A Tale Of Two Rivers

Got out for a couple days of winter flyfishing and thought I'd share some pics with those of you who might have a touch of the cabin fever.
My friend Tim and I flyfished two different rivers and had a blast!

The first river was like every flyfisherman's dream... great weather and beautiful trout that were most cooperative. The insect hatches were right on schedule and our fly boxes were well stocked with the proper ammunition. Some days work out just perfect, and this was one of them.

The second river, on the other hand, was most uncooperative and the temps never got above 10 degrees. The cold temps resulted in an all-day ice flow and allowed little in the way of controlled drifts essential for successful flyfishing. By 2:30 the ice flows had diminished enough to get decent drifts and maybe get a hook-up. I fought two and landed zero... we both left that one a little disappointed but stronger from the experience.
It was a hell of a lot of work that day and we managed to make lemonade out of lemons.

RIVER A

This is my friend rigging-up at our base station on the first river. It's probably about 9am and the sun's a shining. This was precursor to what would be a most excellent day!


Here are some Rainbows that came out to play... (first two are in-the-net shots, kinda trippy)




Outstanding gill plate color on this one




... and a few Browns showed up as well

RIVER B

This day wasn't anything like the first. Normally this river fishes very well for me in the winter but not this time. Frigid temps and bad ice flows really put a damper on the fishing productivity so I wandered around looking for photo opportunities killing time in hopes that the temps would warm and the ice flows might diminish. Well, it stayed frigid this day.. can't win 'em all. Some days you just end up paying your dues.
Here are some pics from that day.

Once in a while the river allowed a reasonable cast but had to keep our eyes peeled for icebergs, they can kill


grrrr


This looks cold but actually, my feet are at about 105 degrees on the inside... I have NiCad powered heated footbeds in these puppies!


....and I'll close with some frosty pics




Here are a couple of dendritic ice crystallization pics, they were everywhere. I always find these to be interesting.

thanks for the pictures Swizz! you just cant beat being out in natures living room to ease the days pressures! was this a catch and release stream?

Hi russ,
I'm pretty much 99% catch & release since I don't eat 'em, just like to play. I'll occasionally eat a backcountry Brookie or Cutthroat trout but that's about it... outside of the occasional wall mount.
The first stream, where we did well, was not catch & release.
The second stream, which was a frozen mess, was strictly catch & release.

Excelent pictures Swizz!! You have a great eye for what will make a sweet pic. Looks like it was a great day, even in the cold.....and look, it even looks like Lu Lu Bear was smiling.

Thanks for sharing your cool adventure with us, it was almost like being there.

Thanks Denise!
I just got back from another 2-day flyfishing trip and thought I'd add a few more fishy pics. The trout in this river have very good coloration, I suspect to camouflage with the colorful red, green, and blue rocks on the cobbled stream bed.

Real nice shots Swizz, beautiful colors on those fish. You guys are really die hard fly fishermen for sure, dang that looks like some chilly water!

Great shots Swizz..........but your killing me here!

I want to go fishing too!!

Just got back from beautiful Wyoming for a short but truly amazing fishing trip. I've been going to this haunt for many years every spring and it's never let me down. Heck, it's just nice to get out of town!! This year the fish were as large and scrappy as ever!
All we caught were Rainbows (large). We were hoping for a few Browns in addition but they never showed up for dinner. Here are a few of the more-purty ones I thought I might add to this thread...
(all fish on barbless flies... unharmed and released)



Female


Male


Pretty girl...


This one was a nice male and powerful-strong. Went past the 22" mark on my flyrod... est 24"-25", made my day.

Sweet catches Swizz, looks like it was another great time out fishing! As always, fantastic pictures too!!!
Did you tough it out in a tent that weekend by the water where you were fishing? Im really surprised that none of the others who fly fish havent chimed in to this post.....

I know what it is.
They must be jealous of your catches, beacuse they usually just say "I didnt have time for pics, but it was this big. "

Thanks Denise!
No tent camping on this trip. Winds were fierce at 30-40mph on the plains so it was Motel-camping which was the right choice. Thankfully, I know of a great dog-friendly one up there.
Still at least a month before my claim is close to accessible so I'll probably sneak in a few more fishing trips before then. Nice thing is.... this drive takes me by the mtn where my claim is and I can keep an eye on the snowpack there.

There are other fishermen on this board?

Are you sure?

High winds are no fun when camping in a tent, good call. Winds have been crazy here in the valley as well. Some days up to 80 mph!

I fish, but its been way too long!! I havent had a chance to learn fly fishing yet though, and we even have one here waiting for us to learn. Makes me think of the movie "A River Runs Through It".
Maybe this summer. I bet I would really enjoy it! It looks like alot more fun than just sitting there waiting on a bite.

Oh yeah, never a dull moment for sure, plenty to keep ya busy. Between casting, mending, catching and untangling one can still find time to daydream though.
I'm headed back there on Weds for more . Might add a few more pics here... although it's hardly "winter flyfishing" in southern WY anymore. Still winter here though. Ski Area closes in about a week so I know it has to give up the ghost soon. I really have the itch for prospecting now too. These trips hold an ulterior motive for me as the route passes my claim. Hopefully when I drive by it's lost a bunch of snow!
We've had some rough winds here this winter and spring but not 80 MPH!!. Wind gusts that bad can really mess with your head. Holy smokes.

Excellent pictures, swizz.

There are more fly fishermen here I am sure. I have to consider myself semi retired from fly fishing since I only got to go twice last year, and none so far this year. I hope that will change soon. Of course, you all have got me thinking that more of my time on the streams this year might be with a pan than a fly rod.

O. K.

No pictures, but the drought is over. I got to go fly fishing today. I belly boated Parvin up in Red feather. Normally, I either get skunked or catch 2 fish. Usually I get skunked. I have gone to this lake since I was about 10, so over 30 years on this artificial flies and lures lake.

Today, I landed 9 fish, all rainbows. Smallest, and most, 10.5 in. A couple 15-16 in. One 17 and one 18 in.

It's the best opening day, and by far the best day ever on this lake, I have had.

Thank you, that is all.

Parvin!
I'm very familiar with that lake but don't think I've fished it since about 1990 and it fished well at that time too.
I think it's always been a research lake.... do you still have to check-in and out and log information on every catch? That was kinda cool, my friend and I got to know the regular guy who manned the shack there at the time.
There are some monsters in that lake, watch your toes!

Really glad that you had a great day there and I wish you had some pics, brings back some nice memories thinking about that place.

It is still a research lake.

You have to check in and out, but it is mostly by paper now. I haven't seen someone in the hut for a few years now.

I thought this was the coolest lake when I was a kid because it was the only place I knew of that was artificial flies and lures only. I now know that that is not uncommon, but it still is a special place because of how important it was to me as a kid.

The only camara I have right now is my droid, but my luck, I would have dropped it in the lake.

I plan on getting out some this summer, so I hope to be able to post something up with pics.

Hi all,
I just got back from spending the better part of this week fly-fishing the Frying Pan near Basalt. Stayed on the river at the Taylor Creek Cabins which have about a mile of private water on the Pan. Sure beats the heck out of any hotels/motels I've ever stayed in. Full kitchens, bedrooms, everything. A bit rustic... but that's the way I like it.
Very fun and I highly recommend it if you are the fly fishing sort.
Many nice Bows, Browns, an a few Cutts. Here's one of the better Bows (maybe 22"-23")....

Sounds like a great time! Nice looking fish!

The only thing keeping off the stream is 700 miles of distance. Nice looking fish... I can't wait to get back there!