Escape From LA Redux Part Two: Idaho

August 25, 2020

We had a long drive north and throughout the drive we could see the damage caused by the California fires.  Smoke blanketed the skyline.  Jeff, who now lives in Idaho, warned me prior to coming that the smoke was bad.  I couldn't imagine it was this bad.  Visibility was so bad that you couldn't see the mountain range at all.

The first stop was to Ashton for lunch.  Last year we had lunch at Big Juds on the recommendation of Chul's chiropractor, who was from there.  It was a disappointment.  The burger was simple average and after the hype it got it was completely forgettable.  This year we'd try their competitor, Frostop, after Chul saw it on a YouTube video.  The burger was letdown by the meat.  It tasted as if it came from a frozen patty.  It was dry and tasteless.  The other complements, bun, vegs, sauce, were excellent .  Could have been a really good burger but the actually patty tasted like like just got it from Sysco.

We debated fishing Ashton section of the Henry's fork as the first Idaho destination but we bypassed it for some reason.  I don't recall why now because we had a good time there last year.  In it's place we chose to check out Warm River.

This river was recommend to us last year from a customer at the Three Rivers Ranch fly shop.  So we decided to check it out this year.  Fish here don't get too big but they are plentiful with fish of this size.  I did manage to hook u a fish much larger than this only for it to break off.  It wasn't a beast but it was maybe in the 14-16 inch range.

There's a nice campground on water that is well maintain and clean.  A simple dinner of hotdogs with sauerkraut and hot mustard grilled off of the Snow Peak.  Following dinner we were raided by a rouge skunk that felt the need to kamikaze our site.  We'd back away from him but it continued to come near us.  Chul fed up with skunk continually coming near he spritzed it with the bear spray to ward him off.  It only diverted him for a while though as throughout the night I could hear the skunk come back.

August 26, 2020

Our destination was the ranch section of the Henry's Fork but not before some sight seeing. Since it was on the way we checked out the Upper Mesa Falls. The visitor center was closed because of Covid but the access to the Falls were still open.  Jeff was camping and fishing at Henry's Lake.  We had planned on fishing together at the Ranch section but he called to cancel.

Next stop was a stop at Mike Lawson's place for flies and information.  The guys here were extremely helpful and we bought hats and the recommended flies.  They gave us intel on fishing locations and a nice campsite for the night with a river view.

From the shop we headed to the entrance of the State Park.  There was a hold up because of construction and we decided to pay the fee and head over to the East Gate instead.  We hiked in the mile plus trail and started by going downstream.  After studying the fish we made our attempts at trying to get one to take.  As per reputation sighting large fish was easy but managing one to take was not.  

After our unsuccessful attempts to coax a fish in the Park we moved upstream to the Box Canyon section for streamer and nymphing until evening. 

Earlier in the day while driving to the Box we had checked out a paid campground and payed for a night.  We then headed to the Box only to find the campsite that the shop recommended was open we decided to forgo the campsite fee to stay at the riverside location.

The fly shop had told us that wading to other side is possible but after stepping into the water and not able to see the bottom we chose against it and stayed off the banks.  

 

Fishing was excellent for Chul but like my whole 2020 fishing experience it wasn't as great.  While I managed fish, I struggled to get a groove and it seemed like I was second guessing all my moves.  I simply lacked the confidence I did in prior seasons.  Reaction time on strikes were slow or even unrecognized.  

Exhausted we kept dinner simple.  Chul had spicy sausage and I had made some Good to Go Kale and White Bean Stew that was nearing its expiration date.  Nights were cold so the stew was nice an warming.  Flavor wise it was okay nothing particularly special.  The year before we zipped past Idaho rather quickly and I'm glad we decided to stay longer to explore what it has to offer.  We'd come back again on the way back home.

Escape From LA Redux Part One: Utah

August 23, 2020

What is becoming an annual tradition we made another Montana trip.  We excluded Wyoming this year in favor of spending more time in Idaho.  Utah would be our first destination and we'd ht the usual spot to start.

First stop was an impromptu sight seeing stop at Butch Cassidy's childhood home.  Having always driving past the signage but had never stopped to check it out until now. 

Earlier in the year I made a trip here and got my first tiger trout and that was my priority.  But on this trip I was looking for the cutty that Erik caught the last time I was here.  I believe that that fish was the fish Chul and I saw the last year.  The one that refused everything with threw at it.

No sure if that this the same fish either Eric's or the one we saw last year but it was a stellar example for a creek this size.  Despite a few fish I caught fishing was poor.  I'm not even sure Chul managed any this time.  If he did they were dinks.  Not sure if another angler below out the holes, as there was a car parked near the trail or if it was the barometric pressure change or what.

Unlike earlier this year finding a campsite was easy and we found a nice site.  After setting up the Snow Peak fire pit we made a fire to keep us warm and I prepared dinner.  In the morning I awoke with deer in the meadow and we prepared to check out another piece of water.

Unfortunately it was a bust despite looking promising.  We fished hard and despite our best efforts no fish wanted to grace us.  Not sure if this place is devoid of fish but I would find it hard to believe if that were the case.  But after reaching the dam with no luck we headed back to the truck to head north.  We'd stop at Fishhead fly shop for some info on the Weber River.  Wading was a bit swift and the water was at least waist deep.  Banks were densely lined so getting in and out of the river was difficult.

We would drive around up and down the river exploring.  There is a lot of private land and finding access was problematic.  Eventually we gave up on fishing and started to look for a campsite.

We found a campground on the upper most section of the river.  We hoped to fish ther but it was merely a trickle so I just prepared dinner for the night.  Three Cup Chicken with rice was on the menu for the night. 

In the morning we woke to rainy conditions.  Because of it I prepared a simple breakfast of turnip cakes I brought for conditions like this for easy cooking and clean up.  Soon it was time pack up and head north for Idaho leg.

Local August 7, 11. Hot Creek August 17, 2020

 August 7, 2020

Over 10.5 miles today on land, not counting on water miles. Gave up on this place during the drought years when I returned after years of fishing elsewhere in the LA mountains only to find the place devoid of any fish. Decided to return and check it out after hearing promising reports. Fish are back and bigger than average from heyday years past. The fish are strong, feel heavier and fight above their weight class. Not all news is good unfortunately. On at least five occasions we had to divert off-trail to avoid some asshole's (word chosen carefully) shit on the trail. Fudge smeared shit-tickets next to a steaming pile landmined the pathway. These fucktards didn't even have the courtesy of kicking a little dirt over it. Reminds me of the infinite wisdom of Detective Lieutenant John McClane “Fucking California.”

August 11, 2020

Put in 8 miles today before the stupid heatwave kills us all. A good mix of local trout ranging from micro dinks to some respectable models.

August 17 

Needed to make a quick run up to the Sierra to drop off Chul's pram for his buddy.  The boat had served us well but it simply wasn't used anymore and took too much space in his garage.  Space I would need to park my truck while we took off for another week long adventure.

So I road shotgun on this impromptu trip.  Fishing wouldn't be the priority but we'd get a few casts in with Cameron as the sun was setting.  But before he arrived we'd fish without him and while we saw some hogs they'd already been hassled enough that they wouldn't bothered looking at our flies.  Cameron arrived just before the sun was setting and I was making 90 foot casts to the other side of the bank to rising fish but too much drag was hindering my presentation.  As a light rain came down we fished into the darkness but no fish was willing take this evening. 

Escape From LA Part II: Colorado

After a stop at Cabela's for licenses and the most worthless fly shop intel ever it was time to head toward The Gunnison River at Pleasure Park.  JP and his boy had already been fishing for a few hours with no luck.

I'd never fished the Gunnison and I knew about it was the epic stonefly hatch in the Black Canyon.  we wouldn't attempt the canyon as it required a substantial hike.  So we tried Pleasure Park as it is easy access.  It proved a tough nut to crack and I think only Eric got on fish.  I don't like Big Rivers.  While on this day it wasn't too hard to wade it was a big enough pain in the ass that it wasn't too enjoyable.  The fact that you couldn't just get out of the river anywhere because of banks were lined with poison ivy made it that much more annoying. 

We would camp at the campsite there and Eric prepared some steaks for everyone.  Before it was time to jump in our trucks and sleep.

July 20, 2020

Lake Fork

Eric and I fished the Pleasure Park in the morning before heading to the next destination.  Neither of us manage even a strike.  After a couple hours it was time to head to the Lake Fork section.  Here we'd spend most of our time.  Fishing was decent and everyone was able to get fish to hand.

July 21, 2020

Following day we'd drive to Almont to Three Rivers Resort for flies and intel on the river.  This was the first fly shop that actually gave us good info.  Cabela's at Grand Junction and another near the Gunnison were absolutely no help.

Taylor River was pretty swift.  Too swift for young Owen.  So Joel took his boy back to Lake Fork and KB joined.  It would be Mike, Eric and I who stayed and fished.  It fished pretty good.  It would be mostly drive up fishing.  Park, get out, fish a stretch and go back to the truck, move, repeat.  I don't necessarily like this type of fishing but it is what it is.

The river gets pretty busy with rafters and it seemed like there was a never ending stream of them.  And so we decided to move up more to get away from them.

On one stretch I was climbing up the bank on a boulder and took a hard fall on my shin.  Extreme pain went up my leg.  I had hit pretty hard.  We made it back to the trucks and I'd examine it.  I didn't brealk it it but it was in bad shape.

With all the boat traffic we debated if we wanted to fish the uppermost section at the dam.  This is where all the pigs are usually caught.  I was game but the other two were not so keen.  I was able to convince Eric to stay with me as I was afraid if my leg got any worse I would need someone to drive.  Eric, ever the fisherman, agreed,  of course this spot being lunker central didn't have any persuasion.

The fly shop warned us that this area is very busy and people camp on out on spots and get very defensive.  We parked and checked out the scene.  We'd see several lunkers in the water from the banks to the bridge. 

Fish were easily sighted everywhere.  Eric and I split up he took one bank I took the other and we made our way up.  He'd catch several before I could get mine.  If I initially was throwing streamers to entice a predatory response.  I had no takers so I moved to nymphs when Eric was one his second or third fish.  I finally hooked up with one.  She was nice in length but skinny.  There were more than few much better in size.  Towards sunset I switched again for a mouse pattern.  I had been fishing mce all trip trying desperately to get my first mouse fish.  On the previous days I had something like seven blowups but none hooked.  I don't think any came up on this night for me on the Taylor.  We headed back to camp at nightfall for dinner and rest.

July 22, 2020

Back at Lake Fork

Eric and I woke early before everyone else to fish the morning bite.  I was still looking for my trout on a mouse pattern.   I didn't get my mouse trout but Eric managed a nice one on a stimi.

We went back to camp for breakfast and got ready to fish the afternoon.  While resting I'd nurse my wounds and the bruising got worse and worse.

By evening we'd hit the water again for the last time here.

I'd hike all the way to the mouth of the river.  Here is a long stretch of calm uninteresting water that the previous evenings produced consistent rising fish.  I would catch more than my share here to the point of it being boring.  They were all rainbows and looked like stockers as they all had small fins.

I got bored early and moved downstream.  I reached Joel and Owen and told Joel to hike all the way down to the calm stretch and he could easily get Owen his first fish of the trip.  Hours later Joel and Owen making their way back to cam would thank me for the intel as Owen slammed it there.  I'd fish to the night catching fish here and there before making it back to camp.

July 23, 2020

Unwilling to wake up early the crew slept in so I headed out myself to to Paco.  The itinerary was altered somewhat as we added another day at Lake Fork which meant I had to cancel the San Miguel portion of the trip. 

I fished Paco in the hopes of getting another pig like I did the year previous.  After fishing for a few hours with no luck I headed to town to check out the fly shop to get some lunch, flies and intel.

Fishing condition were completely opposite from last year.  Low water and slow fishing.  Fishing required extremely small nymphs.  The boys finally came by by late afternoon.  They had followed the original plan and drove to San Miguel before meeting me on the water.  I told him it was a bust and they continued to southward.  I chose to go home.  My leg was bothering me at this point and I had enough.  Apparently I didn't miss much.  When they arrived home a day or two later they said the fishing was poor and they had camped near a outhouse and it smelt of shit all night.  Glad I missed it.