The Postponed Trinity Trip Part One

 January 30- February 5, 2022

Sunday was a travel day to put as much miles on our way to the Trinity as possible.  There was no agenda and no destination.  Plans was we would decide on the road where to stop for the night as we traveled whether motel or camp somewhere. Along the way on the long ten hour drive north we decided to stop at Red Bluff to camp at Sycamore Grove. 

January 31, 2022

The following morning we would stop at Redding at The Fly Shop for supplies and information.  Rather than make breakfast we'd save clean up time and travel to the shop where we'd  ask for a recommendation for a decent breakfast spot.  They recommended El Delicioso Burrito which is located within a 76 gas station.  We went through the drive thru and ordered the machaca burrito which was excellent.  This was good place for a quick meal.

With intel from The Fly Shop we headed out to the Trinity.  This late in the season and without rain for a few weeks we knew this wasn't going to be easy.  To add to the challenge I wanted to fish the swing on my new spey rod.  The first location was one of the few spots on this river for swinging.  I'm rather new to the two handed rod, I only really learned how to cast one in November of 2019 when I picked up a Winston Derek Brown Special 15 foot 10 weight.  Seventeen years ago I had bought a Rio Windcutter set that has sat in my drawer ever since.  I "learned" how to cast with that set up.  During covid lockdowns I bought up an 11 foot 6 weight Winston Boron III TH on sale and thought it be a good smaller river steelhead rod.  Since that November I hadn't practiced my Spey casting at all.  So just before this trip I headed to the casting pond and tried to remember how the hell to use this thing.  Given the situation, I needed to pick up some appropriate line.  Originally I had a 420gr Airflo Rage line but I was told I'd need a skagit line to cast the heavier tips.  So I picked up an Airflo Skagit Scout 450gr and a T8 MOW tip.   I would practice with this set up until we headed out for the trip.  At the first location I struggled to cast properly and I would say only 20% of my casts were "acceptable."  Despite looking a fool I continued to fish with the rod.  I knew my chances of catching a fish were slim but I needed to get the experience.  One fish was bumped but no none were hooked.

After sometime we headed to the next location to swing.  This area was deeper and probably not the most ideal for that purpose but I didn't care and threw my line out anyways.  We tried but without any luck.  After this we headed to the cabin at check in which was a bit of a clusterfuck since there was a miscommunication but no harm no foul.  We finally got our cabin and made dinner.

February 1-3, 2022

At the shop the employees told us the the river below Junction City was closed to fishing due to the fire clean up.  There were no signs indicating as such nor did any of the "locals" in town knew anything about that. One of them told us a fishing spot where his buddy caught 18 not long ago.  It was a spot that Sandy at The Fly Shop told us about.  It would be one of our first destinations.We'd nymph this area and get a bump but again no hook up.  For the next few days we'd fish various locations with both single and double hand rods but bumps would be all we could manage.   This trip was originally concocted in December but we couldn't manage it because of the foul weather had closed the roads to the Trinity.  So we planned it a couple weeks later in mid January but my fishing buddy caught covid (for the second time).  Despite feeling fine we choose postpone because I didn't want to catch it from him from sharing a long road trip and a small cabin.  When we spoke to our neighbor at the campgrounds, who is one the construction crew working the roads, he told us that we should have been here three weeks ago.  Precisely the time we originally had planned.  Typical.

The Trinity really needs to be floated just to cover water.  Fishing by shore is a pain and requires a lot of time in the truck moving from spot to spot.  This is made worse by having to wait for the pilot car to escort you through the clean up areas.  It really makes for a frustrating experience.  I don't care for this type for fishing and prefer to be on the water to get a fully immersive experience.  On the last full day we'd take a break from the hard fishing and head over to Willow Creek because Chul wanted to check out the Bigfoot Museum.  What should have taken 30 minutes resulted in a two hour drive.  We were on a tight timeline as it closes at 4pm.  We arrived in town just after 4 to a closed museum.  I'd later learn that they weren't open anyways for the winter unless you make an appointment which we didn't.  So it didn't matter.

Before leaving for the trip I miscalculated how many meals I needed to bring and was a dinner short which meant we needed to find a restaurant or market.  So we needed to head into a town anyways.  We had dinner at Gonzales.  The carnitas chimichanga was excellent. 

On Thursday we'd fish in the morning until lunch before we would head east to Reno to fish Pyramid Lake for a couple days.  We'd hit spots that we had bumps and some new spots to nymph and to swing. 

We quit around lunch and we headed to Trinity County Brewing Co for burgers and beer.  The burger was excellent but according to Chul the beers were not.  He ended up pouring out the first beer order after a sip and didn't even bother finishing the second.

After lunch we headed back to Redding and toward Reno where we'd stay for a the next two nights.  Drive was nice with views of Mount Shasta and Lassen along the way.

We'd reach the Sparks in about five hours and after checking in at the Western Village we needed to resupply for the next couple days' lunches.  We'd hit Sawasdee Thai Restaurant as it was next door to the market.  Dinner consisted of chicken green curry and spicy roasted duck with fried basil.  Both were excellent.  I ordered them spicy level 4 out of 5 which was hardly spicy. 

To Be Continued. Part Two: Pyramid Lake.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen?

I was surfing the web and found this photo.  I originally thought that it was Ewan McGregor actually fishing with an Arab.  After reading the article its a movie still from Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, a small movie that apparently out now in select theaters.  And I thought I looked foolish in all my fishing gear...It would be quite the experience if I were to run into someone on steam looking like that in all Arab garb, it would make quite the story.  Maybe even better than some of my friends' such as walking in on a nude photo shot, or the time one of them accidentally snucked up on an old timer taking a dump, or the time one walked upon a "love nest" between a couple of lover birds, or the time one went to the stream, saw a boot near the water, went down to pick it up to throw it away and it was attached to someone...who wasn't alive with two bullet holes in the head (welcome to L.A.).  Ok maybe it wouldn't be that interesting.

Trailer for the movie:

I typically dislike celebrities.  I think most are douches and that is what I initially thought of Ewan McGregor when he arrived in the Hollywood scene.  But when I saw his documentary, Long Way Round, about his road trip with best friend and fellow actor Charley Boorman, I changed my mind and became a fan of his even though his Star Wars were the lamest movies ever.  I guess that wasn't entirely his fault though.  In the film, Ewan and Charley ride BMW motorcycles eastward from London to NYC, camping, off roading and sight seeing along the way.  It was quite the adventure and fun to watch.  So much so I ended up buying the DVD.  They did another film years later, Long Way Down, where the start from Scotland and drive down to South Africa which I didn't feel was as good.  It seemed some scenes were not as natural and even some jokes were somehow preconcieved.

Will I watch Salmon Fishing in the Yemen?  Probably not, at least not in the theaters as I never go to them anymore unless of course it's on a date.  Since this is a romantic comedy it may actually be a good date movie, at least you'll be able to see some beautiful scenes of Scotland with Spey rod action(hopefully the actors learned how to cast properly or at least had stunt doubles).  I would probably end up renting it when it comes out on DVD.

Argentina-Sportsman's Paradise

I know someone who just returned from Argentina on a Goldern Dorado trip and it resparked my fascination with the place.  For more than a decade now Argentina has been on my mind. Ever since Wild On The Fly wrote an article about fishing Golden Dorados in the early 2000s, I have be dreaming about going. I almost made it too. At one time Argentina was having a promotion, an all inclusive trip including airfare from LAX to Buenos Aires for $2995. You had the option of fishing, I believe 3 days, in Central Argentina for Golden Dorado or fishing in the Patagonia for trout. I almost choose to go after Dorado but I could not find anyone who wanted to go with me. Instead I used that money and went back to Costa Rica with my friend Bryan Webb and his buddies in search of my tarpon.

I still wonder, what if I went to Argentina instead...That particular deal is no longer good and as this economy sucks and my disposable income not quite what it once was I am relegated to daydreaming. So I spend my time reading articles or watching videos.  It seems Argentina is making a strong case as the world's foremost sporting paradise and pushing it pretty hard.  Years ago they came out with Mel Krieger's Patagonia.  This is a beautifully filmed movie that showcases not only Krieger's talents but Patagonia's magnificant trout.  Obviously this film is an hour long commercial for Argentina fishing but I don't care.  I would rather watch this advertisement any day to any other stupid ad that pops up before you try to watch a youtube video.  Its fun to live vicariously through the film as you watch Mel throw some amazing loops to huge trout.  The film showcases the best Patagonia has to offer, including Sea Run browns down south at Tierra Del Feugo among other locations that hold giant size trout.  RIP Mel.

I believe the hunting version came out just last year, I purchased it once I heard about it.  Again the Argentina tourist board were smart enough to hire an authority in his field, Craig Boddington, as they were to hire Mel Krieger, to come and film the excellent opportunities to hunt this large South American nation.  As with the fishing version, Big Game Argentina with Craig Boddington is beautifully put together and showcases the awesome hunting opportunites available throughout the vast landscape of Argentina.  Craig hunts it all from stags, to boar, to mouflon, to waterfowl and doves among others.  If you ever thought about traveling to Argentina to hunt or fish you should check out either one of these DVDS.  If you have no interest in doing either the movies are still worth a look.

Following Issak Walton's Footsteps

"Study to be quiet"

A beautifully produced film from artist James Prosek.

The Spey Company

For the longest time I've been wanting to learn to Spey cast but I never did anything about it. Lately since Ed has gotten into it, its reenergized my desire. Unlike traditional fly fishing, I know next to nothing about Spey casting. I've been looking into some rods and reels and although I'm not quite sure which rod I'll ultimately start with, I will start with a reel from The Spey Company. I like their traditional look and the prices are reasonable.

I think I never got into Spey fishing before was the lack of Spey fishable waters in Southern California. Also I never had any friends that really did it so I never really started. Now that has changed I think I'll have to start. If only I lived in Oregon or Washington or BC or any other incredible Spey country.