Never Know If You Don't Look

The Chucko was in true form last week. After Mike, Matt and I got skunked on the pond, we started looking around at the nearby stream that feeds the pond. In this concrete valve box we spotted a bass. After dropping three flies in to get it, it finally took it! Well kinda, but Matt hauled it in. I knew he wouldn't give me the pics off his camera because he is not proud of this, but I am. It was a good bass too, probably around 5lb's. So top 3 pictures are from phone. The bottom two are from another trip a few days before the epic canal fish.

The monster holder

Smile of a true Chucko

Chuckos doing there thing

Had a piece taken out of its back.

Mustache and all.

Silly Putty Spoon Flies

Fly Tyer magazine had a how to on spoon flies, so I gave it a shot and here are my results. I was really surprised at how easy it was to do. Using the silly putty as a mold is a great help and made it very easy. I intend to do some really creative spoon flies, but just wanted to see how it would work out at first. Now I have fingernail polish in an array of colors to add to the cluttered fly tying table. I hope the bass enjoy these little guys, but I do think they are intended for saltwater. I used silly putty for mold, and clear cure goo as the body. Use a toddler spoon to make shape fill with goo, put slightly bent threaded hook in goo, cure and then design. Next spoon fly will be a New York Jets Spoon Fly.

Best Catch Yet!

I've caught bigger fish, but this is my best catch yet at 7lb 3oz at , We named him, Augustus Kyle Ballard and will call him"Gus". He has changed my life and can't wait to take him fishing. I'm thinking in a month or so we will hit the water for our first time. Were already best friends, He loves to get kisses from his dad and watch our favorite teams the Jets and the Jazz. Looking forward to spending the rest of my life with this guy.

I have been hitting the water recently, but haven't got any pictures back yet, so those are soon to come

Guns, Ribs, Brookies.....

Headed for the mountains for a quick overnight trip with the fellas for some fishing. We haven't gotten out much this year all of us in school, even though Matt's school is a piece of cake. We fished into the evening the first night and I caught that football of a brookie, only 19" long but it was darn near that wide as well. We all caught some really colored up Colorado River Cutthroats, but nothing to big.
After hiking down the trail in the dark pistols out and flashlights covering ever inch of tree line we made it back to camp for some awesome Lloyds Ribs, for your info you can get the knock off version at Costco, but they are not as good;) for you Mike.
When we woke up we had to build a fire to thaw out our boots and warm up from the frigid mountain air. Poor Matt had to cuddle up to Mike all night to stay warm. I think he was sucking his thumb when I saw them. It was so cute though I didnt want to wake them....

We hiked to a couple different small lakes that had some fish that weren't cooperating, but managed to get some tigers and cutts throughout the day.
On our way back we ran into a couple good ol boys on the trail that had a supposed awesome secret brookie lake that was supposed to be awesome. We were planning on heading home, but we figured we better do this since it might be pretty soon before snow flies and we can't get back up there. We got there and could see the bottom of the lake the entire way across and saw two fish. Dirty SOB.
Ended up being a good trip, but it is always better when you catch the biggest fish of the trip.

Magic Mushrooms

Why We Went..........

The old fart above went on a scout trip with his son's scout troop and they ended up catching lots of fish this size. Worst part of all is this sob fishes about once a year and always catches hogs.

What we Caught

beginning the journey

calm before the storm

viking doing what he does best

fish on

ruined picture with my fingers as usual, doesn't look 19" but it was

cuttie

if we had only known there powers

super mario bros style, these guys were all over the mountain

first tiger

17"

skinny tiger

This trip was suppose to be a bunch of guys from work, but it ended up just me and Lyf. WE took off after work and got a little fishing in the first night. We only fished for around 6 hours the nex day, where the guys in the top pics were there 3 days. It was our first time fishing this part of the mountain and when we go back our next trip we will kill it or rape it, whichever you prefer. Lyf was new to the area in general and I think enjoyed it and the tiger trout was a first for him too. I hope after seeing the camp host he will at least consider watching, "Deliverance". I hummed the tune of that song most of the trip after meeting that fangled tooth redneck.

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.