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

Some more Bass

I got a text from Aaron on Monday asking if I fish on Mondays, I responded I fish everyday. We hooked up after work and went looking to rip some lips. I knew Aaron had has some difficulties hooking up on fish since he started fly fishing 8 months ago. I knew the place we were going he could get some bendo, and was even more impressed when he caught fish on his personally tied flies. The bass fishing has definitly got me excited for spring and even for the bucketmouths themselves.

Bassin was Bananas

With daylight savings time giving us a little extra light at night after work me and the original crew took off for a reunion tour of some good ol bass fishing. We started on a local farm pond and had some fun with some miniature bluegill and bucket mouths. Before we ran out of light we found a pond that we new would have some hungry bass, but we never expected them to be this hungry. After the bumpy 4wd road, we found schools of monster bass ready to eat whatever we threw at them. We caught bass after bass no fish weighing less than 4lb's and the bigger ones had to be at least 7lb maybe pushing 8lb's. It was what you call an Epic day on the pond. It was good to get out with the original crew and have some of the best fishing you could have in a couple of hours. All pictures were taken on our camera phones we weren't expecting anything like this, so we left the real cameras at home. There were many more pictures, but I decided to leave a few out, we probably had about 20 pigs to hand in the 2 hours. As you'll see I grabbed the only hat I had in my truck had to keep it gangsta.

Unknowns.

photo by Softhacke

Took a trip with a couple unknowns earlier this week. First unknown, drifted the Middle Green on the A section. Second unknown, met Softhacke on the Internet and went fishing with him and he wasn't a serial killer:) Thirdly, through some fat streamers and had some luck on them where before I hadn't had much. Fourthly, listening to Mikes advise I kept driving in the middle of a blizzard on our way home. The blizzard was so bad and the roads in such poor condition we got a room in Fillmore. Mike thinks because I'm from Southern Utah I'm pretty weak in my snow driving skills and I would usually agree, but the roads/storm were so ridiculous I think he even pee'd in his pants a little before we got to Fillmore. All and all a great trip, I was bummed about the North Platte trip I missed out on, but had a good time anyways. I didn't do much in the way of pictures, so I will leave them to Ken(Softhacke) and Mike(Fisheatflies). All I can say is Roosta's. BTW, I wrote this late......

Mahola My Brotha!

Blues are sick in that picture. Whats ugly beast on the left?
What would that cost at Red Lobster?

Choke Lobsters
Work Site:)

One big lobster

My Broha has been doing his fair share of fishing on the islands. I finally pestered him enough to get some pics. I kick myself for only snorkeling on my honeymoon, and getting worked by waves body boarding. Great looking fish, well crustaceans, I'm glad to see the Ballards have there fishy sense about them even across the equator. I'm waiting on pics of the white tip reef shark he caught and some other feesh from da island...........

Proteins

Without the necasarry evil of Protein I wouldn't fit perfect into this elite club and I also woulnd't have had zoned in on these little eggs full of Proteins.

Thanks to the guys at FGFF for the free swag.

Sunday Tying Session, Red Birds, Black Birds, Chongs, Rojos(Chironomids)?, Eggs

Getting ready for an upcoming fishing trip for some spawning rainbows. First attempt at the glue eggs. I'm hoping to figure out the clusters, but we will see.

Riding with the King

Pure Awesomeness

Me and Sir Noah rockin our patches for the party

Rocking my new favorite shirt(Steal Your Face, The Fly Fish Journal) with some family for our party.

If you have ever fished with me in the 801 you know my love of these chocolate dunford donuts. See above for results of what they do to my tummy.

I got out this week to keep up the tradition of fishing on the birthday. As I am writing this I was thinking of when this fishing on the birthday thing all started. The one that sticks out was when I was 15sh(ten years ago) and my Mom drove me out to Quail Lake while letting me sluff school. I fished out in the rain and hard wind in my older brothers circular float tube and neoprenes. I only lasted an hour or so and didn't catch anything, but it was memorable to say the least.

The Drake's Fly Fishing Film Festival was bananas. I went with a couple buddies and we really liked some of the shows that will be coming out soon. It also got me itching bad for some more saltwater action.

Matt and I also hit the Provo for the day. It was great to get out in February in the snow, of course Matt the Master caught all the all fish, just ask him;) We had some luck on the Middle Provo fishing deep and also had some luck throwing dries in fish inhaling midges on top. We ended the day fishing down on a section of the Lower Provo. Matt caught a 29" rainbow with the tail pinched it was 30", but we didn't have our cameras, dang...... I also found some sweet new polorarized Smith sunglasses on the river imagine that.