Shoulda Woulda Coulda..... with my favorite Chucko!

There are some times in life when you know you made a really bad decision. Matt called me about a month ago with the best news I had had since I found out about my baby boy on the way. I was invited with him and his guide friend to fish in some of the most pristine fishy bull trout water this side of the western hemisphere. I unfortunately had some unfortunate unchangeable circumstances and wasn't able to go. Well I'll let you decide if it was the most epic trip ever. Guess there is always next summer.

Lees Ferry with the Harrisons

Haven't been out much this year, what a bummer, so when I got the invite to hit nearby Lees Ferry with Matt, his Dad, and Brother in Law I jumped at the opportunity.

I took Emily with me this trip since it was a short one, and wanted her to see the Colorado River for her first time, also to be our personal photographer just in case we caught the only 20" fish in the river.

We had a great time Matts family is way cooler than he is. I was eating lunch and packing up when Matt's Dad, Mr Harrison finally got his first fish on the fly( wish i had a picture of that). Kudos to him for doing it on a semi technical, very large river. The other Matt, Matt's bro in law was a natural at casting, and it won't be long until he hooks up.

The Love Boat

Matt and I headed out for a couple of hours to chase the old bucket mouths a couple weeks ago. We discovered that the fish weren't hanging on the edges like they had been before, but that they had moved out to the middle of the lake and were under the weeds and such. We decided to borrow one of the many boats docked at the boat dock, and the boat we scored was a cute little paddle boat. We couldn't get a cute picture of the both of us in there, but believe me it was, lol...........

I did score the biggest bass of my lifetime or the rest of Matts. It measured 20" I didn't get girth but it was chunky, so I'm guessing 7sh at least.

I won't leave him home........

Sorry for the lack of blogging. I've been super lazy on the pictures. Last couple weeks I've hit some local small streams, bass, and woolly mammoth with Googly Eyes, but nothing to get to excited over.

And for the real reason no sweet trips have been on the books is for the lack of dough. With this sweet economy I've had to save my pennies. After all I've got to pay for this baby. You heard it I've got a little junior fishermen on the way. I want to name him Gus, but his Mom isn't having it. I will call him Gus no matter what she wants to name him.

I'm super excited to start a family and have a permanent fishing buddy and hall pass. Gus will be here around November.

Desert Fishing

Since I am forbidden to enter a surrounding state I've been fishing relatively closer to home. I haven't caught any hogs as of lately or really even got out fishing all that much in the past few weeks. Don't get me wrong I've been out to woolly mammoth a few times and been throwing some nasty bugs to some bass, but you can't really call bass fishing right;)

Been fishing with some chuckos. I've got to say this worm container is pretty awesome.

Redband Rainbow?

Just making sure you seen how cool it is.

Flower pictures for lack of fish, since its hard snapping pics with one hand.

What did you expect? Monsters?

Old Patterns Die Hard

Although I have only fished this pattern for a year it is time for its early retirement. This pattern has won many battles and lost some pretty big wars:) I can't tell you what the secret weapon is, or the earth may fall out of orbit.

I need suggestions on what to tie, I have about 1000 of these Mustad 37160 hooks from size 2-14.

PLEASE leave your ideas under comments. Much appreciated.

Were You Drinkin?

Always has to wear adidas or nike in all his pics. He's such a jock.Moose

Matt's 20" don't let him tell you different. We pinched the tail too just in case he tries to use that as an excuse to tell you it was a 26 3/4"

A True Chucko

When I tell you this story you might think we were drinkin. On a side note what is with cops? I'm more of a fireman guy anyways(they're the real heroes), but this last trip the three of us all received tickets. Ya not to crazy except we had 2 vehicles. I got a seat belt ticket driving 40 feet in Clint's truck, Matt got one 10 minutes later driving in to town and Clint got a warning on the way home so not 3 technically but darn close.

Here we go.........

The river was slow, so the next day we looked at the nearby reservoir and it was melting on the edges, perfect for cruising hungry trout. So after getting worked the day before on the river we headed to the lake first thing to try our luck. Of course Matt got into fish right away and I missed a couple fish that were definitely bigger. After that we hit the river again and same results so before heading home we hit the lake again. Our spirits were brightened a little when we talked to some guys that were guided down the river and they didn't catch one fish, not even a whitefish. We didn't do much better, but they said the guide said they just shocked the river and the water being so cold and low may have turned them off.

So back to the lake. We walk down throw in and Clint hooks up first catch, so I literally slide down the ice on my tush to go take a pic with my fly still in the water when I stand up to go grab the camera I lift the rod and I have a nice heavy pull. I start to try to land the fat bow and it takes a run. With only 10 feet of water showing there isn't much room for error, so when the fish took off towards the ice and jumped trying to spit the fly it jumped right on top of the ice. Freakin nuts right! So there is a 22-23" fat bow sitting on the ice no fly in its mouth flopping around. Matt and I immediately looked at each other peeing our pants were laughing so hard and start to try to foul hook the fish to pull it off the ice. I hooked into it in a couple casts and pulled it off the ice. I fought it momentarily before it got off the hook, I was bummed I didn't land it, but what a story to tell. We had a pretty good time and darn near laughed everybody off the lake. All and all pretty good trip at Quail Lake.

Here it sits on the ice by its lonesomeJust to make sure you saw it the first time:)

Clint snapped some sick pictures even of this chucko.Whats a fishing trip if you don't run out of gas once in awhileGoose nest we walked up on and the mother goose both made us pee a little when it flew off. Those eggs were the size of a fist i'd say. I had to wait for the cruisers somehow, whats wrong with taking a seat?


Check out Clints Flickr Photostream

Mo Bass

These pics are all taken by Fishies and Freshies.

Frog on Top

Now this is funny

Especially if you know the entire story.

The Secret Fly