tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48688223550252223412024-03-12T19:00:35.631-05:00Rainwater's Creekside RamblingsRainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-16810883406848284352017-09-05T21:27:00.000-05:002017-09-05T21:36:30.716-05:00Fly Fishing in Missouri's Wine Country<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Meramec River is one of the few undammed major river
systems in Missouri stretching over 218 miles in length and having nearly 1.3
million acres of drainage. It boasts the highest biodiversity of any stream in
Missouri with over 125 species of freshwater fish. While some of those flooded
in the St. Louis area may disagree, the lack of a dam and free flowing nature
of the river is what makes it such a treasure of the northeastern Ozarks, an
area is known for rugged terrain, cold springs and beautiful streams like the
Meramec. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YacMbnswZJo/Wa9ZCxXFBYI/AAAAAAAAE5o/ljFFfq5ZOAQpFTUmuaS2Vfd12r_NP_qWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pierce_meramec_03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YacMbnswZJo/Wa9ZCxXFBYI/AAAAAAAAE5o/ljFFfq5ZOAQpFTUmuaS2Vfd12r_NP_qWgCEwYBhgL/s400/Pierce_meramec_03.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Morning mist on Meramec River</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Red Ribbon Trout fishing area, located in Phelps and
Crawford counties, begins at the Highway 8 bridge and continues downstream
about 9 miles to Scott’s Ford. While the Highway 8 Bridge is the uppermost
point of the Red Ribbon area, the first two miles are considered to be cool
water fishery rather than cold and a much better small mouth fishery. The true
trout fishery on this river begins below the confluence with the Maramec Spring
branch. The effluent of the spring branch lowers the water temperature
considerable and about doubles the flow of the river. The river holds MDC
stocked brown and rainbows trout. The browns are stocked once or twice a year,
and the rainbows are originally stocked in Maramec Spring Park and either
escaped or washed out of the spring branch.
In the fall, the browns can be found moving out of the river and up into
the spring branch to spawn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMtouMcNtf4/Wa9fFXz6FmI/AAAAAAAAE6M/cXh5V4goVwkEi5E8sEKlser-3Ew10V93gCLcBGAs/s1600/Pierce_meramec_06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="729" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMtouMcNtf4/Wa9fFXz6FmI/AAAAAAAAE6M/cXh5V4goVwkEi5E8sEKlser-3Ew10V93gCLcBGAs/s400/Pierce_meramec_06.JPG" width="291" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In this Red Ribbon stream only flies and artificial lures
may be used. Soft plastic baits, natural or scented baits are prohibited
when fishing for any species. The legal creel limit is two trout over 15
inches. To stay dry you will need a pair of chest waders, but wet wading is
possible in the warmer summer months. As with all coldwater streams in
Missouri, <span class="A4">the use of
porous soled shoes, boots, or waders is prohibited by MDC regulations i</span>n
an effort to prevent the spread of Didymo<span class="A4">. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KbB3Nr2O8lA/Wa9ZC0aPpyI/AAAAAAAAE5k/EcwMPx7ej8UASR2sfuzlC4P6ch9rYhdZACEwYBhgL/s1600/Pierce_meramec_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KbB3Nr2O8lA/Wa9ZC0aPpyI/AAAAAAAAE5k/EcwMPx7ej8UASR2sfuzlC4P6ch9rYhdZACEwYBhgL/s400/Pierce_meramec_01.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Confluence of the Meramec River and Dry Fork Creek</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="A4">On
the Meramec River, brown trout and big streamers just go together and you
cannot go wrong with big leeches or sculpin patterns. There is something about
that big bite of food that the fish just seem to love. Hatches are neither
large nor predicable on the Meramec however they do happen and it pays to have
a variety of caddis and mayfly imitations on hand when they do. </span>The
trout can be a bit fickle from season to season, as water temperature and
flooding seem to have a big impact.
Lack of consistency leads the crowds to often overlook the Meramec when
they are choosing where to fish. That can be a mistake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are a wade fisherman, there are several access points
to the river, but they do involve walking. To reach the uppermost trout holding
section of the river parking at Maramec Spring Park is recommended. There is a
$5 daily parking fee, but the walk is flat and by following the west side of
the spring branch downstream you will find a bit of solitude and wonderful
water. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HHpDFipBxKI/Wa9ZInJZcnI/AAAAAAAAE5w/EYKLGLVIlKUWsVyHwC5XeihJHRuA8D9TwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pierce_meramec_05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HHpDFipBxKI/Wa9ZInJZcnI/AAAAAAAAE5w/EYKLGLVIlKUWsVyHwC5XeihJHRuA8D9TwCEwYBhgL/s400/Pierce_meramec_05.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Author landing a trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next two accesses (Cardiac Hill and Suicide Hill) are a
bit more katabatic in nature. To reach these access points take the Highway
F/ZZ exit off of I-44 at mile marker 203. Turn right onto the south outer road
to Rosati, take Highway KK south for 3 miles then turn right onto Brennan Road
also know as CR3620. Follow that road for a short ways then make another left onto
Besmer Road. The first parking lot you come to is “Cardiac Hill”. Just before
this parking lot there is a gated MDC drive that leads to the river. The long
walk down to the river is a pleasurable stroll in a beautiful Ozark valley. The
walk back to your vehicle is a different matter. They don’t call it “Cardiac
Hill” for nothing. A little further down, Besmer Road will dead end at a
parking lot known as “Suicide Hill”. The walk to the river is much shorter,
however it is considerably steeper and more treacherous. It is recommended that
you keep your rod cased as you scramble up and down this slopes. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uRpdhzmnt8/Wa9ZIxMwvnI/AAAAAAAAE50/Aqu2IHzjNd0Ihwdg8bOFthz82Cnx8Y5CACEwYBhgL/s1600/Pierce_meramec_04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="1000" height="203" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uRpdhzmnt8/Wa9ZIxMwvnI/AAAAAAAAE50/Aqu2IHzjNd0Ihwdg8bOFthz82Cnx8Y5CACEwYBhgL/s400/Pierce_meramec_04.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nice cut bank on the Meramec River</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many people fish the Meramec River from a canoe or kayak.
The MDC Highway 8 access is a great place to put in and the float to Scott’s
Ford makes for a perfect day fishing on the river. If you are looking for
canoes, kayaks, or a livery service, Mark Dessieux at <b>Adventure Outdoors</b>
is a great place to start. They are super nice people and you can find their
office at the Scott’s Ford crossing or online at <a href="http://www.adventureoutdoorfloating.com/">www.adventureoutdoorfloating.com</a>.
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<span style="font-size: large;">The city of St. James is located just a few miles west of
the river at the intersection of Highway 8 and Historic Route 66. The town has three fabulous wineries, a brewpub
and several great restaurants. Located along the north outer road you will find
a shared venture between <b>St. James Winery </b>and <b>Public House Brewing
Company</b>, called the <b>Gardens</b>. It is an outdoor patio which offers
wine and beer products from both establishments as well as pub food and great
appetizers. Downtown on Jefferson Street is a neat little wine bar called <b>Just
a Taste</b>. They offer local, Missouri produced wines and meads as well as a
full menu. There area has a couple
hotels located in town, but it you prefer a slower pace, the <b>Painted Lady </b>Bed
and Breakfast is located along Highway 8 on the southern edge of town. And if
you prefer camping, <b>Maramec Spring Park</b> offers both tent and RV camping
from March through October. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmVNyTajQvE/Wa9ZKD1iOHI/AAAAAAAAE58/cesh_6aK17gtAVpyXujXeqszAeJHsqYIwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pierce_meramec_07.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmVNyTajQvE/Wa9ZKD1iOHI/AAAAAAAAE58/cesh_6aK17gtAVpyXujXeqszAeJHsqYIwCEwYBhgL/s400/Pierce_meramec_07.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brown trout favorite food...large Streamers </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The upper Meramec River is definitely worth a weekend
get-a-way to go and spend a couple days on this beautiful northern Ozark
stream. Provided you don’t mind a walk, there is a degree of solitude that is
not found on other Missouri trout streams as this river is mistakenly all too
often overlooked by fishermen.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"Fly Fishing in Missouri's Wine Country" by Boot Pierce</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Article originally published in the "Ozarks Edition" of "Southern Trout Magazine", July 2017 </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">www.southerntrout.com/ozark-edition </span></b><br />
<br />Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-55006154323068614722017-07-06T17:29:00.002-05:002017-07-06T17:36:48.304-05:00Crown Jewel of Missouri Wild Trout Fishing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Have you ever looked at a crown? The one thing you notice is
that there is always one jewel that stands out. It is bigger, brighter, and
shines above all others. For many fly fishermen Mill Creek is that crowning jewel.
This Ozark stream has a wild strain of California Red Band trout, dumped over a
century ago, that are both beautiful and challenging to fish. </div>
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Located a few miles southwest of Newburg, Missouri, Mill
Creek is a tributary to Little Piney Creek, which eventually flows into the
Gasconade River. The stream has good public access as it flows across Mark
Twain National Forest (MTNF) and Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC)
Bohigian Conservation Area. Although Mill Creek typically starts flowing below
Yelton Spring, the spring is intermittent and doesn’t flow during dry years and
can dry up in late summer months. Mill Creek’s reliable water flow starts at
Wilkins Spring, which provides a flow of approximately 6 CFS of 57<sup>o</sup>
degree water. Dye tracing shows the spring recharge area extending 14 miles to
the southeast near the town of Edgar Springs. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fEznz6OTlw4/WV643uukgMI/AAAAAAAAD74/izHVi93pksMwYJZzbbMDrJVmzOe3lMUNgCLcBGAs/s1600/J85A8204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fEznz6OTlw4/WV643uukgMI/AAAAAAAAD74/izHVi93pksMwYJZzbbMDrJVmzOe3lMUNgCLcBGAs/s400/J85A8204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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MDC has designated Mill Creek as a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream
below Yelton Spring. Only flies and artificial lures may be used. Soft plastic
baits, natural or scented baits are prohibited when fishing for any
species. The legal creel limit is one fish over 18 inches, but as with all wild
trout streams please practice catch and release. The stream is easily fished
with a pair of hip waders and wet wading is possible in the summer months. In
an effort to prevent the spread of Didymo, <span class="A4"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt;">an invasive alga, the use of
porous soles shoes</span></span><span class="A4"><span style="mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, boots, or waders is prohibited by MDC Regulations. Also, the trout
spawn in the winter months so please be careful not to step on redds as you
walk.</span></span></div>
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Mill Creek offer challenges for every type of fly fishermen.
For dry-fly fishermen, caddis and mayflies fish very well. They are abundant in
the stream, with periodic small hatches throughout the year. You can’t beat the
standard #16 EHC, Adams, or a Bob’s Fly. By fishing the ends of riffles and
runs with dry flies you can expect to land the smaller subordinate 6- to 9-inch
trout. The larger fish seem to be located in the deeper holes and hidden under
cover. A Mike’s Mohair Leech tied up in a variety of colors, on a size #8 or
#10 hook is probably the most productive fly for the larger fish. The wild
trout in Mill Creek can be pretty spooked. Don’t be afraid to put flies into
heavy cover. Sure you will get hung up, lose flies and have to tie them back
on, but you will also have a better chance of hooking fish. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvxJQ8y16AU/WV65AmS4IiI/AAAAAAAAD8A/fTDIxZq9qB8uvTr0Hqk-tju3FjciMadvACEwYBhgL/s1600/J85A8158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvxJQ8y16AU/WV65AmS4IiI/AAAAAAAAD8A/fTDIxZq9qB8uvTr0Hqk-tju3FjciMadvACEwYBhgL/s640/J85A8158.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Access to Mill Creek from Interstate 44 is straightforward.
If you travel from the west take the Highway J exit at mile marker 169. Travel
southeast then turn left onto Highway P. From Highway P turn right onto Highway
AA. Once you drop off the ridge you will be at the upper parking lot of the
Bohigian Conservation Area and right in the heart of Mill Creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continue on Highway AA and you will find Forest
Service Road 1581. This road takes you across the creek and back to Wilkins
Spring. By turning left off of Highway AA at the bottom of the ridge onto
Forest Road 7550 you will access the lower portions of Mill Creek including the
Mill Creek Picnic Area. </div>
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If you are coming from Rolla take the Highway T exit at mile
marker 179. Continue through the town of Newburg until you cross Little Piney
Creek. Just past the bridge make a right onto highway P then turn left onto
Forest Road 7550. Look for the sign. You cannot miss it. If you want to access
the upper portion of the stream continue on Highway P until you see highway AA
and follow the instructions previously given. </div>
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<span class="A4"><span style="mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is no stream gage on Mill Creek, but one is located on the bridge that crosses
Little Piney Creek at Newburg. After a rain event, Mill Creek have a tendency
to both rise and fall faster than Little Piney Creek, but if you have a long
drive ahead of you, a quick check of the gage </span></span><a href="https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv?site_no=06932000">USGS Newburg
Stream Gage</a> could give you an idea of steam conditions before you leave.</div>
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Mill Creek runs through MTNF and there are plenty of places
to pull off the road for primitive camping. If you prefer an organized
campground with picnic tables and restrooms, Lane Springs Recreation Area is
located just a few miles east of Mill Creek by gravel road and offers all the
amenities of a MTNF campground. If you prefer to stay close to the water, the <a href="http://www.outcastinn.com/">Outcast Inn</a> (outcastinn.com) located on
Forest Road 7550, overlooks Mill Creek. The Inn accommodates 6 people and has a
full kitchen, sauna room and hot tub. </div>
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The towns of Rolla and St. Robert are each about 10 miles
from Mill Creek and there are several places to stay and eat in both. In St.
Robert you cannot go wrong with the <b>Hub</b> located on V.F.W. Circle Drive.
The <b>Hub</b> is a German restaurant with great food and fun atmosphere. In
Rolla my recommendation is to try a three-part tour of local flavor starting
with <b>Alex’s Pizza</b> on 8<sup>th</sup> street for dinner. They’re a Greek
restaurant, which specializes in thin crust pizzas and gyros. For dessert, stop
by <b>A Slice of Pie</b> on Kingshighway. They have awesome homemade pies,
which can be purchased by the slice. And for libations, it’s the <b>Public
House Brewing Company</b> on the corner of 6<sup>th</sup> and Rolla Street.
There you will find a relaxing corner pub with a great atmosphere that brews
equally great beers.</div>
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The crystal clear spring water, which makes Mill Creek such
a picturesque Ozark stream, also produces beautifully colored and healthy trout
that love to put up a fight. You only have to fish Mill Creek once to
understand why so many fly fishermen believe it to be the crown jewel of Ozark
trout streams. I believe this stream should be at the top of everyone’s Ozark’s
fly fishing bucket list. </div>
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Author - Boot Pierce</div>
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Originally published in the May, 2017 edition of Southern Trout Online "Ozarks Edition" </div>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-74943078694073540352016-11-23T20:50:00.000-06:002016-11-28T20:18:35.375-06:00Get the Stink Out<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you spend any time on the water it soon becomes clear
that your equipment will start to stink. I have this really great pair of TEVA
sandals that I wear <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">all the time</span> during the summer months. After a few days on
the stream though they start to get this funky smell that will not go away. I
had tried every different remedy I could find and none of them ever seemed to work.
Finally, I hit the jackpot and found the right combination. It will work for
wading boots, water shoes, sandals, or anything else you wear in the water that
starts to take on the stream side funk.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is easy, it is simple and here it is…I will use my TEVA
sandals for example:</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Step one: </b>Take a 5-gallon bucket and pour in one gallon of
regular vinegar. Dip your TEVA sandals into the bucket. Make sure they are completely
soaked. I always let them sit in the bucket for a couple hours at least to make sure
they get completely wet.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Step two: </b>Take your sandals out of the bucket and place them
in the sun so they can dry completely.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Step three: </b>Once they are dry, wrap them up in plastic bag
like you get from Walmart and place them in the freezer for 24 to 48 hours. The
plastic bag is not really necessary, but nothing freaks out the wife like
opening the freezer door and seeing your sandals on top of the pot roast. My wife
and I have separate (his and her) freezers, but that is another story for another day. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Step four: </b>Take them out of the freezer and put them on. You might want to
let them thaw a bit. They can be pretty cold for half hour or so.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">I wear my sandals every day during the summer and I am in the creek
at least a couple times on the weekends. Over the course of the summer I probably
have to do this three or four times. I know
this works for me and I hope this helps you too. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good Luck</span></span> </span></span></span></span>Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-55471646746098345772016-05-10T00:22:00.001-05:002016-05-10T00:32:13.784-05:00Everyone has something to give<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone has something they can give to others. It may be
big, it may be small, but to the person who receives it…it may be HUGE. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We fly fishermen and fisherwomen all talk about how relaxing
and peaceful it is to stand out in the water, wave a noodlie stick called a
“fly rod” with brightly colored line and hope to land a just as brightly
colored rainbow trout or spawning bluegill. Whether it is the act of casting,
the sound of the water flowing over the rocks, or the sight of a mink as it
rambles up the bank, those experiences calm us all. Who cares if the fish bite?
That is just a bonus. What this experience really does is allow us to do is to
miraculously and momentarily forget the bills we owe, the leaking roof, and the
mounds of paperwork waiting for us at the office. While these issues may seem big to us, in the grand scheme of
things those bills and that paperwork are trivial. There are many people in
this world that are dealing with far more than you or I can ever imagine. Cancer, PTSD, or other health related
issues!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-27dlsgVe4qo/VzFrskDoSGI/AAAAAAAACcQ/aTv1nJItoAYhMi0Cy9wKeI3422XZRooSwCLcB/s1600/20160426_102134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-27dlsgVe4qo/VzFrskDoSGI/AAAAAAAACcQ/aTv1nJItoAYhMi0Cy9wKeI3422XZRooSwCLcB/s320/20160426_102134.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matt and the Master Guide - Marty Horn with a rainbow trout from the Spring 2016 Reel Recovery outing at Westover Farms, Steelville, MO</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not smart person, nor am I rich person, but for the
last few years I have been able to take the one thing I do have and give it to
those that can use it much worse than I. What have I been giving? <b>Time</b>. For years
now I have volunteered for as a river guide for the Reel Recovery
(reelrecovery.org) and Reeling and Healing – Midwest (fishon.org) organizations
to help teach both men and women who are struggling with or recovering from
cancer how to fly fish. It is the most rewarding and humbling thing I have ever
done in my life. My bills and my paperwork are of absolutely no significance
compared to someone who is worrying about if the next chemo treatment will
eradicate their tumor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lAy53f2FmAs/VzFrcQIZURI/AAAAAAAACcM/cr6mSIem5kQmORjr6o8ld6rhgcnD3wVCQCLcB/s1600/mary_rh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lAy53f2FmAs/VzFrcQIZURI/AAAAAAAACcM/cr6mSIem5kQmORjr6o8ld6rhgcnD3wVCQCLcB/s320/mary_rh.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ms. Mary's first Rainbow Trout - Reeling and Healing - Midwest, Fall 205 retreat at Westover Farms</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why am I rambling about all of this? I don’t want an
atta-boy or kudos for what I do. What is want is for anyone who reads this post
to sit back, think about what they have, and figure out how they can give their
gifts to someone else who could use it more. For us flyfishers it is
organizations like FISHON.ORG or ReelRecovery.org. There also other wonderful
groups out there like TROUTBUSTERS.org who conduct fundraisers and help raise
money to send not only cancer survivors, but also our American veterans to fly
fishing retreats sponsored by Project Healing Water. What ever you do…just get
active, get off your ass and spend some time and help as many people as you can. </span></div>
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ON7thrv7HEY/VzFsJgmwX5I/AAAAAAAACcY/qwbEO3p_WYM3O0TnWthu1wKlyqxQE-BpACLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1430787257178%257E2%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ON7thrv7HEY/VzFsJgmwX5I/AAAAAAAACcY/qwbEO3p_WYM3O0TnWthu1wKlyqxQE-BpACLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1430787257178%257E2%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Teaching the basics of a cast at the fall 2014 Reeling and Healing-Midwest retreat out at Westover Farms</span></td></tr>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-19274857679179494962016-03-22T19:56:00.000-05:002016-03-22T19:56:00.953-05:00Scuds on Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyDMfTehutRHIgG3iq_THbY-BEs_91F0GUYf51mv293NZASehntqsGVcVuOuAUPjMffxdNCHqYLkxKgWfUmxA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over the years I have seen this several times here in Missouri. I am not sure what exactly drives this behavior. It may be nothing more than a seasonal migration. On the other hand we had a pretty good flood this winter and a huge number of bug got washed out of the spring and spring pond at Westover Farms. It might be nothing more then them trying to return to the spring. Either way it is pretty cool to see and even cooler to watch the trout bust into the bank as they swooped in to grab a mouthful. </span></span>Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-58217453026988650772016-02-18T21:25:00.001-06:002016-02-18T21:25:53.627-06:00April 23 Fly Tying Classes are fullJust found out that the April 23 fly tying classes are now full. If you are interested in learning to tie flies you will need to pick a different date.Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-20686598794356515662016-01-05T18:17:00.002-06:002016-01-05T18:19:28.602-06:002016 Fly Tying Classes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2016 Fly Tying Classes</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The spring dates have been set and we are ready to go. If you have ever wanted to learn how to tie your
own flies, now is your chance. I have joined up again this year Westover Farms to teach a series of fly tying classes. The spring class dates for 2016 are <b>March 12, April 23, May 21, June 11. </b>I will introduce you to the basic tools and materials you will need to get started as well as teach you a wide array of fly tying techniques. When class is over you are welcome to step outside to the stream and use your newly created masterpieces on the Westover Farms trout streams. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
classes cost <b>$60 per person. </b>That includes 4-hours of fly tying
instruction in the beautiful Westover Farms Fly Shop, all tying
materials, lunch, and a ½ day fishing on the trout filled Westover Farms
stream. That is a great deal when you consider that 4-hours of fishing
at Westover Farms normally runs $37 by itself and you can't buy lunch at Subway for less that $10. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Want to know more about Westover Farms before you decide? Check them out at <a href="http://westoverfarms.com/" target="_blank">westoverfarms.com</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can’t make it on those dates? Prefer one on one fly tying
instruction? Contact me at </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">bootpierce2000@gmail.com </span>and we can set something up. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Oe43ov7gJM/VoxaIDB7BaI/AAAAAAAACEo/KRd7GUcxDf4/s1600/P7060004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Oe43ov7gJM/VoxaIDB7BaI/AAAAAAAACEo/KRd7GUcxDf4/s640/P7060004.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">CrackleBacks...One of the first flies you will learn how to tie, yet one of the most productive you will ever fish.</span></td></tr>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-78459104636791284722015-11-04T20:50:00.000-06:002015-11-04T20:50:16.918-06:00Reeling and Healing Midwest - Fall 2015<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A couple of weekends ago I had the privilege of getting
to hang out with the wonderful ladies of Reeling and Healing-Midwest. There is
noting greater than being able to be a River Guide and give something back to those that have
struggled through so much. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6hH5tkZmbf4/Vjq8gE7yIjI/AAAAAAAABy8/ymUadtnE3h4/s1600/women%2Bof%2Brh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6hH5tkZmbf4/Vjq8gE7yIjI/AAAAAAAABy8/ymUadtnE3h4/s400/women%2Bof%2Brh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Reeling and Healing Ladies of fall 2015</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While the fly fishing is pretty cool, my favorite part of the weekend is teaching the ladies about the Macroinvertabrates and other really cool bugs in the stream</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlSAthkYo2M/Vjq_YZsXA3I/AAAAAAAABzc/j-OhCHWqpB4/s1600/bugs_rh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlSAthkYo2M/Vjq_YZsXA3I/AAAAAAAABzc/j-OhCHWqpB4/s400/bugs_rh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">BUGS and Flies</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">More Photos</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZirbMvXSqOs/Vjq8eZYMzzI/AAAAAAAABzE/_HFVeh3G-yY/s1600/bev_rh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZirbMvXSqOs/Vjq8eZYMzzI/AAAAAAAABzE/_HFVeh3G-yY/s400/bev_rh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bev the hunter's first trout</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEze_q_0cgs/Vjq8fgPihcI/AAAAAAAABy4/-KB8Fd-3VpU/s1600/mary_rh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEze_q_0cgs/Vjq8fgPihcI/AAAAAAAABy4/-KB8Fd-3VpU/s400/mary_rh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary's first trout and she was so excited, but afraid to touch it</td></tr>
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</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqfEGqyuRbY/Vjq8e6SrYvI/AAAAAAAABzA/eWlYH3lHxS0/s1600/joy_rh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqfEGqyuRbY/Vjq8e6SrYvI/AAAAAAAABzA/eWlYH3lHxS0/s320/joy_rh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just look at that smile</span></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_-FwaJnt0n0/Vjq8ezJPFFI/AAAAAAAABys/bTEAnJ1y7nU/s1600/joy2_rh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_-FwaJnt0n0/Vjq8ezJPFFI/AAAAAAAABys/bTEAnJ1y7nU/s400/joy2_rh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">More Smile</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsS91DhHLjk/Vjq8fNH8MBI/AAAAAAAABy0/hKTHjlP7Pdg/s1600/kiss_rh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsS91DhHLjk/Vjq8fNH8MBI/AAAAAAAABy0/hKTHjlP7Pdg/s400/kiss_rh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Explain this to me...these ladies always seem to want to kiss their fish.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlDH1wFpnkU/Vjq_o8yP5QI/AAAAAAAABzk/FiYdLUBDk8o/s1600/poor_fish_rh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlDH1wFpnkU/Vjq_o8yP5QI/AAAAAAAABzk/FiYdLUBDk8o/s400/poor_fish_rh.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the there is Emma. She just liked making scary faces with her fish.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The coordinator (Ms. Patti), elves (Alicia and Sharon), and river guides of this weekend are an awesome group of men and women who want nothing more than to give back. Some have survived cancer themselves, some their spouses are survivors, and other have had spouses that didn't survive. Ultimately, there is one goal in mind</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and it has
nothing to do with fishing. It is therapy for everyone. For a few days, the ladies get
to relax and not have to think about cancer, chemo treatments, and the
stress of their everyday lives. </span></span>I am just happy that I can be a part of such a great organization. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-90968532491534898092015-11-04T19:53:00.000-06:002015-11-04T19:53:11.926-06:00Wyoming/Colorado 2105 - the conclusion<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next couple days were spent kind of wandering around.
After fishing the Big Thompson near Loveland I headed to the western side of
the state to hang out with my dad and several fiends in elk camp. We fished one
afternoon at a small stocked Forest Service lake up in the mountains and had a
blast, mostly catching dozens of 6 to 12 inch rainbows. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nice Brown trout from the South Fork of the Platte River</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After Elk Camp I headed to the Lake George through Buena
Vista. I really wanted to
fish the South Platte so I wasn’t going to spend much time in Buena Vista. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What a difference a
few years and a new sales person can make</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the
Ark Anglers fly shop in Buena Vista. In 2009, my dad and I stopped in there
with the intent of fishing in the area and was greeted with one of the biggest
assholes I have ever met working in a fly shop. It was the first time I was
ever told that unless I wanted to buy their guiding service there was no reason
to fish the Arkansas River. Needless to say I walked out and didn’t buy a ting from
him. Fast-forward 6 years to 2015 and I found myself in Buena Vista again. As I
said I was headed to the South Platte, but I needed a bottle of fly floatant so
I gritted my teeth and walked back into the ArkAnglers flyshop. This time was
completely different. The young man working in the fly shop was incredibly
personable and fun to talk with. By the time it was all over he had sold me on
the Arkansas River, described to me several places to fish and had talked me
into spending some time checking out the area. I didn’t stay and fish, but he
talked into spending enough time there that I have decided that it is truly
worthy of heading back there in the future. And while you are there give
ArkAnglers a chance. They seem to be a completely different fly shop now than
they were during my first experience with them back in 2009. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a problem with Colorado. There are so many great
places to fish and I typically have very little time to fish them. I just need
to figure out how to make a living spending my time on the stream. However, if
it was that easy everyone would be doing it.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from camp in Eleven Mile Canyon</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I rolled into Eleven Mile Canyon on the South Fork of the
Platte River around noon. After paying my $6 to the Forest Service I headed up
the canyon on what had to be the absolutely worst roads of the trip. It was
eleven miles of washboard gravel roads. They were the kind of roads you
actually have to speed up to drive on because slow speeds actually make it
worse.<span> </span>I drove about half way up the
canyon and pulled over to fish. As I hit the stream the fish were rising for
Tricos. I hop scotched up the stream hitting each of the fishing holes that
looked good and didn’t have other fishermen in them. I managed to land a couple
browns on dry flies during the hatch then switched to a nymphing rig with a #14
prince, #18 harvester and a #20 RS2 under and indicator. That seemed to do well
the rest of the day as I landed several browns. About ½ hour before dark the
BWO hatch began and the water boiled with rising trout. Of course, in the
half-dark I could not find any BWO’s in my box, but I did entice a few browns
with a Trico.<span> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BWO hatch in Eleven Mile Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleven Mile Canyon on the South Fork of the Platte River</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next morning proved to be a repeat of the night before.
As long as the water was in the shade the BWO’s were hatching. Fish were rising
everywhere, but with the extra light they were a bit smarter to my Trico
substitute. I finally found a couple BWO’s in my fly box. Of course they were
about twice the size of what was hatching, but it was all I had. I finally
started to hit a few fish and eventually landed a decent 12-inch cutthroat. As
the sun hit the water the fish went back sub-surface. This coincided with the
time I need to go and break camp to head back to Missouri. I learned it was 15
hours from the head of Eleven Mile Canyon to the doorstep of my house and that
included a 45-minute side excursion when I missed the turnoff at Kit Carson,
Colorado.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nice Cutthroat from the South Platte</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
While it is flat and seems featureless. There is
some pretty cool things to be seen in eastern Colorado and Western Kansas,
especially around sunset.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KPAT6a0L6EY/Vjq0ssOwauI/AAAAAAAABxg/34k-QIUIvlg/s1600/IMG_5904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KPAT6a0L6EY/Vjq0ssOwauI/AAAAAAAABxg/34k-QIUIvlg/s400/IMG_5904.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Something about the vastness of Eastern Colorado</span></span></td></tr>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-57194874092865424702015-09-25T19:34:00.000-05:002015-09-25T19:34:49.319-05:00Wyoming/Colorado - Day 4<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After fishing in Wyoming we headed back to Loveland. On day
four Darrick had to go back to the real world of work for a few hours. We
decided to fish locally and catch up after he got off work. I took off up the
Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park and the area of Rocky Mountain National Park.
I found the local fly shop and grabbed my Colorado tag. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Upper Section of the Big Thompson River, near Estes Park, Colorado</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I always try to support local fly shops and at the same time
try to give an honest review of any shop I go into. I found Kirk’s Fly Shop in
Estes Park to be an awesome shop that had everything you could ever need or
imagine for both fly fishing and backpacking. The prices are on the higher end,
but they are in a tourist town, I guess I can understand that. They have to
make their living in about 6 months. You can even rent rods and waders. They
have some really neat art work on the walls, but they are mostly priced for
tourist. Ultimately, what it boils down to…if you need it they will have it and
while their prices may be on the higher end they are still cheaper than the
Grey Reef Fly Shop in Alcova, Wyoming. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They did have one downfall. They had some young twit selling
license who you could tell didn’t want to be there and was pissed about it. The
guy in front of me asked the young man if he had any advice on where to fish.
The twit snidely told him “everywhere…if there is water there is fish in it.” I
also found it odd that a worker in a local fly shop was wearing a Cabela’s
t-shirt and ball cap. I guess it was some great act of defiance or something.
My advice is to not waste your time talking to rude twit with the Cabela’s ball
cap on. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Typical Brown landed in the Big Thompson River</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally, I am headed to the Big Thompson. Wasn’t real sure
where to go so I found a wide spot on the shoulder and pulled over. It was
small mountain stream fishing just like you imagined and have read about so
many times. I caught all browns, which kind of surprised me. I hadn’t done any
research on the Big Thompson, but I guess I was expecting Cutthroats. None of
the fish I landed were giants, mostly in the 12 to 14 inch range. I did have a
couple hooked that probably would have run 16 to 18 inches, but like every
great fish story they got away. I started at the top and fished my way down to
Drake where I was to meet Darrick after work. My usual Elk Hair Caddis with a
nymph dropper seemed to work pretty well, but for some of the deeper holes a
double nymph with a little more weight work best. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rXa66hnz-44/VgXl1iO1huI/AAAAAAAABgE/freYfpKCBpY/s1600/P8310043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rXa66hnz-44/VgXl1iO1huI/AAAAAAAABgE/freYfpKCBpY/s400/P8310043.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Darrick fishing near Drake. He is pretty tough. There is no way I could wet wade in that cold water. I guess if you live there you might get used to it. BRRRRR!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Newly repaired section of the Big Thompson river near Drake, Colorado</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span>The road runs right along the river and is a
beautiful drive. The river was scoured out from the heavy flooding they had two
summers ago. You could see where parts of the road had been rebuilt. Entire
houses were washed away and every bridge over the river was new. Below Drake is
where the worst of the flooding occurred. The river had been completely rebuilt
and engineered. Darrick said fishing had not been too good below Drake, but we
checked it out just to see. While we didn’t catch anything we did have a couple
hits and I saw some skins where stoneflies had crawled up to molt. So life is
coming back into the stream. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some life coming back to the lower end of the Big Thompson River near Loveland, Colorado</span></span></td></tr>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-37767459349126658872015-09-25T19:10:00.000-05:002015-09-25T19:19:37.918-05:00Wyoming/Colorado 2015 - Day Three<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The first thing on the morning of day three we
were back at the Meadows area of Fremont Canyon. Unlike the evening before, the
caddis were nowhere to be found so we started nymphing, mostly a Prince with a
RS2 or Harvester midge dropper. We only had until noon to fish, but we got
lucky and it clouded up a bit and even showered a couple times. I guess the
fish like it because day three was one of those memorable days of fishing you
never forget. For me it was the day I landed my largest wild trout ever. It
measured right at 24 inches. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RgVcCl45mBs/VgXhAlk0aGI/AAAAAAAABfQ/MmVHnjYPhNI/s1600/IMG_5682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RgVcCl45mBs/VgXhAlk0aGI/AAAAAAAABfQ/MmVHnjYPhNI/s400/IMG_5682.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is my largest wild trout ever. It is as large as my net which measures 24 inches</span></span></td></tr>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But day three was defiantly Darrick’s day. He
landed 6 or 7 fish all in the 20 to 24 inch range and hooked into several more. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1i74pUX4FUA/VgXhAL1xJnI/AAAAAAAABfU/_cScxrzqtQw/s1600/IMG_5693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1i74pUX4FUA/VgXhAL1xJnI/AAAAAAAABfU/_cScxrzqtQw/s400/IMG_5693.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of Darrick's nice Rainbows</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_pS3P0zf6c/VgXg_r8NP9I/AAAAAAAABfM/NmnAHPXH1N0/s1600/IMG_5694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_pS3P0zf6c/VgXg_r8NP9I/AAAAAAAABfM/NmnAHPXH1N0/s400/IMG_5694.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Darrick accidentally releasing that same rainbow</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> More on day four of my Colorado/Wyoming trip coming soon. </span></span>Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-89489497655802889092015-09-23T20:28:00.000-05:002015-09-25T19:18:53.216-05:00Wyoming/Colorado Day Two<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xr5he1Mv1wU/VgNOyKhBh2I/AAAAAAAABdQ/K7CWjKuGJew/s1600/IMG_5613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xr5he1Mv1wU/VgNOyKhBh2I/AAAAAAAABdQ/K7CWjKuGJew/s400/IMG_5613.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wyoming Sunrise from Camp. Smoke from the wildfires out west made the skies really cool looking.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second day was much more relaxing. There were no long
road trips to get anywhere so we started exploring. Thirty six miles from
Alcova is what is regarded as the best place to fish on the North Platte River.
The tailwater below Kortez Dam starts what is called the “Miracle Mile”. We
headed up there in the morning. It was a beautiful drive across huge expanses
of high prairie. For a guy from the Ozarks it was truly something inspiring to
see. After driving about 46 miles on the gravel road we decided that we had in
fact missed our turn off. We saw the sign pointing to Kortez Dam, but the
Miracle Mile was never mentioned. So after a back track, we got to the stream.
After doing some exploring along the stream and talking to a couple locals we
hit the river. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIcJGFDak5U/VgNPJTRIpsI/AAAAAAAABd0/tiLpVYB2pWM/s1600/IMG_5545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIcJGFDak5U/VgNPJTRIpsI/AAAAAAAABd0/tiLpVYB2pWM/s400/IMG_5545.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Never really know what you are going to see in this place</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Much like the day before, as we sat putting on our waders we
watched a guy land three fish while nymphing just downstream from where we were
sitting. Again, we were psyched! We fished half the day in several spots and
hooked up with fish a time or two. Not quite the “Miracle” stream that the
signs said, but a beautiful place none the less. Come to find out a Trico hatch
had just finished a couple weeks before and everyone said the 93 degree days
had sure slowed the fishing down. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uK2V9IoT6V8/VgNPHveVVjI/AAAAAAAABdg/sPaWVW50rxA/s1600/IMG_5674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uK2V9IoT6V8/VgNPHveVVjI/AAAAAAAABdg/sPaWVW50rxA/s400/IMG_5674.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Meadows area of Fremont Canyon</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-leOaFqlc35w/VgNPybXDxTI/AAAAAAAABeE/S8_rmxDfGlY/s1600/P8290027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-leOaFqlc35w/VgNPybXDxTI/AAAAAAAABeE/S8_rmxDfGlY/s400/P8290027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another from the Meadows area of Fremont Canyon</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt2WbRHe71o/VgNPKCoI4qI/AAAAAAAABd4/b0A6u3i3cTM/s1600/IMG_5750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt2WbRHe71o/VgNPKCoI4qI/AAAAAAAABd4/b0A6u3i3cTM/s400/IMG_5750.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Darrick fishing the head of Fremont Canyon. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>In the afternoon we headed closer to Alcova to an area
called Fremont Canyon, more specifically, the “Meadows” above Fremont Canyon.
The stream was considerable different and when I say different I mean smaller.
The Meadows was more like fishing the upper Current, only it was Wyoming, the
fish were really big, and at the end of the meadow’s the stream flowed into a
canyon with 200 to 300 foot high vertical walls. Of course we tried nymphing
and did pretty good. Just as the day before at Grey Reef, as the sun began to
set the brown Caddis hatch started. Needless to say there is nothing more fun
that catching 18 inch fish that are rising to a hatch. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7r9BWz_7Ma4/VgNPK0ihSGI/AAAAAAAABd8/P82CgTh3AaU/s1600/P8290016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7r9BWz_7Ma4/VgNPK0ihSGI/AAAAAAAABd8/P82CgTh3AaU/s400/P8290016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nice Rainbow landed on a EHC in the Meadows area of Fremont Canyon</span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So the morning and the Miracle Mile was kind of a bust. I am
sure we might have caught fish there if we would have hung around longer and
figured them out before we took off. The Meadows of Fremont Canyon on the other
hand was fantastic. We decided to be there first thing on Day Three. So off to
the Sunset Bar and Grill for a burger and a beer.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So ended Day Two</span></div>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-86082505430329253302015-09-17T20:11:00.000-05:002015-09-25T19:19:26.469-05:00Wyoming/Colorado 2015 – Day One<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I started out on a new adventure the last part of August. I
have been fishing at different places out west before so that part wasn’t
different. What was different was that I had no place to be after the first
three days of my trip. Remember the old western movie called “Have Gun will
Travel?” Well, I was have fly rod will travel. I will get to all the coin
tosses and random decisions later. First, let me tell you about Wyoming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0AwZ5lsVeXU/Vfte8E9szPI/AAAAAAAABbw/XG3f3DhTwxU/s1600/IMG_5359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0AwZ5lsVeXU/Vfte8E9szPI/AAAAAAAABbw/XG3f3DhTwxU/s320/IMG_5359.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I drove out to Loveland Colorado and met up with my
friend Darrick. After grabbing some really awesome breakfast burritos, the next
morning we headed from there to the Grey Reef area on the North Platte River
near Alcova, Wyoming. And here started my first adventure…a driftboat. I had
never been in a drift boat much less paddled one on the river. After driving to
Wyoming, going through the whole process of renting the boat, then having to
run to the local quick shop to talk to Ed (the guy who was to shuttle my truck
down to the take out point) and then launching, it was well after 1:00 pm. Did
I mention that it was a 93 degree day? We sat as we launched the boat and
watched a lady land two nice rainbows. Darrick and I were psyched. We took off. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XbbFUdq_bqw/Vfte8hsIonI/AAAAAAAABcE/V0b-g_Wzs4g/s1600/IMG_5385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XbbFUdq_bqw/Vfte8hsIonI/AAAAAAAABcE/V0b-g_Wzs4g/s400/IMG_5385.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My truck looks pretty good with a drifboat behind it</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn’t long until it was my turn at the oars. Remember
the game PONG? I really figured I would be kind of like the little ball that
bounced back and forth between the banks, but I surprised myself. It was more
like a muted PONG. I kept us off the bank, but there were a few times that
Darrick had to cast off the opposite side of the boat because I had flipped of
around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As with any hot summer day we drifted nymphs. We hit a few
fish, but never really had anything close to the boat. One nice thing about
nymph fishing is that you can sort of do it one handed. Did I mention that the
driftboat manufacturers did a really good job of locating can holders right
there on the casting platform? That was a good thing because it was a hot day.
Luckily, the North Platte River has no rapids or complex maneuvering required. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, as the sun began to drop and the air started to
cool, the fish started surfacing for emergers. It wasn’t long until we were in
the middle of a really nice evening hatch of brown Caddis. We stopped paddling,
filled our can holders, and started fishing dry flies to rising fish. It was
great. I only landed one rainbow, but I cannot tell out how many time I hooked
up or missed a rising fish. The hatch finally became so heavy that our fly
simply became one among thousands. The fish seemed to get really picky after
that happened. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wQ-LNQbnbqU/Vfte-N5k8nI/AAAAAAAABcg/yS9mxpdaqjI/s1600/IMG_5452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wQ-LNQbnbqU/Vfte-N5k8nI/AAAAAAAABcg/yS9mxpdaqjI/s400/IMG_5452.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rainbow landed on the North Platte River</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So it was nearing dark and we realized that the only map we
had was a brochure from the Grey Reef Fly Shop and Driftboat Rental and it was
pretty simple. The guide at the fly shop said it was about a 6-hour float to
the take out point. From the best of our calculations we had spent about 6
hours and according to our simple little map we were about half way. What did
that mean…Paddling. We paddled and we paddled. The Caddis were hatching and
fish rising all around us, but we paddled. The water was pretty slow so the
current didn’t help us one bit. The one that wasn’t paddling was trying to
lighten the load by emptying the cans that fit into the little can holders. It
was getting pretty dark, but we got kind of lucky…Did I mention it was a full
moon that night? We rolled into the takeout point about dark thirty. We had to
grab lanterns and headlamps so we could see hook up the boat and unpack our
gear. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kHBtyLboGs/Vfte-nDulFI/AAAAAAAABck/qvnIRGt-poA/s1600/IMG_5492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kHBtyLboGs/Vfte-nDulFI/AAAAAAAABck/qvnIRGt-poA/s400/IMG_5492.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Got to love the things you will find on the river back. The dreaded 3-legged dinosaur of the North Platte River. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had no idea where we were. We didn’t know the direction
to Alcova. And worst of all, the last two hours of paddling had negated all the
effects of us trying to empty the cans. What would we do with out GPS? I had
set a GPS waypoint at the fly shop. I just hit return and off we went. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xFJtc5shQz4/Vfte99D908I/AAAAAAAABcc/r-ZRCyZgTA0/s1600/IMG_5434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xFJtc5shQz4/Vfte99D908I/AAAAAAAABcc/r-ZRCyZgTA0/s400/IMG_5434.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What a great view from the river. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I should note that the Sunset Bar and Grill is only place to
eat in Alcova. It is right across from the fly shop…you can’t miss it. It is
also the only place to drink in Alcova. Lucky for us. With diftboat in tow, we
whipped in and tried it out. It was exactly what you would think of from a small
bar in barren south central Wyoming. The place was filled with fly fishermen
from the river and walleye fishermen from the nearby lakes. I guess there isn’t
much to do in Alcova at night because all the guides were hanging out there as
well. There was even this really nice old weathered cowboy at the bar drinking
iced tea and playing the video game. His name was…Cowboy. Who would have
guessed? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One night I had the burger and the next I had the Chicken
Fried Steak. The burger was awesome. I highly recommend it. The CFS I would
warn you against. It may be the best CFS in Wyoming, but because I am from the
south, I know fried foods and in my opinion it lacked a bit. Go for the burger.
It was great. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just past the fly shop is the Pete’s Draw Campground. It recommend
it if you stay in Alcova. About midnight we rolled into camp and took the very
last spot. The full moon helped us out and we made our nest for the evening.
Pete’s Draw is a BLM campground so it does cost $10 a night to camp, but you
are sitting on the banks of the river. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLBsF1_TNzY/Vfte_-2h0eI/AAAAAAAABc0/5-DDy0brBp0/s1600/IMG_5615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLBsF1_TNzY/Vfte_-2h0eI/AAAAAAAABc0/5-DDy0brBp0/s400/IMG_5615.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Full moon setting at sunrise over the North Platte River and Camp...West from Pete's Draw Campground. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5kLFKF5VTA/VftfAS9CVrI/AAAAAAAABc8/P_knd_CCeZ0/s1600/IMG_5625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5kLFKF5VTA/VftfAS9CVrI/AAAAAAAABc8/P_knd_CCeZ0/s400/IMG_5625.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am so jealous. Darrick can sleep anywhere.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Grey Reef Outfitters.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fly Shop Review...Grey Reef Outfitters. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Advise:</b> Great - What they said the fish would hit, they were hitting on. They didn't mention the Caddis hatch, but I am not sure they expected us to be on the river at darkish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cost for boat:</b> Not sure. First time renting a driftboat - $65 for 1/2 day or $120 for all day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cost for Flies:</b> WHEW! they are the only game in town and they know it. Flies started at $2.79 each. Yes, I bought 18 flies just to pay for the advise they gave us and a sticker for my back window. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>SO ENDS DAY ONE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I am never really sure how to write up my fly fishing
adventures. Writing in first person always sounds kind of flighty, but third
person sounds too stuffy. In the end I would rather be thought of as flighty
rather than stuffy. I hope you enjoyed the tale. After writing up the first day
of my adventure I realized I am really full of it and it is going to take more
than a single story to tell you every thing. Hope you enjoy the tale and come
back for more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOT </b></span></div>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-58241567038009209522015-07-27T20:55:00.001-05:002015-07-27T21:00:15.032-05:00Tribute to the VETS<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4WnY6oKDhw/VbbeifJh-wI/AAAAAAAABK0/s6_tYh-ifL4/s1600/old_timer_flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4WnY6oKDhw/VbbeifJh-wI/AAAAAAAABK0/s6_tYh-ifL4/s400/old_timer_flag.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yea, they may look like old timers and I sure did give them a hard time, but here are three Vietnam vets and between them there is probably 75 years of service to the U.S. Navy and the citizens of the United States. It was guys like this that the back of our country was built upon. I thought this photo was a fitting tribute. </span></b></td></tr>
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<br />Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-77893539303754272942015-07-27T20:47:00.001-05:002015-07-27T20:47:41.654-05:00More Driftless Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I got to scouring through my photos and I found a few more that need to be posted from the 2015 Driftless trip. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhVNZrAxwh4/Vbbcq_tQscI/AAAAAAAABKk/X_JTplWrv68/s1600/farkle_game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhVNZrAxwh4/Vbbcq_tQscI/AAAAAAAABKk/X_JTplWrv68/s400/farkle_game.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FARKLE has to be the greatest game ever invented that didn't involve alcohol. lol But there is one thing to remember... Never trust Stinkbug when he is rolling dice. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3fQ2TLpMMA/VbbcqUPI6PI/AAAAAAAABKU/PfI_QqQNAwc/s1600/old_timers_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3fQ2TLpMMA/VbbcqUPI6PI/AAAAAAAABKU/PfI_QqQNAwc/s400/old_timers_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many old timers does it take to tie on a fly. </td></tr>
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<br />Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-1572573883916784712015-06-25T19:52:00.001-05:002015-06-25T19:52:42.272-05:00More Driftless 3.0<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I got a great CD of in the mail from Floppy today so I thought I would share a few of the great photos. Floppy has a knack of catching you at the right moment. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7r2EUNnu7C4/VYycoTIqTHI/AAAAAAAABF8/QWH54gapBF4/s1600/who_farted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7r2EUNnu7C4/VYycoTIqTHI/AAAAAAAABF8/QWH54gapBF4/s400/who_farted.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This one is titled..."WHO FARTED". As you can tell from the grin on his face my bet is on Stinkbug. Floppy and Q-ball seem to be trying to hold their breath. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bHrUcsIWaqg/VYyckqdvH5I/AAAAAAAABFw/QUjtExFduho/s1600/itch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bHrUcsIWaqg/VYyckqdvH5I/AAAAAAAABFw/QUjtExFduho/s400/itch.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not exactly sure what is happening here. Stinkbug must have an itch. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pp-v7jXzMQ4/VYycoObOf8I/AAAAAAAABGA/EDbhuSvGtgQ/s1600/pierces_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pp-v7jXzMQ4/VYycoObOf8I/AAAAAAAABGA/EDbhuSvGtgQ/s400/pierces_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Floppy landed a great shot of Me and Stinkbug </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7ss9AHXMko/VYygaGDuQ7I/AAAAAAAABGY/VOABGFfw_w0/s1600/floppy_selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7ss9AHXMko/VYygaGDuQ7I/AAAAAAAABGY/VOABGFfw_w0/s400/floppy_selfie.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Floppy's very first SELFIE. An old dude with a smart phone is not always pretty. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFF_GaydkuI/VYycnpgnyKI/AAAAAAAABF4/4X9_xj8Lyn4/s1600/pierces_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFF_GaydkuI/VYycnpgnyKI/AAAAAAAABF4/4X9_xj8Lyn4/s400/pierces_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you play FARKLE you must keep a constant eye on the one around you. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4eIyT7ldNs/VYygrVk_NtI/AAAAAAAABGc/mn0rEKXkx6Q/s1600/camp_life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4eIyT7ldNs/VYygrVk_NtI/AAAAAAAABGc/mn0rEKXkx6Q/s400/camp_life.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Camp Life</span></td></tr>
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<br />Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-60157270707555540232015-06-21T13:40:00.000-05:002015-06-21T13:40:12.888-05:00Driftless 3.0<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We started off
with a bit of good news/bad news this year. Sasquatch, the man who swore he
would never reproduce, ended up eating his words. That is the Good news.
Tadpole (the wee ones name) showed up a couple months before our 2015 fishing
trip trip, so Sasquatch decided to stay home and give momma a hand. That was
the bad news. Another bit of Good news…Tadpole is a beautiful baby that takes
after her momma. Good thing too. Imagine if she would have come out with a goat
beard and dreadlocks. Hmmmm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So to fill
Sasquatch’s spot Q-ball, Stinkbug and I looked high and low for a replacement.
In the end it was mostly the low places that we found the most suitable
candidates of our fishing group. This is where we found “Floppy” Thompson. Now,
Floppy it turned out was eerily similar to Q-ball and Stinkbug. First off he
was a Navy SeaBee, secondly, he is an old guy and thirdly</span>,<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> he cannot hear shit without his hearing aids in. Boy, did he fit
right in with our group. Oh, I forgot to mention that he has a plethora of
really bad jokes that he can call up on demand from the neither reaches of his
mind. So the group was set. It was me and the geriatric three amigos.We are hoping that Sasquatch will be able to join us next year, but I am not sure the state of Minnesota could handle five of us at one time. LOL</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVaO4nFcCLc/VYb-VYTJE7I/AAAAAAAAAjo/9qUcLgWbUEk/s1600/P6060683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVaO4nFcCLc/VYb-VYTJE7I/AAAAAAAAAjo/9qUcLgWbUEk/s400/P6060683.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stinkbug, Floppy, Q-Ball and Boot</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Driftless Brown </b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Why Floppy?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Most of the
members of the group have a nickname based on a physical characteristic they
possess. Q-Ball is as bald as a baby’s ass, Sasquatch is as hairy as…well
Sasquatch, and Stinkbug is not so much named for a characteristic that he
possesses, but rather one that he is able to produce, seemingly at will and with
varying degrees of lethalness. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I struggled at
first coming up with Floppy’s nickname. At first I thought of “Old Dude”, but
then I found out he was the youngest of the geriatric three I had with me at
the spry age of 67 years old. The next thought I had was for a nickname was
“earplug” because he couldn’t hear anything, but I hated giving someone a
nickname based on his dis-ability, unlike Stinkbug who is actually named after
his ability. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As we sat down on
the first day to put on our waders and go fishing…BOOM! Out comes this hat.
What it really reminded me of was “KARL”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> the Grounds
Keeper. You remember Bill Murray’s character KARL the Grounds Keeper from the
movie “CADDYSHACK” and his obsession with getting that evil gopher. The funny
looking floppy hat that Karl wore in the movie had been transcended to
Minnesota and was now resting on Floppy Thompson’s head. So thus we dubbed him
“FLOPPY” and his name has been set. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-wra4M5QMc/VYb--PqTs1I/AAAAAAAAAjw/R8wK-4YxncY/s1600/P6070691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-wra4M5QMc/VYb--PqTs1I/AAAAAAAAAjw/R8wK-4YxncY/s400/P6070691.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Floppy Thompson - That hat says it all!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Driftless 3.0
Fishing Report</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So how was the
fishing you ask? In a word…Great. This was our third year to head into the
Driftless area to fly fish and it was the best yet. Two years ago we came to
Minnesota after a historic flood that had scoured everything and took most of
the aquatic life with it. The fishing was good and we had a great time, but the
fish were a bit on the small size. Last year we took off to Viroqua and fished
the Kickapoo and Coulee’s in SE Wisconsin. The fishing was good, but the
camping accommodations did lack a little bit and you had to drive a half hour
one way to get to the stream. The fishing this year in Minnesota topped them
all. First, we hit great weather, which always helps. Secondly, the trout were
hungry. We had a great time fishing dry flies such as Hendrickson, Caddis and
Sulphurs in the late mornings and early evenings. During the warmer and sunnier
parts of the day we had success on small nymphs and stripping leeches. And
finally, the state of Minnesota installed a slot limit a few years ago on the
Root River, which protects trout between 12 and 16 inches. This seems to have
really made a different. We landed several 13-16 inch fish this year. In 2013,
I landed only one fish over 12 inches. I would say their plan worked and the
fishing has improved drastically. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kh5WqSKvJ9w/VYcAJ9y3rwI/AAAAAAAAAkM/-S5ahzC8dr4/s1600/20150608_182142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kh5WqSKvJ9w/VYcAJ9y3rwI/AAAAAAAAAkM/-S5ahzC8dr4/s400/20150608_182142.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another Driftless Brown Trout</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TabkNi1VhBQ/VYcAYRvBPPI/AAAAAAAAAkk/lqAcKCdta1s/s1600/hendrickson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TabkNi1VhBQ/VYcAYRvBPPI/AAAAAAAAAkk/lqAcKCdta1s/s400/hendrickson.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Wasn't hard to figure out what they were rising to. These Hendrickson's were everywhere</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ojSN1XLZp2c/VYcAXwf4gVI/AAAAAAAAAkY/gjQ3BCPRmNo/s1600/IMG_1188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ojSN1XLZp2c/VYcAXwf4gVI/AAAAAAAAAkY/gjQ3BCPRmNo/s400/IMG_1188.jpg" width="298" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I told you these guys were old. Naps were quite commons.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFck7PEo8hw/VYcAXEKEFmI/AAAAAAAAAkU/wtrQigG6KGo/s1600/P6060674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFck7PEo8hw/VYcAXEKEFmI/AAAAAAAAAkU/wtrQigG6KGo/s400/P6060674.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We have to say thanks you Ms. Laura for keeping us well fed</b>. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqhp-T5eaSU/VYcDIFEWbCI/AAAAAAAAAlM/wYFqxKOjtiw/s1600/20150607_071233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqhp-T5eaSU/VYcDIFEWbCI/AAAAAAAAAlM/wYFqxKOjtiw/s400/20150607_071233.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Have to thank MOM also. She knows my favorite</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KA0kcZxzLDw/VYcACALfNJI/AAAAAAAAAkE/p0F40z3fmFg/s1600/20150609_153007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KA0kcZxzLDw/VYcACALfNJI/AAAAAAAAAkE/p0F40z3fmFg/s400/20150609_153007.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>No camp is complete without several rousing games of FARKLE dice. I am sure they heard us hooting and hollering all over the campground</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fly Shop
review of the Driftless Fly Fishing Company </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Driftless Fly
Fishing Company is an ORVIS flyshop located in Preston, Minnesota only a half
block off of the town square. It is a small fly shop, which has only been open
for about a year, but they seem to be moving forward. They have fairly odd
hours during the week (7:00 to 9:00 pm), but they are open all day Saturday and
most of the day on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their stock
seems to be limited and they don’t have everything, but what can you expect
from a small shop. They have a small selection of the standard of flies from
the area and the prices seeme din line with any other flyshop. They also have
the necessities to handle any emergency such as waders, boots, and the like. I
only noticed about a dozen fly rods in the shop. I didn’t really look at the
prices, but they are an Orvis shop so I would imagine you could expect the
Orvis prices. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T2hkRKQw47w/VYcBI-4-TQI/AAAAAAAAAk8/DfOHWD4TU4k/s1600/P6070708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T2hkRKQw47w/VYcBI-4-TQI/AAAAAAAAAk8/DfOHWD4TU4k/s400/P6070708.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Floppy landing a fish he hooked on a dry fly</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I believe in
shopping the local fly shops when I go into any new area. Between the four of
us we spend about $100 on a couple dozen flies, hats and T-shirts for those
back home. The owner is friendly and willing to give some general information,
tips and pointers for fishing in the area. The information given was something
that any experienced flyfishermen could figure with time, but talking with the
local flyshop usually speeds up the process. That being said, they do run a
guide service out of the shop so I am sure they hold information close to their
vest and part it out to their own clients. I don’t blame them a bit, that is
just business. They currently don’t have their Minnesota fishing license so if
you need a fishing tag or trout stamp you will need to go somewhere else. I
personally recommend the Quick shop in downtown Wykoff. It is close to the
campground and they are super friendly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Driftless Fly Fishing Company is a nice little shop that I am sure
will get better with time. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZzmg5eLkno/VYcA2r2FPyI/AAAAAAAAAkw/gWCHOAirJwQ/s1600/sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZzmg5eLkno/VYcA2r2FPyI/AAAAAAAAAkw/gWCHOAirJwQ/s400/sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>In closing. Went up there and fished for the week only to find out that humans are not allowed to fish. Seems only the fish can go fishing. Who knew?</b></span></td></tr>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-34717761237345413492015-04-05T12:23:00.000-05:002015-04-05T12:23:10.768-05:00Blue Ribbon Streams for Wild Trout <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4HA4oxCC9ww/VSFtvdCwgnI/AAAAAAAAAi0/XqCrYva_kWQ/s1600/small_trout_hand_4_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4HA4oxCC9ww/VSFtvdCwgnI/AAAAAAAAAi0/XqCrYva_kWQ/s1600/small_trout_hand_4_2015.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></b></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Typical Wild trout from one of Missouri's Blue Ribbon Streams</b></span></span></td></tr>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It wasn’t too long ago that Missouri went
through a pretty bad drought. As a result some of the smaller wild streams lost
a considerable number fish. Slowly but surely their numbers have been
increasing and with that come size as well. A couple years ago catching a couple
6 to 9 inch rainbow trout was a good day. Here are some photos from yesterday.
Looks like the fish population has recovered a bit from the drought. That is good news indeed.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fLTM62R4Bs/VSFtvSrC3UI/AAAAAAAAAiw/9giKI2uJF5U/s1600/big_trout_4_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fLTM62R4Bs/VSFtvSrC3UI/AAAAAAAAAiw/9giKI2uJF5U/s1600/big_trout_4_2015.jpg" height="220" width="400" /></a></span></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nice 12-inch Rainbow Trout from Blue Ribbon Stream</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tly4GtFpkts/VSFtu0cVHtI/AAAAAAAAAis/LuaP2yQ83wQ/s1600/big_trout_hand_4_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tly4GtFpkts/VSFtu0cVHtI/AAAAAAAAAis/LuaP2yQ83wQ/s1600/big_trout_hand_4_2015.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nice 12-inch Rainbow Trout from Blue Ribbon Stream. Just to prove that the previous photo was not taken with a miniature fly rod. LOL</span></span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-89389893237192180562015-03-18T19:23:00.000-05:002015-03-18T20:42:25.066-05:00Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Classes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h1>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fly Tying Classes</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you have ever wanted to learn how to fly fish or tie your
own flies, now is your chance. Our dates have been set for this year’s fly
tying classes at Westover Farms. The dates are <b>April 25, May 30, June 20,
September 12, and October 10</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
classes cost $75 and include 4-hours of fly tying instruction, all tying
materials, lunch, and a ½ day fishing on the beautiful Westover Farms stream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can’t make it on those dates? Prefer one on one fly tying
instruction? Contact me and we can set something up.</span></div>
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<h1>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fly Fishing Instruction</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One-day Fly Fishing classes are available on demand
and start at $235 per person. This includes daily fishing fee, equipment rental
and materials such as fly rod, reel, leaders, tippet, and flies. Any required license,
daily tags and meals will be the responsibility of the student and can vary
depending on location. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To sign up for a scheduled class, learn more details or to set up private instruction contact me at bootpierce2000@gmail.com.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IFd-mYbvwhA/VQopbzxGpxI/AAAAAAAAAiY/LAT7y08j94M/s1600/IMG_20131230_180133%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IFd-mYbvwhA/VQopbzxGpxI/AAAAAAAAAiY/LAT7y08j94M/s1600/IMG_20131230_180133%5B1%5D.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-56874636520850519382015-03-17T20:50:00.000-05:002015-03-17T20:50:34.713-05:00Training Wheel and the PINK SQUIRREL Once again I have proven myself to be one of the world's worst Bloggers. It seems like I get side tracked and never find time to post anything new. I would love to be able to blame my wife and all the honey-do projects she gives me or the office for all the overtime they give me, but in reality the blame is all me. I have writers block or I drink too much wine and get writer block from the wine I am not sure which.<br />
<br />
I have been spending time at the tying table getting ready for our trip to the Driftless Area in Minnesota this summer. I tied up a bunch of what they call the "Training Wheel." This pattern came from the Driftless Angler in Viroqua, WI. Great hopper pattern for anywhere in the Mid-west. There is also the Pink Squirrels. Tied few of those. You have to believe. <br />
<br />
One of the really cool thing about heading up the Minnesota this summer is we get to hook up with some great friends that I have not seen scene the mid-1980's. I am looking forward to that. CAN'T WAIT!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0wWrWhfEAQ/VQjU-bMEIXI/AAAAAAAAAh0/XRkn2fVaRUw/s1600/IMG_20150314_095850%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0wWrWhfEAQ/VQjU-bMEIXI/AAAAAAAAAh0/XRkn2fVaRUw/s1600/IMG_20150314_095850%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Training Wheel</td></tr>
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Of course now that spring is approaching it will be even harder to slow
down and BLOG, I have a yard that needs work and several upcoming fly
fishing and tying classes, but I will try my best.<br />
<br />
Enjoy,<br />
Boot<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QYDXIjYB90/VQjWnN6C1rI/AAAAAAAAAiA/_bg0uLydiDQ/s1600/pink_squirrel_01%5B1%5D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QYDXIjYB90/VQjWnN6C1rI/AAAAAAAAAiA/_bg0uLydiDQ/s1600/pink_squirrel_01%5B1%5D.jpeg" height="320" width="190" /></a></div>
<br />Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-65196646828718677322014-12-29T19:37:00.002-06:002014-12-29T19:37:17.622-06:00"Day of the Dead" TRUCK BLINGI am kind of a fly shop rat and love collecting new "BLING" for my old truck. What a great find in my mailbox this afternoon. This one is a really cool "Day of the Dead" brown trout from McLellan's fly shop in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Thanks Cheri and Bill McDonald.<br />
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Darrick sent me this really cool one a couple weeks ago then tells me he is moving away to Colorado. Sure hated losing a good fishing buddies. <br />
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-90074522450107219262014-12-18T20:12:00.001-06:002014-12-18T20:12:39.377-06:00Dang Dogs!What in the world makes a dog think that leaders and tippets taste good? At least I found all the string and luckily averted a trip to the vet.<br />
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<br />Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-88283926048465186152014-12-16T20:04:00.001-06:002014-12-16T20:04:44.389-06:00December MorningToo much flooring and not enough fishing lately, but finally hit the water at Maramec Spring last Sunday. A much needed break!<br />
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<br />Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-12516465890142390262014-11-30T00:44:00.000-06:002014-11-30T00:44:10.553-06:00Great Fish PornSo I have to give a shout out to a couple great fishing buddies for some really nice fish they landed in the last week or so. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-px1bA75c1jE/VHq7Oyku0RI/AAAAAAAAAf0/ZQDjYCtm4pQ/s1600/IMG_8103%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-px1bA75c1jE/VHq7Oyku0RI/AAAAAAAAAf0/ZQDjYCtm4pQ/s1600/IMG_8103%5B1%5D.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing Buddy Ken with a nice Rainbow</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have to give pops his due for a nice fish</td></tr>
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<br />Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868822355025222341.post-44433558930157274282014-11-29T23:53:00.005-06:002014-11-29T23:55:02.932-06:00Back on the Water<span style="font-size: large;">These last few months have really sucked when it came to fishing time. I spent three weeks in October guiding so I was on the stream, but not really fishing and the rest tied up with classwork, grading papers, installing new flooring in the house and other projects. To get back on the water today felt really great. No real BIG fish stories to tell and didn't land anything huge, but the weather was wonderful (63 degrees) for a November day and the fishing was great. Here is some proof. Landed this nice rainbow down at Westover Farms.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J4UwW89t6kc/VHqwLtg_4QI/AAAAAAAAAfk/uxRGh9u0mSc/s1600/westover_trout_11_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J4UwW89t6kc/VHqwLtg_4QI/AAAAAAAAAfk/uxRGh9u0mSc/s1600/westover_trout_11_14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nice Westover Rainbow landed on a Blonde Leech</span></td></tr>
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Rainwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17346106092067595523noreply@blogger.com0