Worth Posting Some Pictures

 Caught this beauty after a hands and knees stock. 

 Good way to start the weekend.

Thanks for the photo Frisch!

Chris Giles

Dancing Cranes

 When I was gearing up I could hear the familiar sounds of calling cranes. I scanned the field below me but I couldn't spot them. I forgot about them as I rigged up and as I was walking down to the stream they scared the hell out of me as I was walking....

 They were very close to me and they didn't spook so I sat and watched as they tried to impress each other with their moves.

 They were hopping up and down flapping their wings making lots of noise.

 Once they realized I was watching they starting strutting away all the while doing their dance. Pretty cool to sit and watch all of that unfold. 

 Fishing was okay and I caught a sucker in the first hole and this handsome brown in a faster run.

 Very fat and healthy.

 He seemed to fight pretty hard diving for undercut banks. It took a while to get him in.

 There are some great fish in this small creek but they are very hard to catch. I ended up with two browns and that sucker and I consider those numbers a successful day on this stretch. 

 I noticed there was another guy following me with his two dogs. I fished for a solid half hour and as he closed the distance between us he realized he was fishing behind me. As I worked a bend he sneaked by me and started fishing a few holes up ahead of me. It must have been his first time out though because where I am from you should at the very least walk further up stream to leave some water for the guy that was already fishing. What a Dick!

 This stream does not produce well under pressure and as a result I didn't even get another bite. I called it a day and walked back to the truck.

Nice water but again very tough fishing. Glad to get out and get a good one though. The Cranes were also very cool to observe.

Thanks,

Chris Giles

Fly Fishing For Browns in Red Rock Canyons

 Over the weekend my family and I went to Moab. We went right around this time last year and we took a walk through town on a path along Mill Creek. During that walk I couldn't help but look at different runs and pools and wonder if trout could carve out a living in this desert stream. Before this years trip I did a little research and found out that trout do reside in the creek. That's all I needed to know so I packed my gear just in case I got an opportunity to throw a few flies.

I took the family up to the trail head so we could hike around for a while. As I drove up I noticed a sign that said "ATTENTION ANGLERS". This was a cut and dry sign that people did fish the creek and I felt myself getting stoked....

 A shot of one of the clear pools...

 Me side tracked looking for rising fish...

 Looking down stream.

After our hike we went and played at the park and then out to Potash Road for a picnic. We then headed back to the motel for naps. Ashley, very sweetly suggested/implied that I could go fish if I wanted while the kids took naps... So I loaded my gear and took off (Thanks Babe!).

 Fully entrenched in Derek Grzelewski's "The Trout Diaries- A Year of Fly-Fishing in New Zealand" I sat up on this cliff intent on spotting a rise or a sitting fish...

 Same cliff looking upstream. I didn't see any surface activity and I surmised that with such clear water they probably have to keep a low profile. Just then the unmistakable sound and site of a King Fisher zoomed past me noisily make his call, working his way up stream.... Looking for a Brown on the beach I am sure. 

So I changed up my thought process on rig selection and settled on a mini indicator with three feet of 4X tippet with a size 16 bead head nymph. 

 As I was working the first hole I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye and when I looked down I spotted a Craw Dad at my feet... Look close.

 I hooked a small one in this pool and lost him. It felt amazing though and I was excited to feel the thrill of hooking into a fish on a new river.

 I caught this one in the next pool. The rig seemed to be working and it was a hard fighting fish.

 It wasn't tiny either...

 Looks fishy heh? See the mini indicator and the fish fighting in the pool?

 Snapped a few pics while we fought.

 Another beauty...

Pretty light skinned with vibrant dots. In an desert environment like this only the lightest survive... Over a few decades you a have a population that tends to be lighter? The more I fish in different colored water the more I think that is true. Could be something to it... Maybe not.

After naps I took the family back to this same stretch and we all took a swim in the deepest hole we could find. This water is clear and cold run off from the La Sal range and it makes for perfect swimming on a hot day. It also makes for great fish habitat...

What a trip casting for Browns in a red rock canyon. I can only imagine what hopper season would be like on this hidden gem. Highly enjoyable and I would recommend finding a spot like this during your travels.

Thanks,

Chris Giles

Lily Lake Yurt 2012

 

 The Lily Lake Yurt Tour 2012 was one for the ages. It took a while to finalize the group because of conflicting schedules but it became apparent really quick that we had a really solid group. Pat Giles, Jon Dalton, Chris Downing, Mike Morgan, Ryan Frisch and I set out for the 3 mile ski in. We all had various methods of transport that included- cross country skis, split board/skins and back country skis/skins. We also had various methods of carrying gear and we all seemed to get there no matter the method. It was cool to see everyone's take on the best possible gear options...

 It was a hot day and we took a few breaks in the shade...

 Downing was rocking his really green suit...

 Pat having a go down a pretty good incline.

Morg on the same incline. This was his first time on cross country skis and he caught on quick. One of his only falls...

 Downing's turn. Frisch got it all on camera just in case of an epic fall.

 A long morning getting to the Yurt calls for some brats. Check out the back pack sweat lines!!!! 

 The dogs were tired once we got there and took a load off.

 Starlyn got to close to Banjo and he took a swipe. Good thing he only got hair. Check out the white haired bottom lip. It has to be said that Banjo was a trooper and spent the night outside (by choice) barking off any would be intruders...The night air was so nice the Yurt door was left open all night leaving the dogs free to come and go. No need to stoke the fire this trip because the weather was so nice...

 Once we settled we went up to the lake to have a look around. I brought my fly rod in case the ice was off. Sadly it was not...

 The dogs had fun running around on the ice though...

 We decided to tour up to the head of the lake. It was such a nice day, why not?

 Lennon, Abbey and I.

 Frisch and Dalt discuss. 

 Back to the Yurt.

 My view from the deck of the yurt.

 Frisch, Brody and Pat catch an afternoon nap...

 1-2-3-4-5-6 dags

 Plenty of fetch

 Morg's turn on fire wood.

 Pat's turn

The fire burned hot and we were singing like birds on the guitars and harmony.

It sure is great to get out with some good friends and enjoy the mountains. Next year will be no exception...

Thanks,

Chris Giles