really cool. In the Cannery District the houses were all older but with modern updates. All the breweries I called on had full bike racks, creeks and rivers flowing through backyards, college town, etc... the town has a lot going for it.
 I ate dinner at the famous Ted's Tuesday night and had the Bison burger with jalapenos, swiss and guac. It was so good...

 I stayed at the Heritage Montana Inn on main street and as I walked in the lobby an older gentlemen was talking to the front desk gal.. some of the conversation went like this, all the mean while she was checking me in typing away at her computer... 
"how old are you, 20?"  Old guy
"haha 21" Front desk gal
"What time you get off?" 
"as much as possible, haha (laughter)." said the young 21 year old girl...
"well I might stain my pants tonight" said the old man.
"I can run a load of laundry if you need" young girl

I finally cut in... "look, it's late... can I get my room key?" 

It went on from there and when I came back down for ice they were still at it. Probably harmless but WTF???

 I went on 10 calls and saw 9 people. Good timimg on a few of them. I like my chances with at least two of those buyers... I stopped at a bar in Ennis for a burger and listened to the local bar tender gossip with the locals. In a town where billionaires mingle with fishing guides and bar tenders it made for interesting listening...
"who the hell was that guy?" local guy
"he was one of the original facebook guys, he has piles of cash and he bought a ranch near Palisades..." "he is digging out a pond and has contractor's everywhere up there..." "he is a nice guy, but crazy as fuck."
The stalemate continues in the Madison valley between "locals" and rich guys from Texas and California moving and "buying all the land!"
Above is the Spinx in the Madison Range. 

Drove by the cabin overlooking the Madison we rented with the Cutty's, Frsich's and Downing's last summer. What a spot...

 Hit the Madison on the way out back to Utah and caught a few memorable fish. Jefferey turned me onto a secret log jam where he lost a big one last summer. I found the said log jam and caught this guy... He tore off like a freight train and then the line went limp... I thought I lost him and started to look up to the sky in sadness. He turned down stream though and headed straight to the log jam. He was still on!!!!
 A few minutes later I had him in my net.

 Something about this river has me very excited and flustered. I lost 4 rigs and I spent a bunch of time in timeout re-rigging. Nervously tying new flies on. I also found my self sweating and heart rate up as I worked up stream trying to beat the sunset.

 Another beauty..

 Caught some sweet fish..

 There is a BIG brown under a log that I have hooked twice and I have yet to land him. I am really hoping I land him someday.

 A look up stream

 Why I fly fish and why I sell in places like this is the sheer beauty and peace.

 A view on the way out.

 Stayed at Pond's Lodge in Island Park. Took in the Giant's game and had a pizza at the bar. Giant's are in the world series!!!

 Got a new lid from my customer. I paid full price though... I will rock it with pride!

I will be putting some serious time in trying to get some new accounts in this area of the world.

Thanks,
Chris Giles

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Bear Lake with the Frisch's, Downing's and McGuinn's

Loaded a trailer with everybody's bikes and chariot's.

I couldn't resist going up a day early though and go back to one of my favorite places... The kids hiked down to the river once the big bull took off up the hill... That time of year.

The kids had their water shoes on and they were having a blast...

Ash and Dylan.

Mean while anxious Dad tried to show the kids he could in fact catch a fish...
 
There we go.

Crossing the river one foot at a time.

Liv battles her first Cutty! On a streamer!!!!

After Dad's diversion we went and met up with the Frisch's, Downings and McGuinn's at Bear Lake for some family time.

The first day was great and we all went to the beach. 

The second day was raining and the rest of the weekend as well. We still managed some bike rides, pool time, good meals, game night, Utah football game (they lost to WSU), huge laughs, and some really great friends.

Downing found a Mexican restaurant while on our bike ride. What a great trip!
Thanks,
Chris Giles

Strawberry with Bills and Grider

Bill's put out a call to meet him in Heber at 6:00 AM. Grider came along and we were on the water before the sun came up!

The sunset was a sight!

Bill's with a real nice Cutty.

Grider with a big Rainbow.

Tried all sorts of stuff and it got slow.. We went up to the narrows and I caught a few rainbows on streamers. So nice to float around early in the morning.

Grider trying his hand at trolling and he caught a few.

Overall it was a bit slow. Hopefully we can head back up right when the ice is going on and catch a few hungry ones getting ready for hibernation...
Thanks,
Chris Giles