I don't have time for the "Winter Blues"...

Why is it that as Fall ends and Winter starts, a lot of fishermen become seasonal fisherman?  They are now going to hang it up for the next 3-4 months.  It could be age, difficulty on snowy ground, or they just don't like cold noses!  I'm sure that a lot of "fair weather" fishermen head to the vise and tie up a lot of flies during the winter months.  I'm going to tie more too.  How do you like my perch?  Others might enjoy more TV, including college bowl games and NBA basketball.  Heck, they might even turn on QVC and buy  watch that tremendous deal on that omelette maker that their wife wants so badly for Christmas.

Now, just remember... That a happy wife is one that is coddled a little... Just a little.  = )  

I am an easy person to buy for.  A Cabelas gift card always puts a smile on my face.  Mainly because I fish all year round.  And so my gear gets pretty torn up after all that use.  Decisions on buying gear take forever with me!  I have to look at every sling or hip pack that is made before I settle on "the one".  This time around, it needs to be waterproof.  I am tired of rain/snow getting everything soggy.  It also needs to have a ton of room inside.  I like to bring most EVERYTHING!  (I really need to learn how to consolidate)  Haha.  So, suggestions are welcomed in the comments below.  I hear that the Simms and Fishpond packs might be the winners.  I went cheap last time with the $29. Cabelas hip pack.  It has lasted two years.  I guess that's pretty good.  But, now it is tearing and I don't have much more time to switch out.   So, no time for getting "Winter Blues" when you are scouting for something...

The last few catches this month were pretty nice.

 But, the snow has come and the gloves with hand warmers accompany me now...

This has to be one of the reasons that I do fish in the cold months...

It just doesn't get much prettier or surreal.  Oh, that freezing fog!

So, I'm gonna forget about the "Winter Blues" and focus on getting things accomplished this month... Maybe get in a few fishing days. But, December is a month of busy shopping days and fun times with the family.  There's never a dull moment in ours...  = )  My son and his beautiful wife prove that! 

The Smokey Skies Adventure.... Sunday Tippets ~ Damsel Style

Where there's smoke, there's usually fire. And there was one pretty close to where I had planned my birthday fishing trip.  It was one of five that were burning in Yellowstone National Park at the end of August.  Crews were busy keeping it from burning past the park's western boundary and toward the small town 

of West Yellowstone.  
 The Madison River inside the park was aglow... 

So, "The Three Amigos" journeyed their way around the Maple Fire.  And tried to not get too smoked out.  The fish didn't seem to mind in the rivers near by.  Heck, it wasn't any smokier  ugh, smogier than Southern California.  Hahahaha

I found some interesting facts about Yellowstone.  The ones that I found most interesting are in red.

1. There are over 40 major waterfalls in Yellowstone
2. Yellowstone National Park was established on March 1, 1872, 20 years before Montana, Idaho and Wyoming were granted statehood
3. Yellowstone has about 300 active geysers and about 10,000 thermal features
4. Yellowstone produces 3.3 million acre-feet of water every year making it one of the riches sources for water in the western United States
5. Twelve major rivers originate in the Greater Yellowstone area
6. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is 20 miles long, 1,500 to 4,000 feet wide and 1,500 feet deep
7. Grand Prismatic Spring pumps out over 4,000 gallons of boiling water every single minute, making it the largest hot springs in North America
8. The average life span for a lodgepole pine is about 200 years
9. A grizzly bear will eat about 35 pounds of food in a typical day
10. A moose can keep its head underwater for 3 minutes
11. Only 26% of the Park actually suffered canopy burn in the 1988 fires
12. The average year round temperature of Yellowstone is 35° Fahrenheit
13. Yellowstone National Park is 63 miles long and 54 miles wide
14. Yellowstone National Park is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined
15. 80% of Yellowstone National Park is forested and of that 80%, 80% of the trees are lodgepole pines.
16. Old Faithful erupts every 91 minutes
17. Yellowstone National Park has the largest concentration of free roaming wildlife in all of the lower 48 states
18. 96% of Yellowstone National Park is located in Wyoming, 3% is in Montana, and 1% is in Idaho
19. The lowest tempature ever recorded in Yellowstone Park was -66 degrees Fahrenheit at the west entrance in 1933
20. Yellowstone National Park has 50 mammal species, 311 bird species, 18 fish species, 6 reptile species, 4 amphibian species, and 5 endangered or threatened species.
21. Yellowstone National Park has approximately 2000 earthquakes yearly
22. Yellowstone National Park has more than 300 geysers
23. There are 290 waterfalls throughout Yellowstone Park that are more than 15 feet tall and flow year-round
24. Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. The park was dedicated by President U.S. Grant.
25. Approximately 5% of the park is covered by water; 15% is grassland, and 80% is forested
26. Yellowstone National Park has 5 park entrances, 466 miles of roads, 950 miles of backcountry trails, 97 trailheads, and 287 backcountry campsites
27. Yellowstone Park contains 1 jail.
28. There is 1 federal judge and 1 F.B.I. agent that works in Yellowstone Park.
29. Yellowstone National Park is an active super volcano.
30. There are only 30 active super volcanos in the world and Yellowstone Park is one of them and the only one to be located on land.

And like all of the Three Amigos adventures, we put together a slideshow to show you the beauty of this part of the world, even in the midst of forest fires...

Rewinding

Alright.  So, it has been a little while since I was over here.  It was not fully intended.  Sometimes life gets busy.  And sometimes, your fingers don't find their way to the keyboard when you are so very tired.  Why am I tired?   Let's rewind the past two months...

               

         Ah, yes...  A girls retreat with my Facebook friends and

                     a float trip down the Green River in Utah and fishing the Strawberry Resvr. for Bonneville Cutthroats...

Many laughs and shenanigans.  And many great catches for all...  Flygals with skills.  I can attest to that!  They are truly some of the best anglers that I have fished with.  



And then there were day trips here and there for the Damsel...  

And last but not least...  The infamous Three Amigos met up again!

More on that later.  We will be reporting on that trip... ugh... 

On Sunday Tippets.   = )  Because there was a lesson learned...  Now, to have a little bit of fun with ya.  The first comment on my Sunday edition is going to get a dozen of RD special cookies...

We will see who is on board still... Haha

I won't post the comments until Sunday evening to

 keep you all in suspense.   They will be in order of the time they came in.  Have a great rest of the week!!!

As Summer Rolls On... Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

As August has begun with her high temperatures, I have not ventured out on the water as of yet.  But, cabin fever has caught up with me and so I will find some stream to dip my boots in this week for sure.  Fish don't like the heat either and so you can often find better fishing early in the day and again in the late afternoon and at dusk.  Here are some tippets on how to stay cool while fishing.

Well, first of all... Stay in the water!  If you are river fishing, the coolness of the water alone will help.  And if you have a leak in your waders, instant cooling!  = )

Stay hydrated while out in the heat of the summer.  It's a no brainer, but we often know we should be drinking more water and don't.  Keep a couple water bottles with you at all times.  The sickest day that I had on the river this summer was when I only drank half of a bottle of water.  Leg cramps that night.  It will catch up with you!  Trust me.

Protect your head from the heat.  A wide brimmed hat is a good option.  Also, wearing a buff will help out a lot.  Just remember that the neck and ears also are vulnerable to the hot rays of the sun.  And I've known a few people that have had skin cancers removed from their ears, nose, and top of the head... So sunscreen if you are going to have them exposed, at least!

The right clothing will keep you cooler and protect you from those

UV rays.  There are many lines of shirts and pants made for the fisherman.  As I am on a budget, I like the line that Cabela's has.  Of course, you can find some great end of the season sales on Simms and Patagonia clothing and pack it away.  Just remember that you want moisture wicking clothing and quick dry is also nice.

Lastly, take cover when possible.  Even, if it is for just a break.   Remember what your mother told you when you were a teenager.  Stay out of the sun between 10-2 on the hottest days...  Yes, during that time, if you can fish under or near a bridge or a group of trees for some shade, do it!  You might find some nice fish holing up in that shaded area too.  And if there is a massive hatch, bonus!

Lastly, look for deep holes where cooler water resides.  You will be cooler and you will probably catch more fish too.  

Just a few ways to stay cooler in the heat. 

 Happy trails and fishy waters,,,

Man's Best Friend? ~ Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

So many pets.  So many that have been dogs.  Well, it seems that there is a new, upcoming favorite on the horizon... Yes, believe it or not, it's the GOAT!!   Now, before you give the eyeroll and chuckle to yourself...  Read on.

First, the goat has been studied and has shown that it can interact and communicate with humans.  There are even some domesticated goats.  Whether they are kept indoors, I do not know.  Haha.  My guess is that they have a nice, cozy pen and sleep inside a barn or sheltered area.   = )  How do they communicate, you ask?

So, you aren't into a vocal pet.  And don't need your pet screaming for attention.  (It could sound like a haunted house)  Maybe you have a few noisy children in your household already...  Well, then, the goat might not be for you.  = )

But, here is a "tippet" in favor of the goat as your next best friend.

They are excellent "pruners" for your back cast!!!

Goats are considered to be an ecological, cost-effective way to keep weed growth to a minimum.  And in my case, they can take care of those tall bushes and trees that hamper my back cast.   No more flies getting snagged in whatever is behind you.  Just bring your new, best friend.  The goat.  

Disclaimer:  It is best to keep your goat in a fenced yard, so they might not prune your neighbors bushes.  =)

A Girls Day Trip

Just when I was thinking of heading out to fly fish, I had a thought to ask one or two friends to join.  It's fun to do a girl's day trip once in awhile.  I decided to ask two Facebook friends that I haven't fished with.  And it would end up being one of my favorite days on the river for this year.  One thing that people need to know about traveling with me, is that I start early.  I have started telling people to show up a half hour earlier than I want to go.  Hey, these two were just 15 min late... I think that I will fish with them again.  Haha.

We were ready for a great day.  All the right flies and all the positive energy needed.  We were chatting on the drive like we had known each other for years.  One common thread (fly fishing) can bond people together from all walks of life.  As I have traveled, I have found this out.   We can share a sport, passion, or hobby, and have friendships that last a lifetime. 

These two rocked it from the start.  Here is Kerry with a nice, big rainbow at the end of her line.  Rebeca is ready with the net just in case...

We had so many fish and we were spot on with our dry flies and nymphs.  The other two did more dry fly fishing, while I put on a tandem nymph with an emerger.  Each time we met another angler, they would ask us how we were doing.  Our answer would be, "GREAT!"   They would look at us with this face of disillusionment.  They obviously didn't have the same catch rate that day.  We would share our findings and flies used.  They would give us a fond farewell in hopes to catch some more fish.  By far, we had the most success that day.   I've known for awhile that women make just as good of fly fishers as men.  And in this day and age, I believe that women are getting more and more of a second look. 

Not just because they are surprised to see us there, but for the knowledge and skills we bring to the water.  I am so grateful to know so many beautiful gals inside and out that work hard in getting better and sharing their talents with those that ask.  Many ladies also give of their time in Trout Unlimited, Casting For Recovery, Project Healing Waters and many more free clinics in their home areas.  

We caught some extraordinary rainbows that day.

We made some absolutely fun and adventurous new friends.

We enjoyed a great Mexican dinner!

Yes, a girls day trip is always a good thing to do...

There's No Such Thing As A Loser...

That's right.  Only quitters.  And a quitter is someone who gave up on their dream.  A true winner is someone who will fight for their dream even when the world says they can't have it.  No one ever loses anything, they just simply give up on what they were after.  In the long run, isn't it better to say that you gave it your best shot instead of not trying at all?  

So what are we afraid of?  Let me put a fishing example out there.  Many of us that fly fish, have our go-to flies, our favorite rivers that we know very well.  

How often do we just throw our fly box in the car and go to a new place to scout out?  What are we afraid of?  That we might get skunked because we don't have the "experience" in this new water?  I will answer that question with a BIG "YES"!!  Folks, it's all about the adventure!

  I have decided to step outside the box for a day trip that I am taking next week.  It will be a challenge.  I expect that much.  But, I will make the best of it.  And I will throw my 6 or 7 years of experience into figuring it out.  I'm downright excited!  Because, you see, if I come up empty...  I tried my best.  Nothing to be ashamed of.   And if I catch and put fish in the net...  Then, I have improved my skills.   You see, winners are always learning and are always looking for new ways to challenge themselves.  They are positive thinkers and they work hard for what they believe in.  So, I'm going to step outside my comfort zone and head to the river "Unknown".  Because it's the challenges in life that make us stronger.

 A friend of mine had me read from Romans 5:4-5.  It tells us that patience produces character and character produces hope and this hope will never disappoint us.

        Do I hear an "Amen"?  = )

One Fly ~ Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

There is a time in every fly fisherman's life, that he or she has a special day with just "one fly".   For some, it happens more often.  But, for me, I'm usually happy if two or three flies are working well  on a trip out.  If memory serves me right, I don't think that I have had an outing where "one fly" gave more than several dozen netted.

.. 

As the afternoon wore on, I kept looking at this magical fly.  A bit tattered with ends unraveling.  What once was tight, now was loose.   (That sounds like my skin)  Yes, this was not the prettiest fly.  It was downright ugly!  But, it was beautiful in my eyes as it had caught close to thirty fish.  Could it keep going?  Would I finally lose it under a rock or in a tree?  Oh, I didn't even want to venture such a thought.  I could stick it in my hat right now and call it good.  And leave it there for old time sake as a remembrance of a great day on the water.  Where had the time gone?  The sun had moved it's position in the sky.

I looked at the clock for the first time that day.  Ohhh... It was already that time that I was supposed to be back at the car.  It was time to go home.  Time had flown by and those boots had to go in the direction of the car now.  The slow walk back had me shaking my head how incredible the day had been.  There isn't a better feeling than being in the zone while fishing.  You don't always see things happen quickly and easily...  There are challenges in fly fishing.  And that is why it intrigues me.  But, once in awhile, we have that special day.  As I put my gear back into the car, I reached into my fly box to retrieve the "one fly" that would be stuck into my hat and to never be used again.  As I looked at my weather app, I noticed something startling.  The barometer was falling.  I had hit the front of a storm...  Don't ever tell me it doesn't effect the fish.  Lol.

The day needed to be capped off in style.  A cozy restaurant in the canyon that has a few peacocks strolling the grounds was a perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the outside table on the porch.

Did I say that it was a perfect day?  That one on the left is mine.  A garlic bleu burger that is undoubtedly the best I've had.  Yummy!  

After using a single fly all day long, I had to look up the "single fly" competitions that I have always heard about.  No, I'm not ready to enter into one.  Haha.  But, this is what they are about.

The Utah Single Fly, held on Utah's beautiful Green River, is a fly fishing tournament whose goal is to raise funds to support TU's work to protect and restore streamflows in Utah and to fight the spread of aquatic invasive into Utah waters.

Teams consist of four anglers.  One fly per angler, one point per trout caught and released added to the total inches of two measured trout.  A “big trout bonus” of 5 points for a trout of 20‐22”.  “super

big trout bonus” of 10 points for a trout >22”.

I've heard that these are fun competitions for a great cause.  Now, I look up to those who have entered, as it isn't the easiest to select the "one fly" that takes in all your fish.  = )