UTAH CUTTHROAT SLAM.

This year for our epic fly fishing trip, we chose the Utah Cutthroat Slam. This years trip included Andy, Barb and of course me.

Utah consists of 4 native  trout. The 4 native trout of Utah are the: Yellowstone Cutthroat, Bonneville Cutthroat, Bear River Cutthroat and the Colorado River Cutthroat trout.

Of the four trout, the Yellowstone would be the most difficult. The Yellowstone Cutthroat trout live in the upper northwest corner of Utah. They live in streams that are so small and remote it could take several hours of driving and lots of bushwhacking to catch one. Being the most difficult to catch I felt we should hit the Yellowstone first.

I was right about the difficulty in catching the Yellowstone. We spent several hours driving from creek to creek trying to catch this elusive fish.

Just when we were about to give up, Andy caught a small but beautiful Yellowstone cutthroat in a roadside creek no wider than a loaf of bread. Barb and I fished hard for the next few hours without even seeing a fish. We were very discouraged and questioned whether or not we would be able to complete the challenge.

We packed it up and headed back to the hotel, hoping to do better the next day for Bear River Cutthroat Trout.

 Andy with the only Yellowstone Cutthroat caught on the first day.

The next morning we were up early for the Bear River Cutthroat Trout. According to all of the information I accumulated over the course of the year, It looked liked Woodruff Reservoir was going to be our best bet for catching the next trout in our challenge. We arrived at the lake first thing in the morning and we were into fish right away.

My first fish for the Utah Cutthroat Slam.

 I was the first to score. It felt so good to be in the float tube catching fish. After the frustrating day of bushwhacking and not catching anything it made me realize how much I enjoy float tubing and that I don't enjoy small creek fishing all that much.

Andy's first Bear River Cutthroat Trout and his second qualifying fish for the slam.

It wouldn't be long before Andy would also be into some nice fish . He found a long point that the cutthroat were stacked up on. Barb and I paddled over from the dam to share in his recent discovery.

Barb with one of the many cutthroat trout she would catch that day.

 Day three found us at Currant Creek Reservoir. I had read there was a strong population of native Colorado Cutthroat trout living in the lake. I also read that they had large tiger trout. Tiger trout are Barbs favorite trout, they are not native to Utah and would not count towards the challenge, but I was excited to see if she could catch one.

Currant Creek Reservoir: Home of the Colorado Cutthroat Trout.

When we arrived at the lake fish were rising and so was our excitement. Andy was in the water and hooked up with a fish before Barb and I even put our waders on. We took a break from getting into the water to watch Andy catch his first fish of the day. The fight seemed to take longer than normal and the suspense of what he was hooked up with was killing Barb and I. Finally Andy netted the fish and it was a Rainbow Trout. Not the fish we came for. Barb and I put our float tubes in and we also started catching rainbows. After a few hours of just catching rainbow trout we were debating on going to the back up water I had. Just when I thought it was time to go, Barb hooked into a fish that fought different from all of the rainbow trout we had been catching all morning. Could it be a Colorado Cutthroat Trout?

Yup!! Barb with a Colorado Cutthroat Trout.

Now that Barb had caught a cutthroat. I was feeling much more confident that I was going to catch one . I floated over the same point she had just caught hers and to my relief another cutthroat trout was there waiting for me. As soon as I hooked the fish I knew it was a cutthroat. It went straight down, as opposed to the rainbows that would shoot straight to the surface and start jumping. Now that Barb and I had our cutthroat we were just waiting for Andy.

Colorado Cutthroat Trout for Frank.

Andy was now really feeling the pressure. Barb and I both had our bounty for the day and Andy was catching nothing but rainbow after rainbow trout. As we were discussing moving to a different lake Andy hooked up with a decent fish that pulled instead of shooting towards the surface and jumping. To Andy's dismay it turned out to be a nice Tiger Trout. Not the fish we were looking for but a rewarding catch none the less. After a few more minutes we decided to head out to the back up lake.

A nice Tiger Trout for Andy.

Lake Canyon Lake: Home to the Colorado Cutthroat Trout.

With all of us really starting to feel tired, the pressure was on Andy. Fortunately when we pulled up to the lake, fish were rising like crazy. Andy was feeling very confident. We could see a thunder storm coming in and he would have to catch his fish quick if we were going to beat the storm. Barb and I both decided to opt out on fishing, seeing as we already had our Colorado Cutthroat trout. Andy quickly put in and caught a cutthroat right away. I took a picture and Andy was only one fish away from finishing the slam. We got out of there just in time. The storm was coming down in full force and we were glad to be in the car. We realized it was still early and if the storm was not near Salt Lake City we could fish the afternoon bite for the next trout in our challenge.

Number three for Andy's Cutthroat Slam.

Just thirteen miles outside of Salt Lake City is Little Dell Reservoir. The reservoir is located in the west Wasatch mountains. It has a self sustaining population of native Bonneville Cutthroat Trout.

Little Dell Reservoir.

Little Dell Reservoir would be the third lake we stopped at for the day. Andy only needed this last Cutthroat and he would be finished with the slam. Barb and I needed this fish and the dreadful Yellowstone. When we arrived at the reservoir it had an almost urban feel to it. It was deep and clear and by now it was 2:00 in the afternoon. I could tell Andy and Barb were not confident. I had read so much about this reservoir, I felt fine and very confident. Being that the water was so deep I chose to fish a type 6 sinking line. As soon as we got about 100 yards from the boat launch I had caught my first Bonneville Cutthroat Trout.

Bonneville Cutthroat Trout.

With that first fish caught, I knew it would be just a few minutes before Andy and Barb would also catch theirs. A short moment later I heard Andy yell that he had a fish on. As I turned to look I felt another tug. We had a double.

Fish on!

A nice double for Andy and I.

Andy was now done with the Utah Cutthroat Slam and in only three days. We just had one more for Barb to catch and all that was left would be for her and I to go back for the Yellowstone. At this point I was so tired from all the driving and fishing and lack of sleep I could hardly hold my head up. A short while later Barb caught a couple. Now that the Bonneville Cutthroat was done. It was time to go eat and rest for the next days journey.

Bonneville Cutthroat Trout for Barb.

Now that Andy was done with his cutthroat slam it was up to Barb and I to finish ours. We were really dreading to go back up to the sawtooth mountain range. It was some of the most difficult small creek fishing we had ever done and all we really wanted to do was fish more of Utah's great fishing lakes. The night before our journey back for the Yellowstone, Andy spent a late night studying the map. He found a small creek that was upstream of the creek that he caught his fish from. It appeared to be a bit larger and hopefully would have more fish. Andy had already caught his Yellowstone on the first day so he decided not to fish and just relax in the car while we fished.

A very overgrown Sawmill Creek.

As we worked our way upstream, I couldn't help but feel more confident about the days fishing. There were better looking pools to fish than anywhere else we had seen. As we walked upstream the two creeks came together creating a very nice pool. Barb had a hit but did not land the fish. That is right then when I knew we would catch fish. We worked our way upstream missing small fish here and there. I found a small pool the size of a paint bucket. It had a fish in it and i was determined to catch him.

Working for a small cutthroat trout.

After several dabs and no luck with this fish, I heard Barb yell that she had caught one. She was running towards me with phone in hand. I think this was the most excited she had ever been for a small trout. Barb showed me the picture on her phone. She was now done with her Utah Cutthroat Slam. I knew if I didn't catch one, I would never hear the end of it from these two.

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Barbs last fish for the slam.

Now that Barb was done, she decided to stop fishing and just help me spot fish. A few minutes later we came across a small pool. I crouched down as to not spook any fish. I made a cast but nothing happened. As I was about to pull my fly out Barb noticed a trout looking at it that I could not see from my crouched position. I paused. The fish ate. I swung him to shore. Took picture and slam was done!!

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Last fish for the slam.

Now that the slam was done. It was time to play. We decided to head south and fish Manning Meadows Reservoir, Barney Lake and Duck Fork Reservoir. These were listed as blue water fisheries on the Utah DFG website. That would mean they would be considered the best fisheries in the state. I know Andy would agree, he caught almost fifty cutthroat by himself.

A relaxing day at Manning Meadows.

One of almost fifty cutthroat for Andy that day.

Manning Meadow cutthroat.

Barb with a nice Tiger Trout from Barney Lake.

Frank with a nice Tiger Trout from Barney Lake.

Next year we might fish Montana or Arizona or Washington, or even stay in California. I have even learned of a cutthroat slam in Colorado that involves catching native cutthroat trout at 12000 feet elevation. Regardless, I’m sure we will have fun planning for it all year.

LAKE ALMANOR HEX HATCH 2016

This year we were determined to make it to the hex hatch at Lake Almanor. We have been wanting to fish the hex hatch for over ten years, but for whatever reason we kept missing it. We stumbled upon it last June while fishing for smallmouth bass. Unfortunately we were not able to stay for that evening bite. This year would be another story.

The Hexagenia Limbata is known as the giant mayfly. They can reach up to an inch and a half in length and make for a tasty meal for just about anything that swims in Lake Almanor.

This year Andy pretty much owned the lake. Every time I looked over at him he was battling a big trout.

Or smallmouth bass....

 A typical rainbow trout caught during Almanors hex hatch.

Andy and I  believe this may possibly be the best stillwater fishing in California.

 

While Barb did not catch any rainbow or brown trout on this trip she did catch a couple of nice smallmouth bass.

Barb brought along her friend Jaimie who caught her first fish on the fly. This nice smallmouth bass.

 I did not catch anywhere close to the amount of fish Andy caught, but I did manage a half dozen smallmouth bass and this nice rainbow trout.

On the way home we stopped at a small lake to fish for brook trout and brown trout. Andy caught this peculiar looking guy. It had the vermiculated pattern of a brook trout but looked more like a brown trout. Could this possibly be a tiger trout caught in California???

Overall it was a tiring but great three days. I know one thing is for sure!!! We will be setting aside a few days every year for the hex hatch..

PERCHFEST 2016

Its that time again when family gets together to enjoy each others company and celebrate all we are thankful for.  No I am not talking about Christmas or Thanksgiving. I am talking about Perchfest: the greatest holiday of all.

Several years ago, a buddy introduced us to this lake. It is probably the best panfish lake in all of California. It contains: Yellow perch, bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed, shad, green sunfish, largemouth bass and rainbow trout. The lake receives very little pressure, so little pressure that the fish have become so prolific they can be caught by the hundreds.

This lake is only one of two lakes in the entire state that contains yellow perch. Yellow perch are a close relative of walleye. They have flaky white meat and make the best fish tacos in the world. Under normal circumstances, I always practice catch and release but this lake has so many perch and they taste so good. I make an exception.

A simple batter of: Beer, flour, garlic salt and eggs. Garnished with cabbage, hot sauce and lemon, wrapped in a warm tortilla is all you need. We also boiled the perch in 7up and dipped them in cocktail sauce. This was a favorite of Andy's.

 

Last year we brought our fish counters and logged in over 500 fish caught. This year we blew those numbers away and caught all eight species of fish we targeted. I even added a new species to my list.

The pumpkinseed

OPENING WEEKEND AT MARTIS

This past weekend we decided to hit Martis Lake. Martis is located just outside of Truckee Ca. It is one of our favorite early season lakes. It is a catch and release lake. This seems to keep the crowds down.

The bite really started out tough for Christy and I. We were both fishing near the dam with intermediate lines and bugger patterns. After about two hours we decided to head over to the inlet where Jeff was fishing . On the way over Christy managed to catch a small brown on a halfback. I was happy she finally caught one but that meant she was now ahead of me.

When we caught up to Jeff he had already landed four fish and had many bites. Throughout the morning Christy and I watched Jeff catch fish after fish. We were all pretty much doing the same thing, it just seemed to be Jeff's day.

After fishing all day, I could only manage to bring one small cutthroat to the boat. We finished the day with one fish for Christy, one fish for me and nine fish for Jeff, including the little brown trout pictured below.

HOOVER WILDERNESS 2015

Those who follow my blog know that the fishing trip I look forward to most is the week-long trip I take every year. Last year I went to Oregon, and the year before that, Wyoming. This year I was forced to pick the month of August. Traditionally August is a poor month to fly fish, but the dates had to be chosen on fairly short notice because of our work obligations. My cousin Andy and I decided on a horse-pack trip into the mountains. We invited Jeffro, and he was in.

I completed so much research on which pack station to use and where to go that I was starting to lose my mind. The websites were so confusing and the prices were so high. I started to think that a horse-pack trip was not for us. Then I stumbled onto Leavitt Meadows Pack Station out of Bridgeport, California. As soon as I started perusing the pages of their website, I felt relieved. Finally, a website I could understand with prices that made sense. As soon as I made first contact with the owner (Craig), I knew I had made the right choice. His sense of humor was a perfect match for me and I knew the group would dig him as well.

Many different options were available for our pack trip, but we chose the "spot" pack trip: We were taken by horseback and our gear and provisions were taken by pack animal to a desirable campsite on a lake. The packer and stock then returned to the pack station. Then we were picked up on a predetermined date by the same packer. We furnished all our own camping equipment. The duration of our stay in the back country was up to us. We chose a solid week and it went by wayyyyy too fast.

Jeffro had backpacked into this area years before and assured us we would be blown away by its beauty, especially at Fremont Lake. Craig also suggested we base camp at Fremont Lake. He felt we would enjoy the fishing.

When we arrived at the pack station and started loading the mules, one of the ranch hands showed us a picture of a 4-pound wild rainbow that was caught a couple of weeks prior. Everyone that fishes Fremont Lake tries to practice catch and release, so there was a good chance that the fish was still there, along with others in the same size range. We were told all of the fish in Fremont Lake were 14 inches and larger and fought like 5 pounders.

Craig was absolutely right about the great fishing. On the first day after camp was set up, I decided to take a nap while Andy and Jeffro inflated the tubes for an afternoon bite. I awoke a couple of hours later and put the float tube in the water.

 

I did not know what to expect. When I paddled over to Andy and Jeff to see what was going on, they informed me they had caught lots of fish and were amazed at how hard they fought. I soon hooked up with a couple of scrappy rainbows and was blown away by how hard they pulled. They reminded me of the smallmouth bass we had been catching at Lake Almanor.

After fishing Fremont Lake consistently for 3 days and catching a couple hundred hard-fighting rainbow trout, we decided to hike into the headwaters of the Walker River and catch some smaller rainbows and brook trout.

The canyon was steep and hard to hike. The fish were very spooky and we caught a few rainbows and brookies, but I have to admit I missed Fremont Lake and couldn't wait to get back to those trout.

 

 I actually enjoyed the view much more from up here.

A typical high-mountain-stream brook trout.

On the way back we ran into this peculiar fellow. He claimed to be a prospecter and yelled at us to get away from his claim!

A view of Fremont Lake. I could not wait to get back and catch some more rainbows.

There were so many crawfish in the lake that we decided to keep a few and boil them up and add them to our spaghetti. A little hot sauce and some sausage made for the best spaghetti we had ever eaten.

On our last full day Andy decided to do a 12-mile round-trip hike to a brookie lake that we heard was full of fish.

Cinko Lake was a great brook trout lake for Andy.

We knew Andy would catch a lot of brookies. He said he stopped fishing after catching a little more than 100 fish, when he decided to start the long hike back.

Jeff and I decided to just stick around camp and catch more of the rainbows from Fremont Lake.

Jeff looked very tired but Andy and I both agreed, it should have been Jeffro's horse that was the tired one after this trip!!

Overall it was one of our best trips. Andy feels it was his favorite. You know it was a good trip when you return home feeling like a new person, disconnected from the daily grind. We also all agreed that our pack guides were a big part of making our trip such a great adventure, and we would highly recommend them to anyone.

Next year we might fish Wyoming or do another pack trip. Regardless, I’m sure we will have fun planning for it in the meantime.