River flows jumped about 1,000 cfs overnight after a combination of mild temperatures and a major rainstorm that dumped on snow sent plenty of moisture flowing down the valley. But the day was beautiful, warm and sunny, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to fish. We floated a short section of stream that normally takes three times as long to navigate. We stopped where we … [Read more...] about Rippin’
My Fishing Trips
High and Fast
The water was ripping better than usual. Snowmelt runoff had finally started and the recent heavy rains helped give flows an additional boost. Despite this, we still had one thing working for us. It was clear enough to fish. We floated a section of river that spanned several miles upstream from a major tributary that dumps muddy water into the river and makes it unfishable … [Read more...] about High and Fast
Solo Trip on a Fast Day
Cool, cloudy and rainy. In a nutshell, those three words aptly describe our spring this year. Though we're already halfway through June, summer doesn't seem to want to show up. While the water rages in most area streams and rivers, keeping most fishing to a minimum, I'm reminded of a cool, cloudy and rainy Sunday several weeks ago. It proved to be the best fishing day I'd … [Read more...] about Solo Trip on a Fast Day
Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch
Every spring, beginning in early May and peaking around Mother's Day weekend, our area rivers experience an explosion of caddis flies, and a subsequent explosion of active, feeding, and often easy-to-catch trout. The trick of the whole thing, like any other fishing situation, is to hit the river at just the right time. This year, with my fiance's family (and two fellow … [Read more...] about Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch
Take Your Neighbor Fishing
It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day in April (we get some of those in the Mountain West on occasion) when I went over to see my neighbor. We had a few other things to talk about, but as is usually the case in our conversations, the topic turned to fishing before very long. I told him how I'd been having some pretty good luck on the local streams lately, and he mentioned, as … [Read more...] about Take Your Neighbor Fishing