Good Day Sunday

 Shot of the Kennecott mine on the approach into the Salt Lake Valley. Not a lot of run off water is affected by this mine but there is one proposed mine up in a special drainage in Montana that has people talking. One of my buddies drew a permit to float The Smith's River in August and graciously invited our family. Been drooling over this 60 mile road-less area for a long time and it will be a dream come true floating for four days through one of the most scenic canyons on earth. A mine would not be a good move for this area and history would view it as short sighted. Currently it is a blue ribbon trout stream and mine tailings/adverse strains would potentially take this top rated stream down a few notches.

 Meanwhile in Utah... Stream access is not ideal but I am thinking it will get back to high water mark soon. Above McGuinn hooks one on a streamer...

 The fruits of a long day walking and switching flies constantly.

 Just under 20" and he attacked the streamer right on top of a rifle which caused a nice explosion. 

 One more close up.

 After a couple hours of trying different bugs Jon Boy started catching them on streamers. I stuck with bugs and had a rough go. I finally caught a little brown but that was it for me. Had this been a competition Jon would have won by a large margin. But it wasn't, it was a great day walking a river and lots of bull shitting.

 Wild flowers are out!

 Smoked a pizza on the Traeger that night at home. What an amazing contraption!

Checked out another free stone stream on the way home. Prime time for this stretch. The fish can't see you as well and you don't have to be so sneaky...

Thanks,

 Chris Giles

Ice Off

 Annual ice off at a favorite high mountain lake. 

 Lost track of this guy for a minute.

 4lbs and over twenty. I need to write a song with that title... CSNY anyone?

 Found a couple dinosaur eggs... The crane family was near by yelling at us to stay away. Had to grab a quick shot...

 Moose, deer, ducks, magpies, crows, squirrels, trout, a few bugs and  lots of...

 Elk.

 Fishing this lake is tough but very rewarding. McGuinn had a couple on but lost them and his streamer. These are big fish. Catching one is consider a good day. Water was murky and we were blind casting streamers. Should get better and better as the season goes on.

 We started up Parley's committed to the Provo. Then we gravitated to the Weber. Then we decided to take a chance that the snow was off the dirt road and go for the high altitude lake. Wish McGuin would have landed one but we will be back...

 

Had some auto body work done by Woody at Driftwood Auto Body. We go way back as family friends and we both share a passion for big trout. When I walked in he showed me his recent bamboo fly rod project. Unreal... This guy also builds wooden drift boats from scratch and he has also started building his own custom nets. He was showing me one of his nets and as I was admiring it he casually remarked "Just don't tell me I never gave you anything". What a classic... Walnut wood boat net. Polished to perfection. Well made gear is what its all about. Now I got to buy one of his bamboo rods.

Thanks,

Chris Giles

New Waders, Forgot The Boots At Home

 Monday we talked about getting out for an evening fish and then this blew into town... The fish would have to wait until Tuesday evening.

 One minute you are hooked up.

 The next minute the fish is off and the rig is in the tree...

 Landed this guy though!

 The session started out SLOOOOWWW. And then it turned on. I broke in my new waders but I left my boots at home. So my every day shoes had to suffice... It was awkward but it worked. Above Jon works a streamer into a log pile.

 Wrangled some really nice fish. We probably each caught a dozen or so. Changed flies a bunch of times and once we figured it out it was catching not fishing.

 I didn't think this run was deep enough but McGuinn nailed one on the first cast and this guy was on my first cast... It was a team fishing day. Taking turns pulling fish out of runs and helping each other land fish.

 I like to keep my pliers clamped onto my left nipple at all times for good luck. It's never let me down...

 Fish like these all evening.

 Another run same result. 

McGuinn sent this photo in anticipation for the summer months. If you know Jon, you know he wishes it was hopper season year round. This evening though it was under water where we had success.

I used to fish this stretch with my Dad and Brother when I was a kid. I used to fish this river 4 nights a week during college and when Ash and I were first married. Even though I can't pull that off any more it still felt sooo good to be out walking, fishing and hearing the birds chirp. Saw a bald eagle nest with chicks in it starting to test their wings. Trees starting to green and when I got home Ash had a love note waiting for me on my pillow. A few tears dropped. 

Thanks,

Chris Giles