Antlers & Gills

Plus One

2012-01-27T16:34:00.001-07:00

The cat is out of the bag; Dustin and I are expecting a new addition to the family in early June. This new addition is not the four legged-canine variety, but a real human baby boy. Whoa! To say this was unexpected and a surprise, is quite an understatement. I never planned to be a parent. I guess what they say is true about the best laid plans…

The adventures of Dustin and I will never be the same. In fact, nothing in our lives will be the same. Due to this new reality, Antlers & Gills took a bit of a hiatus. In fact, I took a bit of hiatus from online life. Adjusting to our new family status has proven difficult. I’ve needed a period to grieve the life that I lost and accept the new life ahead of us. It has been a process; a process I continue to endure. To be honest, the motivation and inspiration to write has ran short lately.

The baby is healthy and growing. For this we are thankful. Dustin is bursting at the seams with joy. I do believe he is excited enough for the both of us! He will be a fantastic dad.

Antlers and Gills will be back soon, hopefully, with a gear review. It is a review I have meant to post for quite some time.

I hope everyone is well.

-Stephanie

Bristol Bay–Stay Wild

2011-10-26T13:57:00.002-06:00

Bristol Bay – I have never visited you, but I dream of you. Bristol Bay – you have been a life source to so many walks of life for generations. Bristol Bay – you are home to the largest run of sockeye salmon in the world. Bristol Bay – your waters are priceless. Bristol Bay – you need our help.

Bristol Bay is one of those magical places, a place that stirs emotions, visions and touches lives. I’ve never been to Bristol Bay, but I cannot help but be utterly captivated by this region. The Pebble Mine, with all its destructive impacts, is the primary reason why I decided to focus my life and my education on fisheries conservation. I know the Pebble Mine will destroy a great and wild place, and I want to do all that I can to stop the madness.

I’m not alone in this fight – the people of the region have spoken. The people know what the largest open pit mine in the world will do to the wild and pristine place they call home. Pebble Partnership tries to spin this environmental catastrophe as a win-win for all involved. One of the things the Pebble Partnership must do is dam a river to create a tailing pond. Have we not learned our lesson about damming salmon spawning rivers? Not only that, think about all the chemicals that will leach into the ground water supply and water table. Consider all of those toxins flowing into the lifeblood of the region. Pebble claims this will not impact the salmon runs and salmon industry are completely erroneous. Moreover, mining means development, and development means roads. These roads will spread across miles and miles of salmon habitat. Sediment transport anyone? Not to mention the other water quality impacts vehicles have to streams. Do you know how many pollutants come from vehicles? Copper, extremely detrimental to fish, comes from brakes…and the list goes on. Who wins from this again? Only the Pebble Partnership.

Colorado still pays the price for its mining heritage. Over a century later, research is conducted to find the best plan of action to handle all of the destruction done by mining. Hundreds of miles of stream still bear mining scars. Hundreds of miles of stream have not recovered. Species have been lost forever. Is this the future we want for Bristol Bay?

Educate yourself about Bristol Bay.

Keep fighting the fight.

NO PEBBLE MINE!

-Stephanie

Uncharted Territory

2011-10-14T08:04:00.001-06:00

Two weeks from today, Dustin and I will be wandering around the mountains searching for elk. Yes, the hunting bug finally hit him, and he wants to go see what we can see. This being his first year as an “elk hunter” we aren’t expecting to down a big bull. However, if somehow the stars align and we do…it sure will be a treat hauling all that meat out of the backcountry. Egads!

Dustin is a great whitetail hunter. Back home, much of year was spent preparing for deer season. He’d get out his bow and staring shooting in the summer, cameras stayed out most of the year, stands were hung months prior, and shooting lanes were carved when the time fit. With elk hunting, the whole game changes. The stands no longer optima. Elk don’t seem to have any sort of movement pattern – nothing predictable or routine with these massive ungulates. The cameras, much the same situation, not a whole lot of insight can be garnered from them. This new style of hunting requires some schooling…so the last few days I have been studying at Elk University.

CDOW provides outdoor enthusiasts with all kinds of information. Their website is easy to navigate, and the people in the Fort Collins office are friendly and knowledgeable. With their insight, we were able to identify the most common range for elk during the season we picked. Not only are the workers at CDOW extremely helpful, the website provides a lot of tools to increase your chances. The department put together a series of learning modules and dubbed it Elk University. For us noobs, it has been extremely informative.

I have no idea how this adventure will turn out. Unfortunately we don’t have elk beating down our door, like this guy in the above pic. We’re going where the elk still act like wild animals. Who knows where they will be. Winter is settling in in the high country, and all the miles we might have to hike could really play havoc on us. We’re selecting our gear wisely and will have our SPOT. No matter what, I think this will be an experience we won’t soon forget.

-Stephanie

Simpler Times

2011-10-10T09:25:00.001-06:00

Something must be in the water, because Erin over at Mysteries Internal just posted a “rant of sorts”, and I am about to do the same. This post started with the theme of “being dubbed a “fisherwoman”, and how being a girl somehow makes you entitled or special”. However, Erin wrote the post much better than I. So please, go check out her post. It will help you get a feel for how I feel about this issue.

Now for my second rant – What is it really all about? The recent past has brought about a disturbing trend in fishing blogging – blogs that exist because people need attention. I started this blog so my family could follow along on Dustin and my adventures. For a little over a year, I read a few blogs in secret. With the birth of the OBN, I was exposed to many more blogs. For the most part, I really enjoyed reading other people’s stories, liked learning new techniques, valued gaining education about all facets of outdoor activity, and feeling people’s passion through their writing. However, recently, it seems some blogs only exist only so the person can gain notoriety, free swag, likes or followers. “I only need x amount of followers to get to 500…follow me! Who can get to x amount of likes first! etc etc. It seems the quality of the blog is based on these things. That is utter rubbish. When did enjoying the outdoors become a contest in popularity? Do people really fish to make some kind of name for themselves? Do people go out just so they can put something on their blog? Is it really about enjoying nature anymore?

Perhaps I am getting a better look at this because my time is so limited. My reading list has dwindled down to those few blogs that are there for the right reasons – blogs that exude passion, pass on tricks, or provide laughs. I have taken off the blog list on the front page, and added a “page” with a list of blogs I try to check frequently. I have removed the Facebook feature, the follow feature and the twitter button from my blog. My experiences do not need validation, attention or anything else. My experiences are for me, and if my family and friends so chose to read, for them. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all comments and all readers. For those of you that enjoy reading our stories, I do hope you will continue. I enjoy sharing our adventures with whomever wishes to read them. However, I refuse to exploit my gender as a fly fisherman to obtain free goodies. I refuse to let my value be measured in how socially networked I am. I refuse to let this blog take value away from the pure simplicity of nature. I refuse to go into the backcountry with the sole purpose being a good story. Fellow bloggers, please don’t forget what enjoying the beauty of nature is all about.

I realize this will rub people the wrong way, and frankly if it does, then we perhaps are not on the same page, and our blog ways may not pass again. I am okay with that. My two cents has been said.

-Stephanie

What is in a Name: Rocky Mountain Frenzy

2011-10-03T11:11:00.001-06:00

Assign a title like “frenzy” and a frenzy is what you will get. Thanks to all who made this a trip that Emily won’t soon forget!

I wish I had pictures to share, but our camera took a swim last week during my fisheries class lab. Emily took several, and with 10 people on Boulder Creek Saturday, I do believe a large amount of photographic journaling will be available on everyone’s blogs!

I know I might be missing some of you…apologies!

Back to the grind,

-Stephanie

You say it is Hunting Season…

2011-09-17T16:29:00.001-06:00

Antlers and Gills, eh? Lately, I have had to ask myself where are the antlers?! Normally this time of year, Dus and I have perused countless trail-cam photos, bought several trophy rocks, scouted night after night, and on September 15th I lose Dustin to the woods. Rain, shine, sleet, snow – he would go out no matter what. Dustin’s anticipation for deer season was contagious; I began to get as excited as he did. I made him a hunting journal, went out and sat in the blind with him, helped hang stands, etc etc. Fall and early winter were always times of great anticipation. This year, all of that is missing, and well, to be frank, it just doesn’t feel right.

Hunting season opened here in CO a few weeks ago, but you would never know it in our house. The totes full of hunting gear remain in the attic, the bow untouched and the Dead Down Wind sits dusty on the shelf. There has been no murmur of hunting until the other day when Dustin finally went in to chat with DOW. Instead of coming home eager about new hunting opportunities (he can hunt so many species here!) he comes home with this gem. “For season 3 this area is home to a lot of elk, but I don’t want to be this close to Glenwood Springs and hunt, I would want to fish.” HA. I think his conversion from bowhunter to fisherman is almost complete. I could not believe the words came out of his mouth. Of course I agree with his opinion. No way am I driving all the way to Glenwood to go chase elk; if I drive to Glenwood I am hitting up all that gold medal water!

Now, it is not just the fishing that factors into this equation. Dustin isn’t sure he even wants to hunt elk. Change, well he doesn’t do it well, and elk hunting is a HUGE change from hunting whitetail. Not to mention, we will have to quarter and pack out the animal who knows how many miles. They are also bigger and bloodier than a whitetail, another item he isn’t thrilled with. Then there is gear – we have to buy a whole slew of new gear.

As it stands now, he plans to go back to MO for a few hunts. I hope he can get a couple of does for us, and we can spend this winter, spring and summer contemplating CO hunting options. After all, this is ANTLERS and gills. This fall and winter, I do believe we will disappoint, as the boy mostly will just be a fisherman. While the deer at home would tremble in their hooves when Dustin climbed into his stand, the elk and mulies here in CO might just come up and give him a kiss.

-Stephanie

Pot of Gold

2011-09-11T07:16:00.001-06:00

Sleepless nights, headaches, indigestion, thoughts of why in the hell am I doing this reverberating in my brain, and bitchiness – all signs that the school year has begun. The last three weeks have passed in a whirlwind, and my plate gets heavier by the day. Twelve hour days on campus make for a grumpy girl. Dustin, when I am not biting his head off, is at work – 70 hours last week. Tensions at our house are high – even if the date is only September 10.

Forgoing the responsible thing, Dustin and I decided to escape to the backcountry to re-energize and focus over Labor Day weekend. Focus came the way of hiking 25 miles in two days. Reenergizing and focusing with 25 miles you say…yes, indeed. Instead of a reward at the end of the rainbow, we like to think the hiking always pays off in the end in our own version of a pot of gold. Littered along the trail are little gold pieces, urging us to keep putting one boot in front of the other. It is for these reasons that the urge to get away is so strong in both of us.

Friday night we had to book it. Due to school, we didn’t get on the trail until after 5:30, with 6 miles to hike before we reached our campground for the evening. Walking up to our patch of dirt at 8:15, with headlights aglow, we let out a sigh of relief. Dinner stayed in the bear canister, and heads hit the pillows within 30 minutes. I hoped to sleep like a rock; alas I did not, but it was still a good feeling to wake up in the backcountry, rather than at home with a horrible day looming.

Saturday we had about 5 miles to hike to get to the next camping destination, and then another mile to our fishing destination. Our long week played havoc on our legs – fatigue, she was a present. Hobbling into camp, we had lunch and set up our “mobile home”. Once settled, we headed to fish – finally, our pot of gold.

Fishing was consistent – we had a blast. Every fish that came to net looked healthy and put up a good fight. The summer feeding season has treated these guys well. We were glad we got to cash in on these final few days of summer. High mountain lake season will be over before we know it.

In fact, fall has definitely arrived in the high country. Temperatures hovered right around 55º for highs, and the lowest (that I know) temperature reading in our tent was 30.1º. We watched the temperature drop 10+ degrees while we made dinner Saturday night. Shrubs wore autumn colors, tundra grasses were brown and crunchy and morning frost blanketed the ground cover.

Sunday morning we had the worst breakfast ever, Backpacker’s Pantry Granola with Blueberries. Long story short, Dustin and I almost threw up – at least to the step of gagging. Once we both gagged, we decided to pack out the contents because that crap wasn’t going into either of our bellies. After loading up camp, we made the hike back up the mountain to hit up the lakes one more time.

We started the morning stripping a streamer – hoping to get the big dogs of the lake. Turns out joke was on us, we were catching the smaller guys! The thing about stripping is, you can take your eyes off the water, and when I did, I was treated to a sight of two cow moose coming down to the lake for a quick morning drink.

It seemed like the perfect moment – standing in a mountain lake, all is quiet, the wildlife came out to play…a true wilderness experience. This is when I decided to scan the ridge to see if we could spot any elk or sheep still lingering in the high country. Unfortunately we did not see any of that, but the moon was still shining….

Oh yes, in 40º temps this man felt it fitting to do his yoga, in his skin hugging speedo layer. From my vantage point I could see every contour of this man’s nether region. Ugh! Wilderness experience…ruined. Not only did this guy continue to do his yoga for about 20 minutes, he didn’t move to a more private location mind you, he watched us catch fish while he “stretched”. After his yoga was complete, he took off, still in speedos, still in plain view, still 40º, and fished…holy balls of steel. I was freezing my ass off, but speedo man, he could wet wade. This took back to nature to a whole different level. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with this guy reconnecting with nature by doing yoga in his speedos. However, he knew we were there – there are a million places he could have gone, and continued without an audience. Not only was I peeved because I got a full view of ass and balls right after seeing moose, I figured this couple (she got up topless about 30 min later)probably stealth camped. A few more people thinking the rules do not apply to them.

Anyhow, Dustin and I continued to catch fish throughout the day. We made the executive decision to fish until 3PM, and then hike to the car. It was a long haul, but homework had to be made a priority. For the first time, Dustin and I made the responsible choice and forewent another day of playtime for homework and rest. I sure would have liked a few more fish in the net, and another night under the chilly stars, but I am happy I got the bit of time in the backcountry I did.

A side note: I have no idea what direction the new information will take us regarding the taxonomic issues surrounding the Greenback CT. I must say, whatever they are, Greenback, or not, these are absolutely gorgeous fish. I hope the Front Range is able to introduce these back to their original native areas; however, I realize that not all native areas now provide adequate habitat for these finicky cutthroats. The one thing I do know for certain, everyone needs to experience their unparalleled beauty.

-Stephanie

PSA: Camping in Bear Country

2011-09-01T13:43:00.001-06:00

RMNP is home to 24 black bears. Five of those 24 will die this year. Their demise is not due to natural causes, rather human stupidity. While obtaining our backcounty permit last weekend, the BCO officer alerted us to the bears on the chopping block. It seems the park has had trouble this year with inconsiderate visitors, and the bears are feeling those consequences with a large dose of euthanasia.

I've thought about this issue since Sunday. The more I roll it around in my mind, the more frustrated I become. The park is great about alerting visitors to all the dangers that one could encounter in the backcountry. Not only does the park make visitors aware of those dangers, it does a fantastic job letting visitors know how to avoid trouble. Nowhere is the park's diligence on better display than the bear warnings.

Bears are curious, smart and hungry animals. Their sense of smell is unparallaled. So yes they can smell that ham sandwich in your cooler. Not only does their nose alert them to scrumptious treats you think are hidden, the container itself lets the bear know goodies are inside. Due to the increasing amount of people thinking coolers are safe bear storage, bears now associate coolers with reward - delicious people food. Bears that have encountered food at campgrounds, now associate campers with food - a dangerous association. Bear run-ins, especially in RMNP, can be prevented if people would just get a clue. When the park demands proper bear storage containers, they mean it. The signs - YES THEY APPLY TO YOU! I know people like to think that they are exempt from signage rules, but you are not. That includes, not approaching OR feeding wildlife, using proper bear storage containers, staying off the tundra and stopping along Trail Ridge Road! All of these rules I see broken everytime I work at or visit the park.

People like to think of the national parks as belonging to them. Indeed these parks are for the people, but first and foremost these parks are home to all sorts of flora and fauna. We should respect these animal and plant's home. Certain rules apply in RMNP, just as they would in someone's house. Don't ignore those rules, instead follow them and potentially save a bear, other plant or animal's life.

Summer Wrap-Up: Wildlife

2011-08-21T16:07:00.001-06:00

Where did my summer go?! I knew that time would fly while exploring CO this summer, but I had no idea it would fly so FAST! The last few weeks I have been MIA on the interwebs because I have tried to soak up as much mountain playtime as possible. I spent a good chunk of time volunteering in RMNP which was intriguing and fun as always. I’m sad to say good-bye to my summer, but excited to start new endeavors that come with a fresh semester.

Time, it is in limited supply for me. Due to this fact, the narrative shall be brief for the upcoming posts and a small sampling of photos will appear. A feast for the eyes, perhaps, instead of the usual diet of verbage. I’ll split up the posts into wildlife and scenery. I do hope you all enjoy!

-Stephanie

Vacation 2011–Rawah Wilderness

2011-08-01T16:19:00.001-06:00

Disconnecting, unplugging, getting lost, taking a moment…however you want to word it, vacations always give me a chance to reboot. Last summer, our vacation caused me to reboot so much that Dustin and I moved 700 miles to Colorado and completely changed the course of our lives. This year, nothing quite that life changing occurred, but all of us did get a chance to disconnect, yet reconnect.

Dustin and I love Colorado, but sometimes it is a lonely place. Making friends as you get older seems to require a lot of effort. Our closest friends from KC require no effort, and were such a sight for sore eyes when they pulled in the drive two Fridays ago. I’ve been looking forward to their visit for months. This year, they even brought Honey (their dog). I was excited to see her too! The dogs hung out, the four of us caught up, drank some beer and ate pizza. Last Friday night we grilled and stayed up late laughing and chatting. It was like nothing had changed and we were sitting in Missouri. It is nights like these that I miss the most.

Since this was Brooke and Matt’s vacation, we didn’t just sit around Fort Collins. We went and played in the mountains, all the while urging Brooke and Matt to make the same move we did. Sunday, we drove up Poudre Canyon, and found a place to lie our heads at Aspenglen Campground. Nestled next to Joe Wright Creek, the sound of the highway is drowned by the roar of the water. Mosquitoes were held at bay, and the clouds took a night off to reveal a sparkling sky. It was incredible to watch the stars twinkle. It is funny how a starry sky lets you ponder all possibilities.

Monday through Thursday we spent in the Rawah Wilderness, and Friday we spent in RMNP. Believe what you read, mosquitoes in Rawah are horrendous and very thirsty. Brooke, Matt and I had no fewer than 30 bites – that was wearing insect repellent. Mother Nature seems to require a bit of payment for her beautiful places, and if I had to sacrifice a little blood to revel in Rawah’s beauty, I happily obliged.

Monday we got a late start, and didn’t make it all the way to the lakes. We settled into the only dry ground we could find, and made camp for the night. We hoped for no rain since a little stream flowed right by the door of the tent. It wasn’t the most ideal spot, but Brooke and Matt’s lungs needed a break, not to mention Honey was pooped! We stopped one time for a quick break, and Honey girl didn’t want to put back on her dog pack. She was spent. It was interesting to notice the difference in Dustin and I’s lung capacity and tolerance for the altitude compared to last year. We really felt the effects of altitude on our lungs climbing Mt. Sopris, but this time the altitude didn’t seem to bother us as much.

Rain settled in on Tuesday and we spent most of the day under the two sportsman’s tarps. Matt and Dustin actually devised quite a sturdy shelter out of the rain, and it proved most useful for our days in Rawah.

The places to explore in the wilderness are numerous. Just in the small area we inhabited, we could venture to six lakes, and two more lakes were just over the ridge. It was an ideal setting for a base camp while taking day hikes. I could have spent many more days just exploring. Dustin and I took Wednesday morning to poke around and see what we could. We took in two more lakes, one which was still 90% frozen. That particular unnamed lake rested at 11,500 feet. The amount of snow still in the high country was remarkable. Not all of the snow will make it into the drainages this year…

Wildflowers were in full bloom, painting the landscape in vibrant colors of purple, pink, red and yellow. Marmots said hello quite often, bear scat and paw prints littered the ridge, and signs of elk were everywhere where the lush vegetation grew with a fury; the growing season will be quite short this year for plant and animal species alike.

The fishing - well I can say it was worth carrying the extra weight of fishing gear. We spent most of Wednesday afternoon and evening, catching brookie after brookie, even though these lakes were supposed to contain greenbacks. Unfortunately, it looks like the brook trout infiltrated and again outcompeted the greenback. Disappointing from a a native trout restoration perspective, but great fun from a fishing perspective. From Dustin and I’s experience, it seems brookies are much less finicky…and once you catch one, they just seem to keep coming. I like that kind of fishing!

Rawah had its fair share of challenges in store for us; we had three hairy river crossings, several snowfields, and threatening weather. Hikes that normally are day hikes, are much trickier considering the high water and lingering snow. Snow melted rapidly during the day, leading to higher creeks and rivers in the morning – keep that in mind if you plan to travel to Rawah this week.

The hike down always goes faster than the hike up, but I am starting to discover I like the climb rather than the descent. Hiking down the mountain takes a toll on the body – it hurts. Climbing the mountain doesn’t hurt like that! With that said, the trail was rather moderate. The wet conditions made it trickier than normal, but elevation gains are rather well spaced, and we only went through a few switchbacks. Pack animals are allowed, and the trail suffers from that. Deep ruts in the trail caused water to flow in some parts like a creek. Not that I have anything against pack animals, it is just that you can tell the trails where they are allowed. Their footprints make a much bigger footprint than ours…

Friday in RMNP, we traveled from the East side of the park to the West side of the park. The beetle kill on the west side is awful. Grand Lake hardly has a live tree standing. We did see where the park service has treated several areas with insecticide to help stop the beetle. This was Matt’s first time to the park, and I don’t think he was disappointed. We came back to FoCo, grilled and spent the last few hours together enjoying one another’s company. Saturday morning came too soon, and it was hard to watch our friends pull out of the drive. We didn’t want them to leave. I am counting down the days until we can all sit around and shoot the breeze again. Thanks guys for coming to visit!

-Stephanie

Life Above 10,000 Feet

2011-07-18T08:42:00.001-06:00

Trip Report – Lake Haiyaha, RMNP

After reading the severe trail condition report on the RMNP website, Dustin and I decided to approach Lake Haiyaha from the Loch Vale trail. Much different scenery filled our eyes than our first and second time along this trail. Eighty plus feet of snow finally yielded to spectacular blooming wildflowers. Outcrops of rocks, sprouted new green life. Finally, spring/summer has arrived.

The Loch Vale Trail, by way of Glacier Gorge, is much easier without snow, than with snow. The climb, not near as daunting, the sheer snow faces gone, all trail signs pointing the way are visible, and Alberta Falls is magnificent with her liquid gold spilling into Glacier Creek. A section of the trail, along a ridge by Glacier Knobs, is comprised of loose rock. Due to this, I recommend a rigid hiking shoe or boot.

After departing the Loch Vale Trail, we only saw one group of hikers along the The Lake Haiyaha spur. This trail is considered to be unimproved, but we were able to follow it without much trouble. As we walked, the ground seemed to become greener right before our very eyes. Much of the area just lost its last bit of snow that very week, and the ground with its blanket of green, sprang under our feet. Water poured down hillsides, enriching the landscape. Several tiny creeks beckoned us, and we stopped to admire the tiny brookies feeding in the rich water. It was tough to pass up these little guys, but the goal of the day was to check out Lake Haiyaha.

With every step, our surroundings became snowier, yet breathtaking. Lake Haiyaha did not disappoint. Boulder strewn banks, crystal clear water, frozen inlet, thigh deep snow surrounding, and Yellowstone cutthroat…need I say more. Perhaps Dustin and I had a brave streak, because we took across the boulders to check out the inlet. One wrong move, and we had the potential to be trapped, or fall 10 feet into icy water. A gentle step, and a sturdy core were essential in this rough terrain. Once at the inlet, we stopped, admired, and reflected on how lucky we are.

Alas, we were not able to target those beautiful Yellowstones. We sat idly by, as two chunky, 16-18” fish cruised at a depth of about 3’. Threatening clouds, and warning thunder let us know we needed to start our descent, as boulder hopping proved quite time consuming. On the way back, we crossed some of the snow fields instead of boulder climbing along the bank. Adrenaline pulsed through our veins, as we had no idea what holes existed under the snow. A few times, we post holed or slid, but nothing too treacherous befell us. Sighing with relief, we concluded that if the rain moved away we would target some of those brookies on the way back to the car.

Off trail hiking has yet to let Dustin and I down. Venturing off the beaten path has lead us to less wary, hungry trout. A fitting reward for climbing deadfall, and sacrificing pints of blood to the voracious mosquitoes. Dustin pulled several brookies out of a tiny, tiny stream. I watched as I rigged up my rod, and swatted away the would be takers of my precious blood. Moving on to a gin clear pool, nestled on the edge of the mountain, Dustin and I took brook after brook. The fly could barely touch the water before a starving fish inhaled it. I’ve never seen fishing like this before in my life. Granted, these guys were bitty, but that did not make them any less spectacular.

Every weekend, a new adventure allows us a brief time to get get away from all our daily trials, escape to a place where our mind is quiet, the senses enriched and our hearts full.

-Stephanie

PS: This trip report is just a bit delayed – the conditions contained here are those found a week ago.

Birthdays

2011-07-06T08:51:00.001-06:00

The first five days of July are quite festive in our home as we have 3 birthdays in that time. The birthday met with greatest praise and fanfare is the first birthday, which belongs to Venus. I like to think I show no favorites in my doggy love, but when it comes to birthdays, Venus gets the best celebration. She gets the cake, she gets the song, she gets the pictures and she gets lots of love. After all, the old girl has been with me 12 years, and she’s been the absolute best friend for which I could ever ask. As she gets older, birthdays have become bittersweet. This year, she didn’t seem as excited for her birthday treat...perhaps she suspected pills were hidden inside.

Bailey and I share back to back birthdays, with her turning 5 and me now over 30. I must say that out of the 3 of us, I have the least amount of gray, small victories. For me, each year brings less and less excitement for the actual birthday. Celebrations have went from all out affairs, to just a normal evening at home. In this house, it seems the dog birthdays have taken over as the thing to celebrate, and that is just fine by me.

This year, Dustin seemed much more excited about the birthday weekend than I. We made plans to fish and camp and do some hiking on the way back to Fort Collins. Dustin had a good morning/afternoon on the stillwater, hooking into some heavy trout, one was “unofficially” 20+”. It was fun watching him get into big fish; sometimes I like watching him battling as much as I like hooking into one of my own.

Unfortunately, no matter how great the fishing, the mosquitoes drove us right back into town. As soon as either one of us were within 10 feet of shore, we were attacked. It looked as if our clothes were moving because they were crawling with mosquitoes. Dustin and I still wear the battle welts from bite after bite after bite. No way in hell were we camping in this!

After appeasing Dustin, I got a day to fish for native trout. Don’t get me wrong, hooking into big fish is fun, but pulling up cookie cutter rainbows is cool only for so long. I guess I am learning that I am not a big fish gal. My heart races when I have got a heavy on, but my heart races just the same when I have on a smaller fish as well. Perhaps I just like catching fish, no matter the size. Anyhow, we made a day of fishing for greenbacks in the park. Dealing with all the tourists throwing snow and logs right into where I was fishing proved to be quite the challenge for me, but I held my tongue and was rewarded with more greenbacks than I could count. Once we found what they were eating, I could hardly get my line in the water before I had another one take the offering. Each one of these fish had unique characteristics, and all were equally beautiful. For me, this blew away the days chasing big fish on the stillwater.

I think getting into such a large number of greenbacks is the best birthday present I could receive. Crystal clear water afforded me the opportunity to see each fish take my offering under the surface, and aggressive takes allowed me to relish the top water action.

Another year in the books for all three of us, each of us getting older, and handling the challenges of that in different ways. Venus has really adapted to her condition – she knows where to step and how to step to keep herself upright. She even captured a bit of her youth this past weekend, climbing the steps to sleep upstairs with us. Bailey is as nutty as ever, enjoying her new trim figure while harassing all things winged. As for me, I still struggle some days with the late start I got on life, but then I remember that I am doing it now and only good things will come. I hope the year ahead is just as great as the year that passed.

-Stephanie

What Seemed Like a Good Idea

2011-06-27T13:51:00.001-06:00

Scurrying about Friday late afternoon, Dustin and I packed the car, kissed the dogs goodbye and pointed the car south towards Eleven Mile Canyon. Caught up in the excitement of our last 11 Mile trip, we chatted throughout the drive and made a couple of pit stops. One of the stops being Charlie’s Fly Box to purchase myself a net. Charlie’s was a very stylish and well laid out store with all the needs covered. Pressing onward, a growl erupted from the belly sitting next to me. It was time to feed Dustin. Dinner sat in the bear canister untouched as his appetite craved a pit stop at Rudy’s BBQ in Colorado Springs. In my opinion, we should have drove right on past. The pulled pork, coleslaw and beans were dreadful, but Dustin enjoyed his brisket. I really should know better than to eat BBQ in CO. With the final stop in the rear view mirror anticipation to hit the water set in.

We pulled into a very busy canyon, but were quite pleased upon arrival to our campsite. Nestled on the hillside, the last spot in the campground, sat our home for the weekend. Unpacking and setting up rods seemed to be a blur, and we settled in riverside with about 20 – 30 minutes to fish. Dustin and I both hooked up on the top water – which I normally just love. I was pleased, but something wasn’t right about it. Darkness chased us back to camp, where Dustin took out the vice and I retired to the tent feeling weary, worried and nauseous.

Saturday morning, we hit the water early, and were joined by many fellow anglers around 730 AM. I watched the fish feed deep in the water column, hugging the slack water. With a rise in the cfs, I knew I would need to scout a bit better than last time. Even watching plump trout feed did not get my pulse racing as normal. Dustin hooked into a few, and I failed to get excited at his success.

The truth is my mind was on my baby dog back home. It seems Venus’s old skin is having a hard time adjusting to this dry climate – her lips and nose have cracked and her nose looked to be getting infected on Friday. Armed with antibiotics, the pet sitter promised to watch her closely and call me if Venus did not eat. This gave me absolute zero peace of mind. Venus is 12 this coming Friday, and I don’t like to take chances with anything that is ailing her. Distracted, irritable, feeling sick and not having fun, I pleaded to Dustin to go home. He understood my plea and agreed it was best to get back to Venus. Just another reason I love him so.

A happy girl, with a wet nose greeted us as we walked in the door. Her nose looked better, but far from healed. As if seeing her face was an elixir for good health, all my worry and irritability passed. I knew instantly I made the right decision to come home to her.

Trying to make up for Dustin having to abandon what was sure to be a good trip (our first camping trip together without storms!), I offered up a Sunday afternoon fishing adventure in RMNP. Dustin seemed agreeable to this, and we decided to try our hand at getting into some greenbacks.

As expected, the park was incredibly busy and windy. However, only one other angler passed a shadow on the waters we wished to fish. Casting to cruising greenbacks sure was a lot of fun. We got into a few, and missed a few while getting into that dry fly rhythm of allowing those hungry trout just a short pause before setting the hook.

Melting snow, 3-5’ drifts, a rescue crew and loads of people didn’t spoil our fun. We made the best of our circumstances and reveled in the beauty that surrounded us. Perhaps this quick afternoon trip didn’t make up for the weekend that could have been, but it was fun despite itself.

Sure it can be said we missed a great trip for seemingly no reason. However, to me, no matter how epic the trip in the canyon hoped to be, I never once questioned my decision to walk away from the trout and back to my Venus.

-Stephanie

I Admit

2011-06-21T15:23:00.001-06:00

It is no secret – I lack excitement to fish the lakes, frequently commenting about the boredom which I would find there. Due to this attitude, the past couple of weeks, Dustin and I have bushwhacked in search of small creeks with tiny pockets of fishable water. While it has been an adventure, we have spent more time “adventuring”. Adventures complete with close moose encounters (two bulls about 30 yards away), trudging through muck, hitting a hatch on a backwater, and tangling in willows. Fish have made their ways to the ends of our lines, and for me, they were awesome. I like the ones for which I have to work! Unfortunately, Dustin does not share this opinion, and has been asking me to hit up some lakes. I thwart his plans every weekend, but I could not this past weekend. He had his heart set on lake fishing.

Alas, we finally took out our float tubes in search of hungry trout. I in borrowed waders, and Dustin in his broken flipper. Crystal clear 58º water welcomed us, and not a sign of run-off was in sight. Chilly and wet weather seemed to keep a lot of people home, but Dustin and I didn’t mind. As for the fishing – we found enough fat trout to keep me thoroughly entertained throughout the day, which came as a surprise. The smallest fish caught was a 15-16” cutbow (I think?), which looked like he’d missed a lot of meals compared to his friends. In fact, my little hands proved to be a problem, as I couldn’t get the right grip on a couple of these over-indulgent trout.

This was another trip on which we took the new Cabela’s 4wts. The rods performed beautifully as I was still able to cast successfully in a stiff wind. Bringing in fish on these rods is such a treat. The firm butt and soft tip really work magic. We owe these finds to man that has really helped Dustin and I quite a lot – I am not sure we’d be catching fish if it weren’t for him! My borrowed waders, also owed to this man, kept me dry all day long. Not a leak in sight. Also, Tak’s choronomid seemed to be a ticket for Dustin…he sure knows what the fish like in their bellies. Thanks to Gordon over at Angler’s Roost, Dustin was able to tie up a few for our trip – he loaned Dus his UV light. On a last minute stop at Jax, we met Caleb, who suggested a good spot to try our luck. He knows his stuff since he fishes there 3-4 days a week. Dus and I sure have met some super stellar people that are so willing to help us be successful on the water.

This is Mr. Skinny. He was so trim compared to the others!

To be honest, I thought I’d thoroughly get my butt handed to me the first time on a lake. Fishing the white-capped water, while my feet dangled, and my hands worked to strip line was quite enjoyable; I am anxious to try the non-flowing water once more. I was dead wrong – lake fishing is for me, well at least when all the rivers are blown…

-Stephanie

So Many Places…So Little Time

2011-06-13T14:51:00.001-06:00

Run-off – she’s in full swing here, no denying it, but that doesn’t mean Dustin and I have sat on the sidelines. We’ve been lucky enough to find fishable water in the last week, and have even had a good amount of fish come to hand. To be frank, I’ve been most pleased and surprised at our proficiency. Most fish are in the smaller range, but at this point we aren’t complaining. Each day we pinch ourselves as we pull a wiggling fish from his cold confines and glance at the scenery in which we and the fish live, all of us so lucky. A side note: the Big T has dropped rapidly…don’t all rush out at once.

Big head, little body on the brown above – small stream diet. Hiding out under a willow, a nice drift coaxed him from his hiding position and onto the end of my line. Below, Dustin’s first Brook – from a backwater! This guy did not live to swim another day; Dustin took him home and fried him…

This past weekend, we took across the divide to see what was in store for us on that side of the continent, both on Highway 34 and 14. I can report that the headwaters of the Poudre remain frozen. Just a few hundred feet lower in elevation, the Poudre does run ice free with several feet of snow surrounding the banks. Poudre Lake, the originating supplier of water to the river, exists still as a solid sheet of ice. The marked destination for hiking and fishing when Brooke and Matt visit finds itself under 70+” of snow as of Saturday. You would think we would be tired of snow, but it was mesmerizing staring at the gleaming whiteness speckled with pine needles. Wilderness quite worthy of a vacation destination.

Furthermore, our trip west provided a great recon mission for a creek which is high on Dustin and I’s must fish list. We scouted the water, and were pleased to find to a bit of fishable water, but more so an outstanding, relatively quiet fishery that we can’t wait to experience. Dustin also found a tail-water that he must try, so plans are in the works for a day trip next weekend (if he has a day off work). He is much more excited about tail-waters (for the big fish), whereas I am much more excited about the challenge and the beautiful rewards of small streams. As we give way to the ebb and flows of one another's desires, I predict the summer and fall to be jam packed full of fishing adventures, with Dustin giving way to my desires frequently since he is apt to feast on Brookies. Unfortunately, money makes the world go round and Dustin has taken a second job to give us the luxury of having hobbies. This second job will definitely hamper the backcountry adventures we had planned, but we will make due the very best we can.

The gills, and the scenery have had their moment of glory in this post, but I wish to share a bit of the antlered sort for a moment. While mom doesn’t have antlers, the calf might some day and this is too adorable not to share, besides I include antler porn too.

Mommy–I’m hungry!

I stopped in to get the skinny from the parks office today for Brooke and Matt’s visit, and was surprised at all the information they had available – for FREE! I encourage anyone wanting to plan a vacation to contact the local parks office, either in person or on the phone, as they are willing to send information to you as well.

-Stephanie

Coming Soon–The River Damsel in NoCO

2011-06-07T15:46:00.001-06:00

The date set, the theme selected and the attendees are to be named later – Rocky Mountain Frenzy is upon us. Leaving her Utah confines, the River Damsel will venture to Dustin and I’s neck of the woods August 10 –14. This adventure started out as a journey to the now canceled Outdoor Blogger Network Convention. Not wanting to scrap her plans, Emily asked if it was okay to come anyway. Of course; it was more than okay! Emily’s story intrigues me, and I’ve been wanting to meet her for ages. Plus, this is the week before I go back for a sure-to-be grueling semester; I want to spend the last week of summer with tight lines.

Lucky for everyone, I am not going to keep RD all to myself. We are in a great location here, and all three of us are eager to meet other bloggers. So come one, come all to see what Northern Colorado has to offer. The legendary Big Thompson awaits, the tricky Poudre beckons and Rocky Mountain National Park glistens with promise. Other great fisheries are just a few hours away, like Eleven Mile, Cheesman and Boulder Creek.

As I have mentioned before, Dustin and I are pretty solitary fisherpeople. We normally fish just by ourselves, and find that works for us. However, we need to break out of our shells a bit, and I can’t think of a better time to do it. If fishing with others is not your thing, I understand, but dinner is everyone’s thing – so come to the dinner night in Fort Collins where fish tales, camaraderie and good food will be had. Another bonus, all the wildlife that you can see – Big Horns, Moose, Coyotes, Elk, Beaver, Muskrat…

Cost is an issue that no doubt should be considered, but I must say that many campgrounds exist along the Poudre, and inside the park. Also, non forest service campgrounds are also found along the Big Thompson. If camping is your thing, this trip could be a rather inexpensive one. Just food for thought!

Shoot Emily or I an email, or comment here with questions. We’d be more than happy to help. We’ll post updates as this comes together.

See you in August!

-Dustin & Stephanie

Cold and Swift

2011-06-07T07:35:00.001-06:00

Energized from my Friday afternoon streamside, I urged Dustin to join me on the same stream Saturday. Laughing at the empty Fort Collins streets of the early morning, Dustin and I enjoyed a relatively traffic free drive. We gasped at the enormous whitewater storming through the canyon, and noticed that 3 gates were open at the dam. As of today, the Big T below the Lake is flowing at over 900 cfs. Holy smokes!

Anyhow, after scarfing down a quick breakfast, we hit the river and searched for holding water. The river was higher than it was just the day before, and new spots were created, while just fished yesterday spots had all new currents. Due to the nature of the river, it was a take turns fishing day. Not wanting to get too separated in case one of us went in, we fished together, trading off at each spot. I hooked into a decent little brownie, where I failed to do so the day before. This little hole had “fishy” wrote all over it, and I was disappointed in my lack of success the day prior, but it sure felt good to get a tug where I knew the fish would be. This place not only looked fishy to me, it must have looked fishy to someone, or something else, as a decent size brown laid half ate on the bank.

Saturday was tough fishing. Most of the time we were on our knees trying to get our line out under trees, and various other obstacles in the water. Not to mention, the water was swift and very cold. Patience was definitely the name of the game.

Fishing in a particularly hairy place, I hooked into a beautiful cutthroat of hybrid genetics. I got him close to shore, and turned to yell at Dustin. Unfortunately, it appears I cannot do two things at once, because as soon as I turned my head, I gave the fish slack, and off he flipped. He was definitely the prettiest trout I have hooked into, and disappointment blanketed me. What can you do but not make the same mistake again. As we climbed, we found fewer pockets, and steeper gradients. We decided to head back to fish lower gradient water, making note that this will be a fantastic pocket water fishery later in the season.

Lunch was a late affair, and was enjoyed streamside. With full bellies, we went back to targeting trout. Again working in a tiny spot, with many overhanging branches and wild currents, I hooked into a fair amount of browns. Unfortunately, my rhythm was interrupted by a log, which grabbed my flies. Unable to break it off, I called for Dustin’s muscles. He gets into the water to gain a bit of leverage, and next thing I know he is in over his waders (we just had on our pants) and the current is raging all around him. The color drained from his face as he reached out to me. He made it safely out of the water, but not without a scare, and not without a water logged camera. I said to Dustin, I really don’t care about the camera, I am overjoyed that we averted disaster!

Once calm again, I fished the same little spot, and hooked into a few more browns. At this point, Dustin was carrying the stench of skunk along with his wet clothes. He moved a bit upstream of me hoping for a nibble. A quiet pool cleansed him of his stink, and a brown came to hand. His spirits were slightly uplifted. With another fish on my line, we tried the camera, but all we got was a white screen. About this time, the sun was starting to sink in the sky. We called it a day, and headed home.

I’m happy to report, that after a bit of drying out, the camera seems to be working just fine. Yay!

For the journal:

Flies:# 16 & #20 Pink San Juan, #18 Pheasant Tail and #12 Beetle (the beetle was unsuccessful)
Water Temp: 42º
Water Color: Tea-stained
Flows: Unknown – no gauging station
Weather: Sunny, mid 70’s
Species: Salmo trutta
Sizes: 6” – 11”

On My Own

2011-06-03T22:36:00.001-06:00

As I mentioned a post or two ago, Dustin and I feel like we are on permanent vacation here in Colorado. Every weekend we have a new adventure. However, one draw back exists to this permanent vacation, we are alone on our adventures. For the most part, Dustin and I have done well being by our lonesome in FoCo, but I didn’t realize how lonely I was until I had to say goodbye to my parents. It wasn’t any easier this time than it was in December. In fact, I’ve been quite melancholy since Wednesday. I am definitely ready for more company.

Making the trip from KC, my parents and my fur siblings, Lulu and Beau, spent Memorial Day weekend with Dustin and I. Unfortunately, the weather was less than kind and we spent more time in the car than I had in mind, but they got to see a lot of the area, and most importantly we got to spend quality time together. An added bonus was all the wildlife that we happened upon, Big Horns, Elk (including a calf!), Beaver and even a Coyote. The end of the visit came much too soon, but I am so glad they were able to make it to see us. I already miss them so much.

Not only am I still getting used to living life without my parents right down the street, I am also getting used to doing other things on my own, like tying knots and fishing solo. I ventured out a few weeks ago for the first time on my own, only to be thwarted by still disinfecting waders. Not willing to take the chance of spreading an exotic species, I drove non-stop through the canyon. However, today presented another opportunity for a solo trip. I had RMNP volunteer orientation today. Since I was in the area, I thought I would hit up a creek in the Park to try my luck. Outfitted to my knees in Dustin’s vest, I took off up the trail. In an effort to get away from all the visitors, I went off trail a bit, and was rewarded with a river all to my own.

Rigging up from dismantled rod to a dry dropper rig, I picked a “fishy spot” and let them fly. On my second drift, I hooked into a beauty of a little brown, tempted by the pink San Juan. He was right where I thought he’d be! I was so proud of my water read and my drift. As I was stripping him in, I shook with excitement. I knew I had to get a picture, otherwise Dustin would never believe me – that in and of itself almost sent me and the camera into the water. I’m always so paranoid about getting the fish drinking again, that I fail to take many pictures, or the ones I do take are awful. This time, being totally alone, was perhaps the goofiest of them all. All the critters around had a good laugh, I am sure. Taking pictures solo is definitely something that I need work on; that skill is even more pitiful than my double-clinch knots!

After this little brownie, I headed up river and found another nice little section. I drifted a few times, and my perfect drift scored a handsome little brookie. This time I did not bother with the camera, and took a moment to really let this catch sink in. That photo is stored where only I can retrieve it, and I kind of like it that way. A photo of my very own, of a day where I embraced being all on my own.

Realizing it was after 3pm, I knew I had to get out of the backcountry and back to civilization. Dustin had no idea where I was, and in fact no one else did either. I played it smart, and didn’t wander too far off the trail, and headed out early. Once back in cell phone range, I indeed saw Dustin was worried, and eased his mind with a quick text saying “I caught fish!” My smile stayed plastered from RMNP all the way home. My confidence is definitely one level higher!

Next order of business – carrying my own fly gear.

-Stephanie

I am a Winner - Sole Adventure and Tony Bynum Giveaway

2011-05-26T12:03:00.001-06:00

A couple of months ago, Mark over at Sole Adventure ran a giveaway which accompanied an interview with famed Glacier Park Photographer, Tony Bynum. Tony has published work all over, and chances are you’ve seen his photographs in your trusty outdoor magazine and possibly on your favorite gear advertisements. Recently, his photographs of Montana are featured on city buses throughout the United States – very cool.

Tony was nice enough to answer questions from other photographers, novice and advanced alike, in Mark’s interview. Dustin and I are not photographers, not even novice level, but Dustin would like to add that to his skills at some point when time and money allow. Any information or tips from an expert help make point and shoot shots look even better, so we take what we can get. As far as the interview, I particularly liked how he pointed out all the different aspects of scouting and also his take on conservation, and where it begins.

Remember that giveaway I mentioned, well I won it! Hanging on my wall is a signed photograph by Tony. It was unimaginably hard picking which one we wanted. All his photos are so dang good. However, we pulled the trigger on the picture of a bull elk with a rub in the background. For me, it just encompassed wildness, and when I received it I knew I made a good choice. We had it framed by a place here in Fort Collins. We aren’t in love with the frame, but it was one that was simple enough not to take away from the photo. Also, we went ahead and ponied up a little extra cash to get the museum glass to be sure it won’t fade.

Now, if our walls were something other than orange (and I could take a straight picture) it would look magnificent!

Thanks to Mark, and of course Tony, for the interview and the fabulous giveaway!

-Stephanie

Gear Review–How to Fish Like a Guide

2011-05-25T09:17:00.001-06:00

After receiving How to Fish Like a Guide by George Douglas (Hall of Famer and the mastermind of Kype Magazine) a couple months ago from Josh over at Bigerrfish, Dustin and I devoured the book in the first couple of days we had it. Since then, I have went back through it and re-read certain things. This post has given me a bit of trouble, because I didn’t know how to go about doing the review. I didn’t want to spoil the fun for others, but I wanted to convey just how easy and good of a read this book is.

First things first, the book is a breeze to read. Before you know it you are on the last chapter and only an hour has passed. George writes in a fashion that makes you keep turning the page. He certainly knows his stuff, and he knows how to convey his message in an effective, interesting manner.

For the review, I am going to give a quote that I liked from each chapter. I think it is the best way to give the book a good introduction, without giving too much away.

Chapter 1 – Introduction: “You have to believe in yourself. You have to believe in your knots, in your presentation, in your drift. When you doubt, your open the door for failure to enter.”

Chapter 2 – Preparation: “Each knot should average in the 30 second range, therefore allowing you to tie up a full rig in only a few minutes.”

Chapter 3 – Where to: “A good way to learn your favorite holes is to go visit them during dry conditions.”

Chapter 4 – The Approach: “It takes discipline to be a strong angler. You must make rules and stick to them, because when we’re on the river it is easy for us to lose our poise.”

Chapter 5 – Adjusting to Conditions: “An underwater rock breaks as much current as a rock on the surface.”

Chapter 6 – The Rules: “Keep your eyes and ears open for the smallest details, it could make or break your day on the river.”

Chapter 7 – Gear: “After some time, I realized that ball caps are not the best hats for fishing.”

Chapter 8 – Stop Losing Fish: “Fish are fought and landed with the mind.”

Chapter 9 – At the End of the Day: “By setting goals and learning along the way, we are actually committing to a life long quest.”

To sum it up, this book is great for a beginner, like myself, or someone that has been fly fishing for 15 years, like Dustin. George proposes ideas to change your thinking and your approach to fishing, on and off the water. The advice he dispenses is universal, and essential to becoming a better angler. As Dustin and I read, we thought these things were no-brainers, but it turns out that things we know often don’t come with us to the river. Putting this ideas to practice is what George urges anglers to do. A good foundation will bring more fish.

If you are interested in a copy of the book, contact Josh over at Bigerrfish. You can also roll the dice, and perhaps win a copy over at Owl Jones – he’s running a giveaway, but hurry as the contest ends tomorrow!

-Stephanie

Is this Heaven

2011-05-23T10:06:00.001-06:00

Repeatedly, I assured myself, I have been raptured and this is heaven. Turns out, I was not; rather, I was just in Rocky Mountain National Park, enjoying the only Heaven I know, nature.

For us, it seems like we are on vacation every weekend, and this weekend was no different. Saturday, we had to do some rather un-vacationy things, such as mow the yard and pull weeds, but after our house duties, we treated ourselves to a little warm water fishing. The camera did not make the journey, as this was our first time in the float tubes. At first, I struggled a bit, and nearly had a panic attack when I got to close to shore. I FREAK about snakes lurking about. After awhile, I got used to it, and Dustin and I got into quite a few little crappie. When I say little, I mean little, about 9”. Dustin had a blast, but catching the crappie really didn’t do much for me. I don’t like to eat them(mushy!) and they certainly aren’t a fun fish to catch, not compared to other species that have my fancy, smallmouths and trout. Granted, I still had fun, catching fish is catching fish. The float tubes were entertaining, except that mine had a leak. By the end of the night, I had water up over my lap, and a pontoon almost halfway submerged. It was a pretty nice evening, however, so I didn’t mind the leak too much. As for the leaking equipment, I expect nothing else from something that is supposed to keep water out (or me out of the water in this case)– I have the worst luck with brand new gear (leaky waders, leaky rain gear, leaky boots, leaky tent…). We plan to fix the leak, or take the float tube back this week, as we are anxious to get out in them again. We love how much more water we can fish in the tubes.

Sunday, we decided to take the day and spend it in RMNP. It had been awhile since we hiked, and I really had the itch to do a little exploring. There is still A TON of snow in the high country, so we chose a hike at lower elevations so we could see the signs of spring. Black Canyon Creek was flowing well, and had a little bit of a mud tint to it. There were only remnants of winter clinging to the shade, and spring made her presence known all around us. It was a beautiful and easy hike to Bridal Veil Falls (lead in picture). We climbed the rocks next to the falls, and were treated to the falls above the falls. It was spectacular, and recommend it to anyone that can make the trip.

Here and elk, there an elk, everywhere an elk. With the introduction of warm weather, swarms of people dotted the park’s landscape and the wildlife was out in force. Many people were out of their vehicles trying to get as close to Big Horn Sheep and elk as possible, quite a few people were VERY close. I’m not an advocate of this, but such is the nature of the beast. It is one thing when you encounter wildlife while backpacking/hiking/fishing etc, and taking a few pictures and move on. It is quite another when people exit their vehicles on the street and clamor up to whatever ungulate has their fancy. Dustin and I snapped a few shots in the car of some elk and mulies, and even were treated by a bachelor elk group that kept us company while we fished, and while we changed out of our waders. Two photographers were there as well when we got back to the car, keeping a respectable distance from the boys. How I wish everyone took a page out of their book.

Dustin and I did do a bit of fishing in the park. After hiking a mile and a half or so up Lawn Lake trail to fish the Roaring River, sanity set in as we realized we left our gear behind in the car. A cloud bank was looming just on the divide, and the air temperature was cooling. Now was not the time to get stuck in a storm at 9500 feet, so we descended to grab our gear and fish a meadow. Meadow fishing is tough in the park, so Dustin and I approached in a crawl. On his hands and knees, Dustin hooks into a little brown that was feeding under the cover of the willows. He released him without much fanfare in order not to spook other fish. A few minutes later I hooked into a tiny brookie. He was adorable. The water I was fishing was so shallow, that when I put my hands in to get them wet to handle the fish, they got gravely as well. Not only was this little guy my first fish in the park, he was also my first fish on the despised San Juan Worm. Lucky me, I got a photo because after this guy Dustin and I were moving on….see below.

Unfortunately, heaven let in a few unsavory characters. Again we ran into rude fishermen; what is so disconcerting is that this state is full of fisherman, and we’ve ran into our fair share of disrespectable people in this region. Dustin and I were stealth fishing to extremely spooking fish (belly crawl stance), when all of a sudden here comes two fisherman, pounding down the meadow and walking right along the bank, not 10 yards upstream of where I was fishing. Not to mention, the first fisherman parks himself about 15 yards away and 30 yards away stands the next fisherman. They stand on the bank and throw in. I could not bite my tongue. I told them to brush up on their fisherman’s etiquette, and said they obviously have no idea what they are doing. I also asked, Why here? There are miles of meadow to fish! At the time, Dustin and I were the only people fishing for as far as the eye could see. Easily, they could have taken their loud boots elsewhere. They didn’t apologize or anything – just kept fishing, and then the dude put his feet in the water. Are you f’n kidding me – these are spooky fish! Dustin and I moved on, as I saw fish take off as the a$$hole fisherman stomped next to the stream. It wasn’t 10 minutes, and they gave up, packed up and headed out. They wonder why they didn’t catch anything. When a person purchases a fly rod, the rod should come with a quick class on fishing etiquette and proper catch and release methods. At least that way, a person could not use the I didn’t know excuse! One thing is certain, Dustin and I will fish in bad weather and hike to get away from the people. It is just too much for us! This state is a fisherman’s playground, and we don’t mind seeking out the not-so shiny playspots. Pardon me as I climb down off my soap box.

As normal, we had way too much fun and stayed way to late. Pulling in the drive at 830 pm we were exhausted. It was a long, but terrific day. We still pinch ourselves nearly every weekend. Have we mentioned how much we love it here?!

-Stephanie

Coming off in Groves: Eleven Mile Canyon

2011-05-16T16:39:00.001-06:00

Excess was the name of the game this weekend, from the excessive stress of finals week to excessive stress relief on the river. I’m not sure how to convey what an excellent weekend Dustin and I had in Eleven Mile Canyon. What is it with these rivers with Eleven in the name?

Tension from finals blanketed me as I got our camping stuff around Friday morning. Delirium must also have been present, because certain key items didn’t make into the bag. In a rush to get around, working on no sleep, I forgot the pump to our MSR stove. So, we survived all weekend on sandwiches and Honey Stinger Bars. Both Dustin and I need our morning coffee, and I was nervous about how Saturday morning would treat us. Turns out catching fish works better than the morning cup of joe.

Friday night, we got to fish for a few hours. We hooked into several, caught a few, and lost more than we would have liked. Jim and Kevin from Two Guys, Wet Waders and Flies blog came down and met Dustin and I on the river. It was nice of them to come hunt us down at near dark, and give us some tips on being successful on the Eleven Mile Canyon stretch of the South Platte. It was fantastic to finally put faces and names together of guys that rule the Eleven Mile waters. Jim gave us some pointers on where to fish and told us what patterns were working for them, which was good info considering the weekend they had. He even checked in with us at the end of the weekend to find out how we did. Two good dudes. Go read about their weekend and oogle at their fantastic photography.

Saturday morning, the sun was shining, and life was good. Dustin and I were hooking into fish on a regular basis. While working a nice little stretch of water, a woman appears about 10-15 yards UPSTREAM of us. Not only does she settle in too close, but also she places herself up on top of a rock, towering over the water. With so much water to work, I can’t believe she plopped in so close to us. I’m big on fisherman’s etiquette. I give people space, don’t work myself in right up river from someone, walk around on the soil instead of the water, I step gently, I get the fish back in the water as quick as possible…etc etc. So for someone to be so blatantly rude was not sitting well with me. We watched her work this stretch of water unsuccessfully for about 30 minutes. Which was quite surprising since fish were feeding everywhere right in front of her. Not only was she standing up river, but she was fishing down river, directly in our path. Fuming, I get out of the water, and place myself just up river from her. I cast up river just a bit, and let my flies drift right in front of me, and BOOM fish on! Then fish on again, and again. I caught three in relatively quick fashion right in front of her as she stood perched up on her rock. She started to fish right over the top of me, casting up stream of herself, like she should have been doing in the first place. She failed, and finally took her perfumed and coiffed butt away from Dustin and I. For the rest of the day, and even after we took a break for a food run, I killed it in that stretch of water. Dustin and I hardly moved from that spot all weekend.

Saturday evening was a our most productive run; in just a few hours we hooked into a large number of fish. I caught close to over 30, right in that same hole. Most of it was seeing fish lying in the water feeding, and then getting my flies to them. I seemed to be in the right rhythm because the trout liked what I had. I couldn’t believe the amount of fish I caught. The weather was crappy, but I sure didn’t notice it!

Sunday morning, the weather was still not the best. I must reiterate how great our sleeping bags are. Dustin slept in a T-shirt and shorts Friday and Saturday night with the temperature hovering around thirty. The crappy weather kept people at bay, which meant Dustin and I had pretty much the entire river to ourselves again Sunday morning. Unfortunately, I took a plunge, and we had to take a quick break for me to dry off and get warm. Dustin made good use of the time by tying up a few flies. We fished way later on Sunday than we had planned, and didn’t roll out of the campground until 530. It is hard to pull yourself off the water when you are reeling in fish after fish.

I don’t know who numbered who this weekend, or how many fish we caught. I’ve never caught so many fish in my life. Pictures were hard to come by because we were both too busy catching! Today, my forearm is sore and a twinge exists in my cheeks from smiling. Rewards came in large amounts of fish, but it wasn’t without hours on the water. Saturday we hit the water at 730 and fished until near dark, with just a 2 hour break in between. Sunday, again on the water at 730, and off at 4. Some hours were more productive than others, with around 930-1100 being hot, and then from 4-8 being productive as well. Two fly patterns ruled the weekend, which really took questioning out of the fishing equation.

Dustin caught a few that had been hooked before, and removed said hooks and released the fish with a little less jewelry. A nice brownie had a relatively large, barbed bait hook in his side, of which Dustin freed him. It is my guess he went back in the water a happier fish. My oddity came the way of a ‘bow with a deformed operculum. Three of his gill arches were exposed to the outside world. As I was bringing him in, my stomach dropped, as I thought the fish was bleeding. When I netted him, I was very surprised to see one side just fine, and the other with exposed gills. Poor guy.

We never made it above the cascades to try for cutthroat; we were happy in a relatively small stretch of water taking fish after fish. For not being many brown trout in this river, we sure took a fair share of brownies.

The story of excess, well in short, it went like this. Excess scenery filled our retinas with spectacular beauty. The canyon walls sparkled in the sun. The water was crystal clear, and teemed with feeding trout. Sun shone down on our chilly bones Saturday morning, and we basked in its warmth. Excess rain, then snow, poured from the sky Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, which means the excessive amount of people were not to be found. Excessive numbers of fish came to our nets, in fact they came off in groves (in Dustin speak) or perhaps droves would be the right word. In the same vein, an excessive number of fish managed not to make it to the net. Knots were tied in excess, and all that excess stress that I carried at started the trip dissipated as soon as I felt that first tug.

Eleven Mile Canyon, we will see you next month.

For the journal:

Flies: #20 Flashback Pheasant tail and sizes #20 & 24 Flashback RS-2 (Amber and Olive)
Water Temp: 46º in the AM and 52º in the PM
Flows: 60-70 cfs
Species: Salmo trutta & Oncorhynchus mykiss
Sizes: 8” – 17”

-Stephanie

Poudre Canyon to Nebraska to Poudre Canyon

2011-05-09T07:57:00.001-06:00

Sunshine and warm temperatures descended on Fort Collins this weekend, and Dustin and I took advantage like any angler would, by spending time on the water. Lucky for me, Midgeman met us Saturday to give me some instruction. I’ve only been fly fishing for a year, and there is so much I don’t know how to do, or skills that I definitely need to refine. Lucky for me, I’ve got a fantastic instructor right here in town.

Wanting to see how I worked, MM put me in a spot that he knows produces fish. I get in, get wet, and prepare for instruction. He helps with my mend, my cast and gives me a few tips on how to get my flies back up river. He showed me a fancy cast, and a casting regimen I need to add to my bag of tricks. Each cast he made, put his flies right where they needed to be, and I am not exaggerating when I a say EVERY CAST. Can I just say, my mind was totally blown?! I tried to absorb every word he said, and watched intently as he gave me instruction. There is no doubt in my mind I am learning from the best. Don’t let MM’s post fool you, I still have a long way to come, but he’s definitely put me in a good place to continue developing skills.

Did I mention that I caught a few fish? Oh yeah, I did do that too. In fact, it was my best day on the Poudre yet. All fish, save for one, took that fantastic little invention of Tak’s, the Go-2 Prince. Dustin didn’t fair as well, but to be honest, I was in the better spot, and I also had a small advantage with MM watching and teaching.

I’m going to brag just a bit, because I know he never will. In a truly unselfish manner, MM focused on me and what I was doing a great majority of the day. However, when he did get in the water, the man caught fish, and caught fish quick. Everything looked 100% effortless for him, and that little indicator floated right on the feeding line every time. I tried not to stare, but I was impressed, and I wanted to imitate everything he did. He would get in the water, maybe drift one or two times and catch a fish. Then he would watch and help me some more, and then get back in and catch a fish. Dustin said he did the same when he came down to help out him. Pretty awesome.

Another tool to add to the bag – a rod with a stiff butt. Dustin and I cast like “candy asses” – I have no idea where we picked this up, but both of us do it. Perhaps we think we are going to break our rod , who knows. I will say, if you try to give our 3wts too much oomph, they tend to vibrate a bit. That particular rod is definitely built for times when a delicate presentation is necessary. My 5wt is built much in the same manner as its specialty is flinging dry flies. MM had a rod that he wanted me to try, and try it I did. With minimal effort I could get my line way back upstream and prepare myself for a better ride through the feeding zone. That particular model was something I definitely wanted to add to our collection.

After hitting the water pretty hard, MM decided to call it a day. Dustin and I got back in for a bit to see if we could coax in a few more trout. As we fished, Dustin kept saying to me that we needed to get home to tend to our adult responsibilities. The house needed to be cleaned, laundry needed washed, flies needed tied, and studying needed to be done. He was right on all accounts, but we just kept fishing. Finally, Dustin hooks into a ‘bow that gives him a heck of a time. He releases the plump gal and says, “It’s time to go. Now.” I dutifully get out the water, and pack up. All the way home we talk about what we learned, and all the things we need to work on to become better anglers.

Once home, I come inside and start putting things away, fully preparing to tidy the house and start studying. Next thing I know, Dustin is on the phone with Cabela’s. I hear, “What time do you close?” Suddenly, all adult responsibilities are thrown out the door and we are driving to freaking Nebraska at 445 in the afternoon! When Dustin gets his mind made up, there is no point in arguing to convince him otherwise. It is best to just go along for the ride and keep your mouth shut. Which is what I did for the most part, although I let out a few “you are completely irrational” remarks. We stride through the doors of Cabela’s and pick up our new rods (the last two models in the store – which is why this was a necessary trip in Dustin’s mind). Before purchasing, we cast them in the lawn of the store. One rod handled like a dream for me, and Dustin preferred another. At around 730 we head back to Fort Collins with our purchases, and with me shaking my head. Who in the heck spends all day on the water, and then drives over 2 hours to buy a fly rod?! Dustin, that is who, and by defect, also myself. Sacrifices will need to be made to offset the purchase, but that’s what happen when you live with Dustin. Borderline insanity, no?

As it stands now, my brain in still on overload and I’m going over the things MM taught me in my head. Yesterday afternoon, Dustin and I had a few hours to spend fishing, and I spent a lot of time practicing a few things, getting to know my new rod, and spent just a bit of time fishing. Dustin caught a beauty of a wild rainbow, and I lost a nice brownie right in front of me. Bad hookset, on my part, I think. The river was up quite a bit on Sunday, it was running at 146 CFS, compared to 85 CFS on Saturday. The water was starting to get a bit off color. A lot of algal debris was flowing down the river as well. Thanks to MM, Dustin and I have a handy water thermometer. Dustin let me do the honors of taking the first temp. The temperature reading was 60º, which was quite surprising. It sure didn’t feel that warm when my arm was stuck in the water while getting the temperature.

Finals for me this week – it’s going to be a long week, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If all goes well, Dustin and I have a Frying Pan trip planned for the weekend. Also, I hope to make just a bit of time this week to get to a pond and practice, or maybe spend a few hours on the river to get some balance going on, in what I fear will be a very unbalanced week!

-Stephanie

After School Special–Wetting Lines in Poudre Canyon

2011-05-06T13:42:00.001-06:00

Some days are better than others, and Thursday night fell into the better category. The sole class that caused concern to my perfect GPA, now causes me no concern as I managed to pull out an A. Dustin and I had plans to fish after class, because I thought I might be in need of a pick me up. However, the stars aligned and the fishing plans were to celebrate, not ease tension.

The Poudre seemed obliged to continue my good night; first cast, a small brown, barely a parr, was tempted by the size 18 Lazy Boy. Dustin had not even got into the water, when I hooked into a rainbow, again on the Lazy Boy. Hugging the edge of the fast flowing riffle water, my indicator went down again and again.

Suddenly my indicator was buried in the riffle, and my rod was arched. I saw a glint of goldenrod, and thought I’d hooked into a killer brown. Imagine my surprise when the fish rolled on the surface, and I did not recognize the mouth of this fish at all! After reeling in, I saw I hooked into a spawning Longnose Sucker. Oops. She didn’t count for the fish total, but she was a cool looking gal nonetheless.

As fate would have it, I had to walk through my honey hole, because I was stuck pretty good on a rock across stream. After wading through the hot spot, I worked some pocket water on the opposite bank and slowly headed up the river. The river had cooled, and the Lazy Boy had lost its charm. Dustin, meanwhile, landed a fish right above me on a Go-2. The sun disappeared little by little, and we made the decision to go home.

Yelling to Dustin, “I want to hit that spot on more time.” I head back to the hot spot, until I look up and see Dustin hooking into one in the exact same spot to which I was heading. Cursing under my breath, I settled in just a bit down from him and tried my luck, while he hooked into two back-to-back. There was a lesson learned here as Dustin reeled in another little brown, beat Dustin to the water – that is the secret for catching fish. Probably not, but it sounds like a good plan nonetheless. Finally, we put up our rigs and headed out the canyon.

As for me, I had a very productive hour and a half and was up on Dustin. In fact he had nil for awhile. I must confess, I did miss three. My fish of the night was a beauty of a 13” brownie(Dustin’s measurement, my measurement maybe 12"). He’s pictured below. Only two fish fell victim to Tak’s Go-2 Prince last night, as it seemed the Lazy Boy was the meal du jour.

During the drive home we talked about giving credit where credit is due. Dustin and I struggled for the first couple of months on the Poudre, but then we got some help from some fishing legends, Midgeman and Rick Takahashi. Midgeman introduced us to the ways of fishing the Poudre, and Takahashi taught Dus how to tie the patterns that work (I just want to hug him for the Go-2). We are so lucky to have ran across these men, and will be forever grateful for their insight. We still have so much to learn, and can’t believe we have the opportunity to learn from the best. So, thanks guys!

-Stephanie

One Up

2011-05-04T07:07:00.001-06:00

For most days spent on the water I cannot come home and say I was one up on Dustin. There have been a few times that I have out fished him, but for the most part Dustin out fishes me. On Sunday, however, I was one up. While, we both caught the same number of fish, and even missed one obvious hit a piece, I was the victor.

As Dustin reeled in a beautiful brown, he reached for the camera. This is the first fish of the day, and in true brownie fashion, is quite the looker. I watch Dustin turn on the camera, and align the shot, only to hear him say “No Memory Card.” I snickered. How do you bring the camera, but neglect to check for a memory card? Congratulations sir, here is your “Bonehead Award”. Of course I only thought this to myself, as he was already bummed enough. After he released the brown, he asked if I had my phone, and luckily I did, so we weren’t totally without pictures. We snapped a couple of the fish, but to be honest my memories are much better than the camera phone pics, and for the most part it remained in my pocket. However, I was the one that spared us a few pictures. Finally, a day where Dustin was the bonehead on the river, not me!

Again today, the fish seemed to like the Go-2 Prince, although I had a brown take a Lazy Boy. I just love catching fish on that prince. Dustin also had a first cast catch on a pheasant tail. Lucky for us, the fish seemed to be in a responsive mood. We had a fun afternoon, sprinkled with a little snow, and just a bit of wind. I’m going to go ahead say, I doubt Dustin goes to the river again with an empty memory card slot.

-Stephanie

DMas Flies–Bennett Springs Staples

2011-04-29T05:44:00.001-06:00

In order to fish for trout, we used to have to drive 2.5 hours to Bennett Springs State Park and Trout Hatchery. Dustin and I spent many fantastic, albeit tiring, days at Bennett. Our routine would consist of getting up around 230 or 300 so we could arrive in time for the horn. We’d be silly and fish way too long, and then barely make it home with one eye open. I have a special affinity for this place since it is essentially where Dustin and I learned to fly fish, him just a few (15 years) prior to myself.

Yesterday, my mom said a work colleague heads to Bennett next weekend. She asked what Dustin I normally had luck with, and wondered if he could tie up a few patterns. The following are what we always made sure we had in the box for a trip to Bennett. Truth be told, the only other fly we caught fish on that is not in this group is a John Deere.

King Prince:

Dustin and I both caught a lot of trout on the King, and most mornings would start out with this little guy. When Dustin first started to tie these, I was completely enamored with them. I wanted a King on my line all the time. Kings just flat out produce.

Superman:

The credit for this fly goes to the guys at Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence. I am not sure which one is the original creator, but he deserves a prize. This fly really is super; we’ve tore them up at Bennett with it, and wild Colorado trout have fell victim to it as well. The fish above, it scarfed the Superman.

Red Rocket:

Much the same as the Superman, just a little change-up in colors, which is exactly what the trout need sometimes. I mean we don’t like to eat the same things all the time, right? So why should they. This little guy has been a killer as well. Dustin also ties it with blue wire – which is the way I prefer, just because it has netted me more fish than the red and silver. He also ties this as an emerger.

Crackleback:

What a versatile fly this is. Dustin has caught fish with this while fishing it as a dry, fishing it deep with sinking line, and fishing it just below the surface with floating line while stripping it back to him. Throw this fly on late morning or early afternoon and it will score you some trout. We’ve fished a variety of colors with this as well.

Caribou Maribou;

We’ve seen many a fish swim by with some kind of maribou hanging from it’s lip. Bennett Trout cannot resist the maribou, it is just fact.

San Juan Worm:

Okay, I have to say it, Dustin and I don’t like to fish these. I am not sure why, because they work. Early in this fly fishing game, Dustin soured me on this worm as he looked in his box with disgust at them. From that point on I thought they were the devil of all flies. Totally silly, because when the water is high, the fish eat these. As we all know, rain brings out the segmented worms, and well, those worms are mighty tasty to our fish. With water high and muddy at Bennett, it might be well time to tie on a San Juan.

Incredible water surrounds me now, so it is somewhat unbelievable that I wouldn’t mind another day at the trout park. It certainly holds a bit of nostalgia, for Dustin and I both. With Dustin tying these Bennett flies, and Brooke’s Eleven Point flies, homesickness starts to kick in a bit.

I hope my mom’s colleague enjoys Dustin’s flies and has a great weekend with her husband and grandkids.

-Stephanie

Numb Legs and Chilly Fish

2011-04-27T08:59:00.001-06:00

While I studiously sat in lab last night, the boys went out to fish. (I’m not at all envious…) They braved the cold and the wind to hook into some brownies on the Poudre. Their dedication paid off as a few came to the net. The Prince struck again, and the Lazy Boys were anything but lazy. Poudre Canyon Chronicles has a great write up of his and Dustin’s afternoon on the water. Go check it out since we all know Dustin will never sit down to type up his report…at least he takes pictures.

Dustin’s legs were still numb when he got home. As he climbed out the car, he wore a smile and walked with peg legs. “I can’t feel my legs! It was damn cold tonight” he said. No matter the conditions, Dustin will fish. Him and I have fished well into the night, in the snow, the rain, the wind, you name it. It’s all worth it when you feel the tug.

-Stephanie

DMas Flies–Takahashi’s Class

2011-04-26T07:30:00.001-06:00

Dustin had the opportunity to learn from a master tier, Rick Takahashi, at one of our local fly shops, Anglers Roost. This was a four session class with only two students. Talk about some one on one. Dustin learned new tricks and further honed his tying skills. He hopes to take an intermediate class with Takahashi in the near future.

Here are a few of the patterns Dustin tied in class. While he’s tied many of these prior to class, Rick gave Dustin a few pointers and Dustin enjoyed the opportunity to become a better tier.

Wooly Bugger:

Hare’s Ear:

Scud:

Go-2 Prince (these are my favorite):

Go-2 Caddis:

Anglers Roost and Rick put on these beginner classes every so often. If you are new to tying, or thinking about getting started, check out these classes. Rick’s instruction will get your tying started on the right foot, or hand in this case.

Dustin has been busy tying in his free time. He has a box to fill for Brooke, as she is going to try her hand on a Missouri Blue Ribbon Stream. He is also working on our boxes and making good progress! I can’t believe all the recipes that are in that head of his. He just started tying last May, so he’s came a long way, and his ties get better every day.

-Stephanie

Pike on Saturday, Trout on Sunday

2011-04-25T16:57:00.001-06:00

Each year the student chapter of AFS hosts a fishing derby at College Lake. It’s a fantastic event that allows anglers to fish a private lake and have a chance at a huge pike. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate this year. The conditions were definitely crappy, wet snow and frigid temps, but anglers still had smiles on their faces. Fishing was difficult, as the fish metabolism had to be low considering the chilly water temps. However, some anglers hooked into some nice fish, a 32” Northern won it. Dustin and I volunteered for the event. We took measurements and initialed score cards. It was a good way to get out and meet new people and see some nice fish all for a good cause.

After the event, all of us volunteers had the opportunity to fish as well. Conditions were not much better for us, and most still struggled to catch anything. I did catch one pike, but the little sucker got off right at the bank. I’m not going to complain – at least I didn’t have to get my hands wet and slimy. On the way home, we saw the Easter Bunny preparing for Sunday.

Speaking of Easter, Dustin and I decided to spend the holiday on the Poudre. We caught a few, and enjoyed fishing with minimal wind. A refreshing change of pace. As far as what was on the menu, the trout preferred princes for their Easter meal.

Since our Canon G11 was junked, Best Buy replaced it with a newer model Canon G12. We had a bit of fun playing with settings. The pics below were taken on vivid setting. We love what it did for the fish, but Dustin’s hands really aren’t this red, I swear.

We also decided to drive up in the canyon a bit to see how the water was flowing. We want to correlate the cfs reading to observation. This is new water for us, so learning what 333 cfs looks like compared to say 50 cfs or 1000 cfs is important. I can say, the Poudre is starting to look like a real river, full of pocket water, deep holes, amazing riffles and gin clear, cold water.

Venus’s first question when we got home, so how’d you do? A fine Easter, old girl, very fine indeed.

-Stephanie

Happy Earth Day

2011-04-22T17:16:00.001-06:00

In celebration of Earth Day, I thought I would call attention to the members of the fishing industry that donate 1% of their profits back to the planet in a form of a donation to over 2400 environmental organizations worldwide. There are so many outdoor companies that are members of 1%, so go check them out before you make your next purchase. 1% for the Planet is a great organization that realizes the importance of the relationship between business and environmental conservation.

The fishing industry members:

5Point Film Festival, CO, United States

A Spot Tail Salmon Guide, WA, United States

Anglers Choice Flies, OH, United States

Arch Anglers, WA, United States

Blue Ribbon Flies, MT, United States

Blue River Fly Company, AZ, United States

British Columbia River Outfitters Association, BC, Canada

Cabin Fever Adventures, YT, Canada

Casting 4 A Cure, OR, United States

Cheeky Fly Fishing, MA, United States

Confluence Films, MT, United States

Cutting Edge Products, LLC, CA, United States

DM Solutions Group, Inc., ON, Canada
(MapSherpa)

Ephemera, France

Felt Soul Media, CO, United States

Fishers Island Oyster Farm, NY, United States

Fly Fishing the 10,000 Islands, FL, United States

Fly Gal Ventures, BC, Canada

Goz & Kristensen Film, Germany
(Tapam - a flyfishing journey)

Grand Fishing Adventures, WY, United States

Greenboatstuff, WA, United States

Greenfish, CA, United States

InstaWipe, CA, United States

Inter-Fluve, Inc, OR, United States

Matsu-Expeditions & River Guides, AK, United States

Morning Star Lanyards, ID, United States

Patagonia Fishing Company, MT, United States

Planetlures, France

Rising, LLC, UT, United States
(Rising)

Robert DeAngelis Fly Fishing, KY, United States

View profile

Spirit of the West Adventures, BC, Canada

SWAE Sports, CO, United States

Tenkara USA, CA, United States

The Crash Pad, TN, United States

View profile

The Trout Spot, CA, United States

The West Yellowstone Fly Shop, MT, United States

Turneffe Flats Resort, Belize
(Golden Bonefish LLC)

Wide Open Adventure, CO, United States

Wild River Guide Co., WA, United States

Xiamen Srivo Industrial Co Ltd, China

A short film by Felt Soul Media about 1% for the planet…

Available in HD

News & Notes

2011-04-22T13:40:00.001-06:00

We’ve seen a few whitetail around town – really has Dustin wondering if he can get into some close to home.

Midgeman and Dustin shared the river this week: Dustin really looks up to MM for his unmatched fishing skills and fantastic tying abilities. The stars have still not faded in Dustin’s eyes. He had a fantastic time.

Received my average cost of attendance and scholarships this week: $38,022 for attendance, $1500 in scholarships, $0.00 in FAFSA. Awesome.

Wolves will probably be delisted in about 60 days – unfortunate news. How do Colorado folks feel about wolves making their way to CO?

New Kype Magazine is out (link on my sidebar) – I liked the very first entry by G. Douglas. I read the book and I’ll post more about this later. Also liked the feature on Gowdy, as a sports fan it was cool to hear about his angling life outside of the broadcasting booth.

For Cofisher – A maple bacon sundae

College Lake Fishing Derby is tomorrow – come on out and get into some hungry pike! $30.00. Dustin and I will be there measuring your catch.

Tonight, we are attending the premiere of Green Fire at the LSC. If you are in or near Fort Collins, come out and celebrate Earth Day with us!

Gear Review–Columbia Omni Tech Rain Wear

2011-04-20T08:14:00.004-06:00

Perhaps the proper title would be gear fail. The rain gear definitely falls into the category, Gear We Don’t Love. I’m having a hard time not pounding the keys for this post, because my frustration about the rain gear situation is quite high. There really isn’t much to say about Columbia Omni Tech Rain Gear. It sucks. I’m not even going to take the time to describe the technology or features, because they don’t work. The first time out, it failed the keeping us dry test, an important thing when one is hiking in chilly temperatures. It wasn’t just Dustin & I that experienced the crappy Columbia performance, Brooke and Matt own identical Columbia pants and jackets. Granted, the first time, we were hiking in POURING rain. It was a vicious, drenching MO spring thunderstorm. I expected to maybe be a little wet around my collar, but no, my entire body was wet, and wet like I had just taken a shower fully clothed. It wasn't just that time the gear failed, it has failed EVERY TIME in the rain. No matter if it is pouring or sprinkling.

One of my worst fears is getting wet, and then experiencing subsequent hypothermia. Wearing this Columbia gear, it is almost a foregone conclusion that chances of getting hypothermia increase substantially! I think the pic below sums up how Dustin feels about the rain gear…not a happy camper.

However, Dustin was able to turn that frown upside down this past July. This is when Dustin got to upgrade to Millet brand rain gear. Now, this is where I get frustrated. He argued about the rain gear, saying Columbia (which is cheaper) would be sufficient. I argued that we needed a better, more trail worthy brand than Columbia. He won the argument, and we got wet and cold. Needless to say, after that he changed his tune, and was the first to upgrade. Jerk.

Dustin got to stay dry during a chilly afternoon on the Frying Pan, me not so much….

My upgrade is coming soon, and I will be purchasing Arcteryx, which I wanted in the first place. Unfortunately, I might have to get the SL since its $300 cheaper. I know one thing, I’m not about to be up on the mountain in my worthless Columbia gear.

Currently, I wear Dustin’s jacket and my Columbia pants when I ride my bike to school in the rain. Every time, my top is dry and my pants, well I think I just waste my time putting on the rain pants. I sit in class all day with wet bottoms…ridiculous. Keep in mind that the ride to school is just about 20 minutes.

Columbia, can’t even keep you dry for 20 minutes. Great stuff.

And, that is about all I have to say about that topic.

Gear Review– Summit RSX Eagle Hang-on Stand

2011-04-18T22:56:00.001-06:00

Since our relocation, the blog has been short on hunting fodder. In order to remedy that, I wanted to post about Dustin’s favorite new hunting accessory, his Summit RSX Eagle Hang-on Stand. He used the heck out of this stand last year in multiple locations, and I can tell you he sure will miss it come hunting season around these parts. Sitting is so much more comfortable than stalking.

So, let’s get down to why he loves the Eagle. Right out the box, the stand is ready to go. With a weight of 14 pounds, it is easy to transport in and out of the woods. Set-up is snap, and its as versatile as you want it to be.

The Raptor Series, of which the Eagle is part, is a collection of hang–on stands. For each hook you want to install, you essentially have spot, with little hassle. It attaches like a normal lock on, but only a hook remains instead of the whole stand. The hook belts onto the tree, so no tedious screwing. Talk about cutting out a huge cost of having multiple stands. Not to mention, you know no one is going to sneak in and have a premade spot ready for themselves.

On a few trees, he used conventional screw on steps. For other trees he used the Gorilla Silverback Predator Climb Sticks, four of them. Total weight with the sticks is around 26lbs, so its easy and light transporting. A bonus of the sticks, no one knows you are hunting the area, allowing for full-on stealth mode in high pressure areas. It just depends on your preference for sticks or steps, both methods are just as easy.

For added safety, he added a ratchet strap around the bottom part of the stand so he could climb in and out with out the stand moving on the hook. He’s timid of heights, so he prefers a stand that is 100% secure. With that said, Dustin can get into the woods, and be completely set up within 20 minutes, even quicker on a good day. Look closely at the photo below to see the stand set-up.

Sitting in crappy weather for hours makes you want a comfortable seat, and this stand supplies it. With 3” padding his butt stayed happy, and legs cramp free. The stand and Dustin withstood a killer windstorm, and he felt safe and secure the entire time.

Another great aspect, the seat folds up and attaches to a clip allowing Dus to makes shots behind him. You never know when or where a deer is coming, so the stand’s stealth factor is a huge bonus.

In his opinion, this stand is a must-have for a person that hunts on multiple properties. For 250 bucks ($50.00 for 3 addition hooks) a person can essentially have four stand locations without the hassle of hanging and transporting four lock-on stands.

Gear Review: Western Mountaineering Alpinlite

2011-04-16T09:46:00.001-06:00

One gear decision came easy to us - our Western Mountaineering sleeping bags. As noobs we had no idea what to buy, but the experts at Dynamic Earth did. Their recommendations have not let us down. When we asked about sleeping bags, their advice was quick and definite. Don’t buy anything but Western. Once we snuggled up in these, it was over. These bags were certainly the best we’d seen, by a huge margin. The guys at Dynamic Earth were right once again. We love our Western Alpinlites.

Western mountaineering is one of those companies that makes fine products, and their attention to detail is evident in every stich, no loose threads, or places where the zipper might snag, and of course a YKK zipper. With draft protection around the neck, and around the sides, Western covered all the areas where cold air might sneak into the bag. Continuous baffles allow us to move the down to areas where we want more or less protection from the cold, ideal for using when the weather is warm. Western supplies a canvas bag for storing the sleeping bag when at home. The bag also comes with it’s own stuff sack, but we opted to purchase a compression sack.

Advertised as mummy style, this bag sleeps like a standard. I don’t ever feel constricted, or like I don’t have enough room, even when I sleep with my knee bent. The Western signature 850 down fill provides loft like no other. Soft down surrounds me, and the collar, when not in use, makes a great pillow. If I could use a word to describe how the bag feels, I’d pick “cushy”. That probably is not even a word, but that is the first thing that comes to mind.

So does it keep me warm? Yes, and Yes, and Yes some more. I’ve slept out on some cold (to me) nights, and not once did I wake up shivering or cold in the least. I will say that every night during my September RMNP trip, I slept with my beanie on my head. This was not because the hood was not adequate for warmth. Rather, I am weird about having blankets on or constricting my face, it freaks me out. So the hood is not really the best option for me. With that said, my head stayed warm in the beanie; and my body – I woke up a couple of times near sweating. The temperature hovered below or right at 20º most of those nights. When I would unzip the collar, a cloud of steam would rise up out of the bag. For some reason, I found this highly entertaining on those solitary nights and mornings. A small disclaimer here, I did sleep in 200 (basically a mid-warmth) merino base layer (Arc’teryx merino pants and Icebreaker merino top). On warmer nights, (30º or above) the base layers are too much, and the zipper has to open. The continuous baffles also allow me to move the down where I want it, but I haven’t went this route yet. I am nervous about moving my down! This bag does its job, it keeps me toasty warm! I also bought a bag liner for those sub 20º nights. So far, I haven’t need it.

Weight and Packability – At 1lb 13oz who could complain about weight? It is easily one of the lighter bags on the market that keeps a person insanely warm. My 5’6” bag compress down to just a bit smaller than a football; Dustin’s 6’6” bag, it packs to about football size. These are the smallest compressed things we carry. No gripes here for the pack space it takes, because it is is nil.

Durability – The gentleman that taught our backpacking class has had his Western Bags for a long time. One bag, that his daughter sill uses, is approaching 40 years old; it still works like a charm. Western makes products to last, and all of them are crafted here in the United States! More than one person has told us, this will be the last 20º bag we buy.

My only complaint, the foot box is closed. The zipper doesn’t go all the way open, so using this as a quilt is not an option. Dustin and I bought the opposite zippers so we could zip them together on warm nights, and use it like a quilt. With the foot boxes it doesn’t seem like all that cool of idea to me. Personally, I have unzipped it all the way, and used it liked a blanket, but my feet were restricted to just that foot box area. Not that it was really any big deal, I didn’t lose sleep over it.

The price tag is a little high, but when this is the only thing keeping you from the cold, the sting to the pocket book doesn’t hurt as much as the thought of freezing to death. Not to mention, it will last forever. When we make another sleeping bag purchase (probably one more suited for colder nights for elk season) it will be a Western.

Gear Review–Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2

2011-04-12T07:36:00.001-06:00

Backpacking 101 – this class taught by the local Sierra Club cost Dustin and I a lot of cash. Backpacking equipment doesn’t come cheap, and decisions aren’t easy. After all, it is our lives we are playing with here. Our first agonizing decision – the tent. Hours searching the net, countless discussions with Brooke and Matt, and lots of hem-hawing at Dynamic Earth led us to the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2.

To be honest, our search was narrowed down to two choices rather quickly, the MSR Hubba Hubba and the Big Agnes. Dedicating one evening to purchasing a tent, Dustin and I went into Dynamic Earth and had them set up both options. After rolling around, sitting up, snuggling, stretching and pushing off in both tents, we pulled the trigger on the Big Agnes.

Now, that you know the story, let’s talk about why we love our tent.

1. Weight – Listed at 3lb 6 oz, the Copper Spur definitely fits the bill for ultra-light for a two-man tent. For most outings, I carry the tent, so I wanted something light and super compressible. The Copper Spur is each of those. This past fall on my solo trip to RMNP, I used a compression bag for the tent, and it ended up taking up less room than my clothes, and even weighed less. Score.

2. Room – Just shy of 30 square feet, the design is genius, with a wider head area and narrow foot box, extra room where you need it and not where you don’t. We can both undress/dress simultaneously, but sometimes elbows crash. The length is 90”. Dustin is 6’2”, and uses the long sleeping pad without hitting his feet on the end of the tent. The biggest selling feature for us, Dustin can sit up. The other tents we looked at just didn’t have the head space the Big Agnes does. A rather imperative feature when we’re spending a rainy afternoon inside. The doors are rainbow style, and open plenty wide enough to load and unload our goodies. The vestibules are a little smaller than we would like, but our packs are always completely covered so we can’t complain.

3. Construction – The tent poles are made with TH72M aluminum, making them lightweight and durable. The stakes, also superlight, are coated with eco-friendly anodizing. The fly and floor are ultra-light silicone treated with a waterproof coating. The body of the tent is mesh and polyester. All seams are taped. So far, the durability has not been an issue. Our stakes are still in good shape, and the tent doesn’t have any tears or rips. However, I must report that our first tent leaked…a lot. Our first night backpacking, Dustin and I got soaked in 30º temperatures. It sucked. We took it back to Dynamic Earth, and they exchanged it for us without a problem. The second tent, 100% dry!

4. Setup – The ease of setup with this tent, is really unmatched, at least from the options at which we looked. Alone, I can set up this tent quickly and efficiently. The stakes drive well, and everything either clips or slides right into place. We’ve also set-up in the dark without a problem. A huge bonus.

3. Cool stuff – Two handy pockets rest on both sides of the tent; we both keep our headlamps there for easy access. There are also loops for a gear loft (sold separately). We might go ahead and buy the gear loft this year, as storing all our indoor stuff at my feet kind of stinks. The “bathtub” in the tent is also deep, we like that as well. When a nice night blesses us, we love the mesh. It is a stellar star-gazing tent. Again, I need to mention the ease of set-up. It really is a breeze.

Overall, we are ecstatic with our tent. For the weight, it gives us plenty of room, even when we are stuck inside waiting out a rain. Condensation was a big worry of ours, but this tent handles it well. The condensation it does gather, dries quickly in the morning sun. Our Big Agnes has been worth every penny.

SPECS (from Big Agnes):

Trail Weight: 3lb 6oz

Footprint Weight: 5oz

Fast Fly Weight: 2lb 8oz

Packed Size: 7" x 22"

Floor Area: 29sq ft

Vestibule Area: 9/9sq ft

Head Height: 42"

Leg Height: 22”

Season: 3

Capacity: 2 man

Gear Review Week

2011-04-11T17:05:00.001-06:00

As of Saturday, Dustin and I are without a camera. A malfunctioning shutter prohibits optimal shooting. Best Buy quoted a time frame of 1-2 weeks for repair, which means all fishing snapshots will remain only in memory for the next couple of weeks.

Without pictures, posts become less interesting to many readers. However, there is one exception, gear. We all can read about gear, and it doesn’t matter if scenic shots accompany the text. Pictures are nice, but they aren’t the meat of the post like they are in so many blog entries. Let’s face it, we are all obsessed with gear in one way or another. When other blogs post a gear list, I always check out what kind of stuff he/she uses. Perhaps it is curiosity, but a lot of it is helping me make a decision. I am so bad about making gear decisions; I’ll read countless reviews before I make a purchase. In an effort to keep the blog interesting while the camera is the shop, I’ll blog about the stuff we love, and the stuff we don’t love so much. Hopefully, it will help some decision-frightened person like myself pull the trigger (or not).

First up: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 (look for the review tonight).

-Stephanie

About that Thing Called Fishing

2011-04-09T08:01:00.001-06:00

Believe it or not, Dustin and I still make time to fish. With all the outdoor activities available to us, we find ourselves making very difficult decisions about what to do. Sometimes we forego our inner calling to fish, and hike or snowshoe, and other times we hit the river. Some of those times we even catch fish.

We need to get better about the pictures; we’ve been catching such dinks that we just want to get them back into the water. Normally, I am not close enough to get to Dus before he needs to get the fish drinking again, or Dustin just tries to do it himself, hoping not to dunk our camera. Perhaps it is time to take the waterproof case to the riverbank.

Dustin catches quite a few more fish than I. For a bit I was plain frustrated. I contemplated retirement. Now, I was never serious, but the frustration was there. Keep in mind, I have only been doing this whole fly fishing thing for less than a year. Dustin, well he’s been slinging for 15 years. Recently, I came across a great little book thanks to Bigerrfish (look for my review possibly next week). It’s penned by George Douglas, a hall of fame author and the guy behind that great magazine on my sidebar. He mentions attitude as a key factor to success. Now, when I go out, I put myself in a positive frame of mind. I will catch fish, and I will catch as many as any guy on the water. Hopefully, the positive attitude pays off.

After a bit of yard work today, we plan to wet a line. Hopefully, the 52 mph wind gusts hold off until tomorrow.

-Stephanie

Wild Weather

2011-04-07T08:10:00.001-06:00

Applying lotion to our sunburned faces, we stared out the window at a dreary day. How was yesterday 80 and today…well so damn cold?! Despite the cooler temperatures, Dustin, Brooke and I loaded the truck to go fish. Halfway across town, dark storm clouds started to billow across the sky and the wind blew so hard it shook the truck. Perhaps fishing would not occur today. It seems we made the right call, because the rain and punishing wind arrived. Deciding we didn’t want to sit around and stare at the walls, we headed up Poudre Canyon. Once we hit the canyon, the rain turned to snow. The further we drove, the more snow we encountered. A serene sight awaited us around every bend. Fresh snow clung to the pines, and softly coated the rugged landscape.

All of a sudden, the snow went from barely covering the road, to blanketing it. Brooke hopped out of the truck at one point. Freshly fallen snow came up to her knees. Holy crap! Not to mention, this was on top of several feet of old snow. Dustin and I know our next snowshoe destination, Rawah.

Remember that I said things change so fast; above is coming down from Cameron Pass. Just a couple thousand feet down this was the scenery…

At this point, we are kicking ourselves for not bringing the rods. You win some, you lose some I guess. Several fisherman dotted the river as we left the canyon; we saw a guy hookup in just the same spot Dustin and I saw a big one cruising near the bottom just a few days prior. That angler didn’t have the big one on the end of his line…that bugger is still there waiting for us.

So, the day didn’t go as planned, but all of us got to experience a whiteout; at some points we could barely see the front of the truck. Easily, the most snow we’ve seen in all our lives. No fishing, but pretty darn cool either way. Besides, we’ll save the best part (fishing) for last.

-Stephanie

Gourmet Pup

2011-04-06T20:17:00.001-06:00

A cup in 3 days, that is the amount of food Venus has consumed. Since she has been acting generally lethargic, a trip to the vet was necessary today. Turns out it was a trip well worth it because she had a 103.3º temperature (101º is normal). After getting prescribed an antibiotic, the vet also gave me a recipe for Canine Hamburger Helper that is sure to get Venus in the eating mood.

The burger and rice seemed to do the trick, because Venus gobbled it up; well gobbled as much as Venus can do. You see Venus is a delicate eater; each bite must be properly chewed and down the hatch before another bite can be taken. She’s a silly dog.

Here’s hoping the gourmet goodies and antibiotic get Venus feeling better soon!

-Stephanie

Mills Lake–Destination 1 for our Visitor

2011-04-06T09:05:00.001-06:00

After a week filled with exams, a respite was in order. Thankfully, I received a respite of one that I don’t get to enjoy anymore since the move, hanging out with my best friend not named Dustin. After counting down anxiously all week, Dustin and I were able to pick up Brooke from DIA on Saturday morning. I couldn’t believe she was finally here, and going to stay for 3 days! Don’t get me wrong, Dustin and I love Fort Collins and love hanging out with one another, but we most certainly miss our friends. Nothing relieves stress like good hang out time with Brooke and Matt. We dream about places we want to go, things we want to do, things the boys want to create, and laughs abound. This time only Brooke visited; she needed an escape from the daily grind, and Matt, the ever awesome husband, gave her that when he found a great rate on a flight for her.

Nearly overdosing on excitement, we headed to RMNP to take Brooke on her first snowshoe. We drove up 66 to 36 for some new scenery, and were not disappointed. Upon entering the park, we saw a coyote on the stalk. Waiting patiently, we were rewarded with a pounce. It was awesome.

A better day, it could not have been. Sun shining, blue sky, and mild temperatures made snowshoeing fantastic. The snow was packed, but tolerable. Being a super nice day, we expected big crowds, but were pleasantly surprised at how few people we encountered on the trail. I am not sure Brooke ever stopped smiling.

More and more water is open in lower elevations of the park. Seeing trout hanging out in the stream is always a welcome sight.

Our trip in July was woefully absent of wildlife. This time, I do believe, Brooke was not disappointed.

After a stop at Coffee on the Rocks (we had to get Brooke a Bombay Chimney), we drove back to Fort Collins. As if the Big T Canyon knew it had been unseeded as our favorite canyon, Big Horn Sheep appeared closer and more numerous than ever before. We could have watched the Big Horn all day, but decided to head back to our dogs. However, we made a quick detour to see dogs of a different kind, prairie dogs. Holes, with tiny heads peeking, dot fields in Loveland. I’ve never seen so many prairie dogs in my life. They might be a nuisance to some, but they sure are cute and are the exclusive food of the Black-Footed Ferret.

Wildlife, killer views and good company greeted Brooke on her first day. To think, she still had two more days to experience our little nook. We were more than happy to give her the escape from the daily grind she came seeking.

-Stephanie

Moose Over

2011-03-30T18:06:00.001-06:00

Wildlife viewing has increased dramatically since our relocation. Often while driving through the canyons, we are treated with various ungulate appearances. Until recently, the Big Thompson Canyon has been the hotspot for variety, but moose over Big T because the Poudre Canyon is now holding the crown.

A few shots from Poudre Canyon…

After a few hours fishing near the hatchery, Dustin and I decided to head further up the canyon to take a peak at the falls. Cruising merrily long, Dustin and I are enjoying an afternoon drive until he shouts, “MOOSE”. Slowing rather quickly and busting a U-turn we cruise back to the spot. Here, we see four moose having an afternoon snack. A good day just became awesome. Moose are one item that was unchecked on the wildlife list, and it was super cool to finally check it. Not to mention checking it 20 yards from the window. I believe Wolfy said, wait until you see the moose. You are right my friend, magnificent. Ungulates on our Poudre Canyon list, Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer and Moose.

Colorado, you do not disappoint.

-Stephanie

Indicator Blues

2011-03-29T20:35:00.001-06:00

Perched on top of the water, a florescent indicator slowly flows down the current. Lift, cast, repeat, and repeat and repeat. Is anyone else incredibly tired of watching a strike indicator? Perhaps my ire rests in that I have not caught a fish this way since December, but nonetheless it is time for something new.

So bored of the pink blob….

With warmer temperatures, and afternoon hatches becoming more and more frequent, Dustin decided to tie up some imitations of a bug we had seen fluttering through the air on a few occasions. Even with these fantastic imitations in the arsenal, we still utilized the indicator routine. Bob, repeat, bob, repeat, until we saw fish rising to gulp for the last time. On went the size 24 dry. After two casts, a fish hit it. After being lulled to sleep by the indicator for the last 5 months, my reflexes were woeful…I swung and missed. This repeated for a bit, until I got back on my game and finally scored a trout…a real live trout! It is amazing how one little fish on a dry can pull me out of the darkest fishing mood. Dustin and I both hooked into a few fish on this small section of the Poudre, he on a flashback pheasant tail and a black beauty emerger, and I on Dustin’s simple design.

Another fantastic part of fishing is seeing the other terrestrial wildlife, and signs of their handiwork.

Not even a slap to the face (coke zero commercial style) could remove the smiles on our faces. To top it off, the drive home was only ten minutes.

Item of note: The Poudre in the canyon is shedding ice everyday, and the water, clear as gin. Spring, it is near.

~Stephanie

Gear Review–Flying Fisherman Pago Sunglasses

2011-03-23T21:09:00.001-06:00

Coming home to a box on the door step is always such a treat, especially when the treat inside is a FREE treat. A few weeks ago such a package appeared on my doorstep. Previously, I detailed my initial thoughts on the Pagos that arrived in this special shipment. Also, I noted I would compare and contrast these glasses to two higher-end offerings from Smith Optics and Oakley.

Armed with my new shaded specs, I took to the water. I found myself once again impressed with the construction of the glasses. Not only are the Pagos stylish, but they also are pretty darn sturdy. I don’t feel like I need to be super delicate with these; they are definitely made for heavy-duty wear. Naturally, I have already let the Pagos slip a time or two. Only one blemish appeared after this abuse, and it is a scratch right below the logo. After crashing lens first on rocks and gravel, the lenses are scratch free. Perhaps this is due to the polycarbonate Rhino Lens, which Flying Fisherman claims is nearly indestructible and 35 times stronger than glass. A big claim, but mine have already suffered a bit of mishandling, and the lenses look as good as they did the day I pulled them out of the box. My Smith Optic lenses scratch if touched by an eyelash. I’ve been very delicate with my Smith’s glasses, but the condition suggests otherwise. Dustin’s Oakley lenses are glass, needless to say his glasses are treated with the upmost care. We replaced the lenses earlier this year, and already a few scratches appear.

As far as fit, the Pagos wrap around my head perfectly. I don’t have light sneaking in the corners, above the lens or below the lens as I do with my Smith Optics. To say it simply, they provide optimal coverage. After a few hours wear, they bother me behind my ears, but I think that happens with all sunglasses.

Now, for the important part, the AcuTint Polarized Sunlens. My lens color choice was amber . The Pago (or all the Polycarbonate Rhino Lenses) come in amber, smoke or vermillion. I chose amber because it offers the most versatility, and is ideal for shallow water. The amber tint took me a bit to get used to, but the sharpness through these glasses more than makes up for the amber hue of the surroundings. My Smith Optics are more of the smoke color, and I like this a bit better because colors stay true. However, my Smith Optics do not provide the sharpness the Pagos do. As far as the polarization, I’ll put it this way, I missed a fish because I saw it come out from under a rock to gulp my dry. I pulled too quick, and the fish never got a chance to eat. However, I was not totally disappointed. It was pretty spectacular to see the fish move under the water like that, and especially at the distance. This is something I would have never been able to see with my Smith Optics.

I’ve used the glasses during completely cloud covered days, on days when not a cloud was in the sky, and on the in-between days. In every condition, the glasses kept the water glare free.

Venus’s review – Two paws up!

To compare the Pagos to our two current pair of glasses, I can say with certainty that for a day out fishing, I would pick up the $60.00 pair of Flying Fisherman Pago Sunglasses before I would pick up my $150.00 Smith Optics. The Pagos fit better, do not slip and slide, offer complete sun blockage (no light seepage), the sharpness is off the charts, they will take some abuse, and the polarization is every bit as good, if I dare say better, than Dustin’s $250.00 Oakleys.

The short of it: A lot of choices exist for polarized angling sunglasses, but for the price I don’t think you can go wrong with Flying Fisherman’s Pago. All the performance of those higher end brands, but with a price tag that won’t break the bank.

Disclaimer: Courtesy of the Outdoor Blogger Network and Flying Fisherman, I received, at no cost to me, a pair of Flying Fisherman Pago Sunglasses to try and review. However, this review contains no bias. I gave my 100% honest opinion, because, well ,that is only fair to my readers.

Stephanie

Emerald Lake

2011-03-20T08:44:00.001-06:00

Spring like weather descended upon Fort Collins, and even the mountains this weekend. Hiking in snow with the temperature right about 50° is something everyone must do. It is enjoying all the splendor of winter with the weather of a spring day. Dustin and I took advantage of these conditions by hiking to Emerald Lake in RMNP. It seems many others shared our idea; the trail was quite crowded, but did not spoil our fun. Extra special encouragement came the way of running water! In more than a few spots, open water peaked out from the ice.

One woman we met along the way required a course in trail etiquette. Narrow trails on steep embankments are just part of hiking in the mountains. However, this women acted as if the trails were as wide as a two lane highway. Moving at a snails pace, she refused to step off the trail to allow for passing traffic. Instead, she made us pass her while she was still moving. It was a bit scary. Then further up the path we ran into her again (we had stopped to take some photos) and saw her giving trouble to other snow travelers. A group was coming down a pretty steep, narrow section of the path. Normally, people going up have the right away, but in some instances you need to use your head. If someone coming down is already half way down the steep trail, and there is nowhere for them to step aside, wait for them to finish the descent to a point they can stop and step aside safely. Makes sense, right? Common sense did not apply to this head-strong hiker woman. Instead, she nearly fell down the steep slope and caused the other hikers to stumble a bit as well. Seriously lady, is the right of way worth bodily harm? It was a wee-bit ridiculous. Dustin and I tried to avoid her at all costs the rest of the day.

A couple of brave men were climbing in the gulley just beside Hallett Peak; better those dudes than me. This entire zone is prone to avalanches. You can see the second guy in the picture below. He’s the small dot in between the peaks (click on pic to enlarge.)

Winter snowshoeing in the park is beyond awesome. We’re so lucky it is nearly in our backyard. Today we switch gears, we seek some freshly opened water with hungry trout. My Pago sunglass review will posted after this trip.

-Stephanie

D-Mas Flies: Venus Fly Trap

2011-03-16T07:38:00.001-06:00

Even though Venus’s legs won’t let her accompany us on fishing trips, she likes to tag along just the same. As with her hitchhiking hairs on our backpacking gear, her hair has made its way into the fly box. In rapid creative fashion, Dustin tied up a little gem composed of Venus undercoat.

Her down like hair proved productive; Dustin caught a little rainbow (he got off before landing) and a beautiful brown later in the afternoon (my bad on the photo; I was too wrapped up in being frustrated to go and take a pic for Dus). After initial success, he plans to tie a few more to put in the box. My baby dog, she comes through in so many ways.

-Stephanie

These Boots were Made for Walkin’

2011-03-15T13:26:00.003-06:00

Dogs are funny. This weekend, we decided to put Venus’s boots on the other two dogs. Since it is beginning to be spring, we want our dogs to come in with dry paws, not muddy paws. Neither Bailey nor Dallas liked the boots. As soon as we put them on, they became paralyzed. Dustin cured Bailey of her paralysis by throwing a toy, however Dallas was not beguiled by the toy. He just wanted to be boot free.

Please take these things off me

Jumping Bean

No post is complete without a little Venus, so here she is out in her cart.

Saturday Stroll

The entertainment from our furry troop provides us countless laughs. Venus also contributed in another fishy way this weekend – a post to come.
-Stephanie

New Gear Search–Daypacks

2011-03-15T08:50:00.001-06:00

We love our multi-day Osprey packs. The removal of the top part of our packs was a key deciding factor when we made the purchase. At the time, we both agreed the top compartment would make a great daypack. This proved to be true, as I have used mine in that fashion several times. However, now we find ourselves in a less forgiving area. What works for a daypack in MO isn’t the best for CO. More gear is definitely required for a day out in the mountains. With that said, Dustin and I need daypacks. These packs need to be multi-use; we want to use them not only for day hikes, but also fishing hikes, and possibly some weekend jaunts.

Dustin likes the Osprey Kestrel 48. Needless to say, it is large enough and it also has places to hang things on the outside of the pack (ie wet waders and boots). The Osprey site claims it is the ultimate overnight pack. He seems convinced this is the route to go. I don’t know why he hasn’t pulled the trigger on it yet.

As for me, I am having trouble deciding. Imagine that?! Since he wants to carry a pack large enough for a weekend trip, I considered getting a hydration pack, but then those are really small. In the daypack category, I favor the Gregory Jade. It is just about the right size, and again there is a place to strap a rod or two, hang wet waders and boots. Another feature I like, the front pocket allows for drainage. A dandy place to stick rain gear after those afternoon showers. Another pack that strikes my fancy is the Simms Headwaters. Specifically designed as a fishing daypack, all the features are available for those trips. It also has a hydration sleeve, which some of the fishing packs lack.

Of course, what we plan to take is key to making the final decision. For day outings, we would take a two person bivy, extra clothes, rain gear, food, stove, camera gear, first aid, rope, knife, head lamps, bear spray, and of course the water filter. For fishing day trips we would take the same, except add in waders, boots, and gear. As for the weekends, we would take all of the above and our tent and sleeping bags. There is a lot to consider, which makes our decision a challenge.

If any one has any suggestions, or has a pack they love, let us know!

-Stephanie

Taking in some Cache

2011-03-07T07:13:00.003-07:00

Grueling hours at a job that isn’t your favorite takes a toll on you, and Dustin was in desperate need of a weekend. This past weekend, he took off Saturday so we could get some things done around the house and maybe fish a bit. The last paragraph of this post includes a word or two about the Flying Fisherman Pago Sunglasses, in case you came to this blog via search engine…

The first order of business, waders; after some careful consideration, Dustin selected a Simms Wading Pant, the G3 Guide. Offering super comfort, a YKK waterproof zipper, deep pockets, 3 & 5 layer Gore-Tex and articulated seam patterns, the G3 pants were the top choice for Dustin. Other waders caught our eye, especially the G3 convertible bibs/pants, but in pant-mode you lose the one and only pocket. Since pockets are something we both like, we decided against those. Also, we just didn’t see the need for bibs. After all, we don’t see a lot of situations where we will be wading that deep anymore. On the rare occasion we do deep wading, we’ll pick up a cheap pair when the time comes. Unfortunately, my size was not in stock, so I won’t get mine until later this week. Thankfully, Gordon at Angler’s Roost was nice enough to let me borrow a pair for the weekend.

Armed with new waders, Dustin and I were both excited to get on the water. However, another order of business existed, KU vs. MU. Since we don’t have cable, Dustin and I went to Mulligan’s to watch. Everything was great until CBS cut away for the last four minutes of the game. In two words, CBS sucks. KU did take care of business. Back to back to back to back to back to back to back Big 12 Champs (that’s 7 in a row if you are counting)!

Since most of the day was gone, we only got a few hours on the Poudre Saturday. No fish came to hand (we did find three or four dead brookies), but we really didn’t pay our dues for the day. We got to the river late so I didn’t really get into a rhythm or hit the target zone, at least I don’t think. We heard that the fish were hitting about a 16” below surface on zebras. I drifted that zone several times, and not even a nibble and spit. I set myself up to fish deeper, but by then it was time to head out. I’m ready for the days of no other obligations, and hours on the river. Too bad Dustin has to work so much!

A quick note on the Pagos. I wore them Saturday; the weather was cold with 90% cloud cover. Color me impressed; the sharpness is great, and I was able to see further in the water than I have ever been able to with my Smith’s. The color is about as good as you can expect with amber lenses, but even though the color is less than true, the clarity these lenses offer is incredible for the price point. I want to wear them out a few more times before I do a full review, but the first time out I was quite satisfied.
We celebrated a birthday this past week as well. Dallas, our youngest, turned 4 on Friday. He celebrated by escaping his kennel and chewing on some make-up brushes. He normally doesn’t chew, but perhaps that is the way he celebrates…Happy Birthday, D!

Another busy week on tap; they cut hours this week for Dustin so he’s only working 40. He’s anxious to get some time in at the vise, and my workload before spring break is darn near overwhelming. I look for a lot of hours to be spent in the office/tying room this week.
Spring is right around the corner…DST on Sunday!

-Stephanie

Gear Review–Waders

2011-03-04T16:28:00.001-07:00

OBN’s favorite gear prompt got me thinking about some of our gear; the gear we love and the gear that proved to be not-so-awesome. Waders are a source of that not-so-awesome gear. Below are reviews of the waders we have owned to date.

Dustin had a pair of Bass Pro waders that lasted him 6 years, with not a hint of a leak. These waders survived walking through dense brush every year. Last spring, they finally decided to seep a bit of water, and we replaced them with the exact same style. We also bought this style for me as well. Unfortunately, they leaked. I am not talking a little bitty leak, but a LEAK. Back to Bass Pro they went. Dustin was so disappointed, as was I because these waders were super comfortable, and quite breathable.

After much thought, we decided on another offering from Bass Pro, these were a little more expensive at an $149 price point. The other options were nice, but we could not bring ourselves to spend $400 on waders, especially with just one income. Well, we chose poorly. Dustin and I each had three pairs of these waders. His first set leaked, my first and second set leaked, and on the third leaky set we said to hell with Bass Pro brands.

Right before we left Kansas City, we exchanged our waders, for what we hoped the last time. After damning the Bass Pro brand, we tried our hand at the Freestone Waders by Simms. Surely, Simms waders won’t leak right? I mean, Simms is supposed to be THE fishing brand. Not in this case; my first time on the Poudre, I had wet legs. What was even more disturbing, I was hardly in the water at all; if they leaked this much at the seams under nearly zero stress, what happens when I wear them in a rip-roaring stream? Heck, the whole side seam might bust out of them then! Talk about a very unhappy little girl. Not to mention, these were the most uncomfortable waders I have ever had on in my life. The one pocket on the front also blew. I was not as unhappy with the three sets of waders as I was with these. Major disappointment!

At this point, I am beginning to think I have razors that spontaneously protrude out of the side of my legs of which I have been completely unaware. The razors are specialist feeders because they only prefer waders. My hiking pants, jeans or sweats have not had the same fate. In fact, the jeans I have on at this moment have survived the spontaneous leg razors for five years.

Long story short, we are without waders. A rather problematic situation since we want to fish in the immediate future. Our quest for the right wader continues this weekend. The thought of spending gads of green on two sets of waders makes me cranky, but I fear we have no choice. I really liked the Redington Chena Waders, but upon closer inspection, I didn’t like how the socks and pants came together; too much room for bunching. Further research has us looking into the Simms Guide Series and William and Joseph’s Drynamic offering. Of course, we will let you know what works or doesn’t work out.

-Stephanie

Favorite Outdoor Gear

2011-03-03T11:06:00.001-07:00

OBN posts all kinds of fun writing and photo prompts, and I never get around to taking advantage of them! I am slow on the uptake. School really puts a damper on this blogging thing. I’m tired of missing out on the fun that the prompts bring, so this week I am going to be timely and post about my Favorite Outdoor Gear.

Like Emily, the River Damsel, our equipment is kind of a package deal. We chose gear for each of our hobbies, hiking, hunting and fishing, with special care and research (minus the water filter, we are trying #3 now; and the rain gear). To pick out one thing as a favorite just doesn’t seem fair to all our wonderful gear.

Instead, I would like to mention one thing that is impossible for us to leave behind. It’s presence warms the heart and makes us smile when we are in the remotest of areas, when we fail to bring a fish to shore, and on those days that not even a single doe walks by. This one item my friends is…

Dog hair. Dustin and I have yet to travel to one place where we have eluded the strands. The hairs come in all colors, white, brown, black, silver… A simple hair, considered by most a pesky thing, can bring a giggle out of me in the morning when I find one dangling from my merino, or pleasant thoughts for my sleep as I find one tucked away on my sleeping bag.

This time of year, we have more than enough hair that will hitchhike with us. Not even the furminator is keeping the shedding at bay (see pic above). Of course, most of the hair is from Venus, but the other two like to donate to the cause as well.

Sure, the dog hair stinks to sweep all the time, but it sure provides comfort when our dogs cannot be with us.

-Stephanie

Payoff–Loch Vale

2011-02-28T09:17:00.001-07:00

Six exams, 58 hours of work and 12 hours on the road makes for quite a long week. My stress level was off the charts , and Dustin was simply too tired to be stressed. Since we have been here, I don’t think Dustin has once questioned our move. However, this week he received his first full paycheck. Frustration and disappointment washed over his face as he pulled the check out of the envelope. This check for 58 hours was equivalent to a 40 hour check at home. My heart sank as I saw his expression; Dustin left a great job so I could pursue my dream. Did I get a great guy or what?

Disappointment seemed fleeting once yesterday rolled around. Sunday, our one day together, is met each week with excitement and exhaustion. However, we always give way to the excitement and make Sundays our fundays. This Sunday was no exception.

Driving through the Big Thompson Canyon still elicits ohs and ahs from both of us. Each time we drive through the canyon it seems to have changed and exposes new treasures to us. However, one constant for us in this particular canyon is Big Horn Sheep. I do not know why we are so lucky, but they grace us with their presence each time. Yesterday, they licked the road, not phased by their audience. Perhaps it was the minerals on the road that held them transfixed to the pavement.

This butt’s for you

After gandering at the Big Horns we continued on into Estes Park. Our first stop was Estes Park Mountain Shop. We needed to rent some snow shoes and hiking poles, and oh yeah see if they had a battery charger. In our rush to get out the house, we forgot to check the camera battery. Of course, it was dead, hence few pictures of the Big Horns. Alas, they did not have a battery charger, but did have everything else we needed. We stocked up and headed to Radio Shack which indeed had a camera charger for $50.00. They had us by the balls, so we caved and bought it. It proved to be a wise $50.00 spent…

Upon recommendation from one of the Mountain Shop employees we decided to do a quick snowshoe from the Glacier Gorge Trail Head to Loch Vale Lake. Dustin and I already had a late start, and wanted a hike we could do in the few hours of daylight we had left (we slept in a bit, searched for a map and had to turn around to retrieve our RMNP annual pass). The gates to RMNP were busy, but we flew through with a quick swipe of our card. Icy, snowy, slushy roads were the standard conditions on Sunday, but we had no problem in Dustin’s trusty steed.

As we descended a hill, we noticed a car pulled off the side of the road, and a camera sticking out the window. In Rocky that means one thing, there must be wildlife near. We joined them and got some great shots…

Bull Elk passing the time on a dreary February afternoon

Is there anything cooler than watching wildlife play? We could have turned around and headed home at that point, a good day already in tow. However, we continued on to Loch Vale for some more RMNP goodness.

Nearly buried signs due to the snow depth

Loch Vale Lake makes you work for it’s reward – after all that was the theme of our week! Dustin lagged back to get shots of me going up the hill. Pretty cool.

Of course the lake was frozen; there were a few spots where we could see flowing water under at least 2 feet of snow and ice. Once at the lake, the wind became relentless and the snow flew at quite a clip. If you click on the photo of Dustin and I, you can see just how crazy the conditions were.

Naturally, coming down is much easier than the ascent. Either up or down, it was a fantastic day. In an effort to bid us a wonderful goodbye, RMNP gave us more treats on the way home.

Elk wandering through downtown Estes makes me giggle. They are just part of the Estes life.

Of course, a fitting sunset on a magnificent day.

Summer shall bring a completely different trail and view of Loch Vale Lake. The sheer magnitude of the snow blew our minds. With a base of 64” at headquarters, the depth of the snow at higher elevations is even deeper. I cannot even conceive in my mind close to 6’ of snow. Part of the trail we traveled will actually be a creek in the spring and summer. A creek I am looking forward to seeing in its unfrozen state. Mindblowing, the only word I can think of when I try to verbally assess nature.

-Stephanie

OBN Gear–Flying Fisherman Pago Sunglasses

2011-02-26T08:18:00.001-07:00

A box from UPS on the door step is always an exciting thing, but even better when something inside is courtesy of winning! Thanks to OBN and the folks at Flying Fisherman, I have the opportunity to review the Pago Polarized Sunglasses from FF’s Master Angler Series. WOOP! I plan to do a full review after I have wore the glasses out and about, but I do have some initial thoughts.

Include with the sunglasses were all sorts of goodies. They included a catalog of their products, and I was surprised to see the extensive offerings they have available. Also included was a neoprene glass keeper. This sweetened the deal for me, since I am always taking of my glasses for one reason or another, and of course forgetting which pocket or rock on which I place them.

As for the glasses, I am initially pretty impressed. I have a pair of Smith optics now and Dustin has glass-lensed Oakleys. I will compare these Pago’s vs. both our sunglasses. That gives me a baseline measurement from which to work.

I chose the tortoise frame with amber lenses. These glasses actually look quite fashionable, without being over feminine. My days for big fancy designer sunglasses have waned, I want performance. Another feature I like is the wrap around design. I hope that this will keep from sun sneaking in the sides, a major complaint about my Smiths. Construction wise, they look to be pretty durable. In fact, their lenses are Rhino tough, well at least that is the name of the lens. I am pretty rough on my sunglasses, so I am interested to see how these hold up.

Sharpness is one feature Flying Fisherman touts, and my first impression is they have reason to tout it. I just wore them briefly while I took Venus for a walk, but it gave me high hopes for stream performance. After all, water will be the true test!

Sorry for the lack of photos, Dustin ran off with the camera today.

-Stephanie

Carting Along

2011-02-22T10:08:00.001-07:00

Sunday, we took Venus out for her first cart walk. She seemed to do well, and didn’t really mind the cart at all. Once she is in, she is ready to go. For the most part, I think the fitting issues are corrected. The folks at pet mrc received this video as well. Venus gazed at the dog park with a longing look; perhaps that will come at a later time, once she is a little more comfortable in her cart. Many sympathetic eyes and “aw, poor dog” came Venus’s way, but we are happy she is able to be out and about! She did the best when I had the leash and Dustin was behind or beside us. When he went in front to take video, she ran to him!

A little glimpse of Venus at Spring Canyon Park

-Stephanie

My Favorite Outdoor Place

2011-02-19T09:30:00.001-07:00

Nearly anytime I find myself outdoors, I find myself happy. It can be tending the garden, walking my dogs, hiking a trail, checking trail cams, sitting in a blind, or casting a fly. However, one place is a little more special than most, special enough that I can call it my favorite. Sparkling aqua water, bluffs, caves, springs, dense forests, towering pines, sandbars perfect for camping, clean cold water, wild trout and some great memories are why I call the Eleven Point River my favorite place.

I’ve been meaning to post this OBN writing/photo prompt for some time now, but school, exploring Fort Collins and the move have had me quite busy. A phone conversation last night made me want to visit the Eleven Point as soon as possible. Perhaps a little of that longing comes from missing my friends, the good times we had and all the memories we make. Unfortunately, making a weekend visit to southern Missouri is a bit impossible, so I thought I would revisit my memories. Any words I may type would not give this wondrous river its proper due. From the minute we arrived to the Greer campground for the first time, I knew this would be a place of special mystique and one we would return to time and time again. Greer Spring is a wonder to behold, a feast for every sense. In fact, I chose the background of this blog because it reminded me of Greer Spring.

All of us have been on countless float trips, a lot of them taking place on the Niangua. YUCK! I can’t believe we missed out on the Eleven Point for all those years. After our first float, we all agreed, the Eleven Point was THE Missouri float. Not only is the river incredible, the service from the family owned canoe rental place is some of the best customer service found anywhere. Jerry and his family were always accommodating and always on time.

Besides all the natural appeal of this magnificent place, memories of time spent with our best friends, Brooke and Matt, help put the Eleven Point in the top spot on my list. Reminiscing here for a moment….Brooke and I with all our poison ivy, us girls catching our first trout, Brooke fishing with a broken pole, Matt being ever patient with all of us and providing endless laughs and genius ideas, fog rolling down the river, B&M’s riverside ribeyes, Paddle, giggles with Richard, I mean, Jerry, and his grandson, Brooke repeating herself, taking a skinny dip in the spring, Dustin forgetting all fishing supplies, Dustin’s brush with a water moccasin, flooding waders, nights by the campfire, tornado warnings, Brooke showering in the rain and a non-alcoholic Coors from years past. My smile as I type this is turning into laughter; so many more memories…

The only bad thing I can say is the Eleven Point is so far away. Darn the move! Our list of things we want to do at the Eleven Point is long, and now it won’t be an annual pilgrimage like we thought it would be just last April when we made our second trip. It is amazing how life changes so quickly. Brooke and Matt plan to return this year and knock another thing off the Eleven Point bucket list, a float and hike. Trails abound in this area, and most of them lie in National Forest lands. Irish Wilderness anyone? I can’t wait for their trip so I can live vicariously through their photos and stories.

I know we have so many more places to visit, all of which will be spectacular, but the Eleven Point is a place that holds its own special mystique to me.

-Stephanie

WILT–Feedback Loops

2011-02-17T20:27:00.001-07:00

Perhaps one of the most important things for a wildlife or fisheries manager to understand is the concept of a feedback loop. While this might seem counter-intuitive or a no-brainer type of thing, it is easy to miss things that you don’t think have an impact on a habitat or species, but actually have a significant impact when looked at from a broad scope. I could type and talk forever about this concept, but will keep it brief here. Simply said, feedback loops are just models that help us understand a complex system. Feedback loops help managers make predictions, conceptualize what-if scenarios and look at long time frames. Loops come in a few forms, reinforcing or just positive and stabilizing or just negative.

Our demonstration came the way of a grizzly bear and salmon case study. We formed a loop that included deforestation, clear-cutting, and silt accumulation all the way back to the bears. I knew silt was a problem, but how big of problem I did not visualize until I saw the feedback loop in front of me. The impact of silt on algae is not a minor thing, rather silt all but kills algae; it is not much better for adult or young salmon. The silt buries the algae and detriments growth. Accumulation of the silt limits the areas where female salmon can place eggs. The lack of algae means lack of food for the aquatic insects, and lack of aquatic insects means lack of food for the young salmon. Holy moly!

One of our exercises was to take bears out of the loop. WOW! Bears are so important. Yes, of course you say, but I didn’t realize exactly how many nutrients bears take away from the stream, which in turn enter the soil, which provides more nutrients to white spruce. The heartier the white spruce, the better woody debris the trees produce, which leads to deeper and calmer pools for the young salmon to avoid the current (conserve energy), predators and the pools provide an ideal habitat for the young salmon to obtain food. Moreover, bears also contribute nutrients to the streamside vegetation, and the same cycle occurs which all benefit the young salmon and help these young salmon reach a size large enough where it will enter the ocean and then return, full of nutrients, back to the stream where it first came to life. Then the bears will snag some and the cycle continues. Now think about the aquatic insects, algae, and other items in the stream; those also are in the feedback loop. The system is quite complex and truly fascinating. It really is more than just the bears controlling the salmon numbers. Keystone interaction? Yes indeed.

Just for fun:

John West Salmon

I see that OBN has a writing prompt about sustainable fisheries; interesting that this is the topic since we have spent nearly two weeks talking about this in class. I’ll write my post about that this weekend.

-Stephanie

Rite of Passage

2011-02-14T18:13:00.001-07:00

Becoming residents of a new state is a completely new phenomena to Dustin and I myself. Things are a bit different in the West than they are in the Midwest, and Colorado certainly has its share of nuances, as does Missouri. Fort Collins is no different. This town definitely has a personality all its own, and many rites of passage, Horsetooth Mountain being one of those.

Horsetooth towers over Fort Collins; Dustin and I are lucky enough to have almost a straight shot view from the house. During our first weekend here, I mentioned to Dustin that I wanted to climb the mountain and stand in the grooves. After talking with our neighbor, we discovered climbing Horsetooth was a must do for all Fort Collins residents.

Our rite of passage came Sunday, after my idea to go fishing was seriously rebuffed. Sun filled the skies, temperatures were brilliantly mild for the 13th of February, and a promise of spring lingered on the breeze. Doing something outdoors was, of course, at the top of my agenda. Dustin tolerated a little pouting and whining from me, and right when I started to get really annoying he suggested Horsetooth. Knowing that climbing Horsetooth was something I was dying to do, Dustin was quite clever to suggest it. Forgiveness for denying my fishing request came when we hit the trailhead.

Car after car lined the parking lot; dogs, owners, kiddos and every age under the sun were out enjoying the mild mountain air. Slushy, muddy conditions made the hike a little more difficult that it would normally be; I can definitely say that it slowed down our pace a little. The climb was exhilarating with each bend giving us an excuse to say, WOW! Do we actually live here was a question that formed on our lips multiple times. How fortunate we are to have this playground 15 minutes from the house?

During the climb, we met another couple hiking up the mountain for the first time. She was from Texas and he from Baltimore. From the context of their conversation, it sounded like a first or second date. Talk about a great first date activity! We also saw some climbers, a young girl with a freshly scraped palm and a young pup taking in the mountain for the first time. As is always the case, getting to the top was worth every slip, slide and blister.

Wind whipped all around us as we stood mouths agape looking at Pikes Peak to the South, Longs Peak to the West, Wyoming to the North and the Great Plains to our East. Incredible. We didn’t stay at the top as long as we would have liked, Dustin was cold and was ready to get out of the wind (bad prep on our part; we stripped down before the hike). It just gives us more of a reason to go back.

Climbing down was just as challenging as hiking upwards. The slush was super slippery; several areas gave Dustin a chance to brush up on the skiing skills. My boots wouldn’t let me join in on the fun of sliding down the trail. This is probably a good thing, but at the moment I felt like I was missing out. Getting back to the car was a bit of a let down; we’re so ready for the sun on our face and nights in our tent.

Check another thing off the bucket list…

~Stephanie