3-26-14 Private Bob...Part I

I have a friend (acquaintance would be more fitting) who has been teasing/tempting me with some private water that his house sits on. Although I have known about it for a while, I still haven't taken advantage of it. I think that would have something to do with the point that I brought up in the last post about not getting out enough. So having some rare time to myself last week, I finally decided that it would be a good time to check it out. Not to mention the fact that I had to go to work for about 2 hours, so I was in the neighborhood already (location clue no. 1).

I went and did my thing at work and even drove by it on the way up (possible location clue...I can essentially take 3 logical and realistic routes to work). It looked beautiful this early spring day. So I was definitely chomping at the bit to get out there. After leaving work, I immediately b-lined it straight east to a local mountain town whose name is often mispronounced, sometimes even by Coloradans. Once there I sought out a cell signal to call my buddy and make sure it was okay. He said come on down and I told him I would be there in about 15 minutes (location clue...seriously...figure it out).

I continued to travel east for a couple miles and then turned immediately back towards the southwest. I dawned my gear and set out. Not too much bug activity so I threw on a midge and stone setup. Second hole, hooked up with a nice rainbow. It slowed for a while after that. About 45 minutes to be exact. I tried throwing some RS-2's, knowing that the water would be warmer here than further down east. I missed a bite or 2 but not much going.

It was a great spring day when I arrived, with blue clouds and outdoor temps climbing towards 50. But after about an hour or so, the skies turned quick. The wind came and went, bringing the snow and wet with it. Just what I wanted. Knowing that the trout were getting spooked 20' out and they hardly saw anybody, I looked for deeper water. The pocket fishing wasn't doing it this early in the season with the low water levels so I kept trudging. I turned the corner at one point and saw this:

Here is my magical hole of trout. (The mountain in the middle could give that location away if you paid attention. )

Now it doesn't look like much to you but to me, that was the deeper water I needed to find some less spooky trout. And if you notice the clouds (this pic was taken on my way out after it started to clear slightly), you'll see that it was nice and overcast. You thinking what I'm thinking? Blue Wing Olives maybe? You betcha buddy. 

Once the wind started kicking up and then subsequently died, I just sat and waited for a teeny little size 18-20 to pop off. The water had been riding a constant 39 degrees all day (clue) and I knew the grey clouds would get them going. So I waited about 3 minutes after the wind and snow cleared out, and then there it was. About 3-4 of them all in order. If you look in the pic, on the left bank side, in the single glare of the shadow being cast by the bushes/trees; you will see where all those little Baetis boogers were coming up. Can you believe that I made you look for that, for that long? I can. Because if you are like me, and you are most definitely not, then you get the rush I got. And with said rush...it was time. Time to kick some trout feathers.

I found my most prettiest and most perfect size 18 pink parachute BWO; and with a blessing and prayer (to Lefty), I tied him (her?) on. I started swinging my sword around and within seconds of that first cast it turned into pound town. I caught one after another, after another, after another, then again, and again another. 6 in a row in this hole. All on 6 casts. Not kidding. It was amazing. After that I missed 2 in a row. But between the 6, I caught a brook, a brown, a cut-bow, and the rest rainbows. Almost a salami. 

Nice, healthy trout too. Nothing huge, but nothing under 10"-12", which is larger than the norm in the more popular water. I did however see one monster under a bush in the water that I couldn't get a fly too without snagging that was pushing 15" or so. The owner of the land has told me that there is some twenty inchers in there for sure.

Then after BWO March Madness ended, that was it. I think I caught every one in the hole, or missed em', and that was it. But I only tried for another 5 minutes and deciding that was just too good to be true, I made it completely true by snapping the above pic and called it good. Sometimes you just need to know when to walk. (I had to pick the kid up soon anyways).

I stopped by my buddy's house and knocked on the front door. He asked how it was. I thought the huge smile on my mug would have given it away, but since he asked I told him. 

"What do you drink" I asked.  "Because the next time you see me, I'm going to have a huge bottle of it in one hand, and a rod in the other." 

"I gotcha" he said. "I like whiskey". 

"I'll see you soon". 

"That good" he asked?

"I'll see you soon".

Tight Lines