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Tag Archives: Cutthroat Trout

Rio Grande Cutthroat Country – Day 3

October 31, 2023
Adventure, Coldwater, Exploring, Fish, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Freshwater, Hiking, Outdoors, Travel, Wade Fishing
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Day 3 was a long day for us, but it was so worth it. Rio Grande cutthroat trout were still the target, but we had crossed state lines and were now fishing in southern Colorado. This was a new watershed for us and one that was far more open and inviting than the tight little bluelines we fished in northern New Mexico.

We parked at the trailhead access and unfortunately the lot was not empty. It wasn’t crowded, but it looked like we’d run into another fisherman or two. Then a van pulled up while we were rigging up and a whole family with fishing rods dumped out. Now I knew for sure we’d run into other anglers. We had to hike in to get to where wanted to fish and these folks appeared to be very casual anglers at best, so hopefully we weren’t vying for the same water.

We passed the family on the trail as we were hiking in. Then we ran into two anglers on the hike in and while chatting with one of them we learned that they had fished the same stream the two days prior and done well. Now they were fishing a section downstream and they pointed out where they planned to finish the day, which wasn’t much further, and if we started there we’d have fresh water (at least as today was concerned).

I wasn’t really sure why’d you fish the same small stream three days in a row, especially with all the other great water in the area, but after our day of fishing was over, I came to understand why.

To be continued….

Northern Idaho – Day 5 – One Last Hurrah

October 12, 2023
Adventure, Beer, Camping, Coldwater, Exploring, Fish, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Food and Drink, Freshwater, Outdoors, Travel, Wade Fishing
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Packing up to leave is always bittersweet for me. On the one hand I’m usually ready to be home and see my family by the end of every trip. On the other hand getting back home means getting back to the daily grind and the stresses that go with it. Plus I hate the activity of packing up, I’d rather be fishing.

We did do a little more fishing before we headed out. I had to make one more try at a bull trout before putting the fly rod up to travel home. I chose a juicy looking roadside run to pick apart with a streamer and did manage to fool a cutthroat, but no bulls were raised.

Up above the juicy run was this cliff face that produced several fish for Marcus and I, much more productive than the run below. We headed out shortly after fishing those two spots. It was time to head back to civilization and talk to the families we had not spoken with since arriving at our campsite.

Milk shakes were secured at the nearest gas station and breweries were visited once we were back in Spokane – milk shakes and beer – staples for any western native trout trip! Stay tuned for a report from this year’s trip to Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado!

Northern Idaho – Day 4 – More Big River Action

October 11, 2023
Adventure, Bucket List, Camping, Coldwater, Exploring, Fish, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Freshwater, Outdoors, Travel, Wade Fishing
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What a hiatus, I know. Haven’t made much of an effort to sit down and write in quite a while and it honestly hasn’t bothered me one bit. I can promise to do better, but I know better than that, anyway, here’s some more from our trip to Idaho back in 2022.

The next day was spent fishing with Marcus back on the big river. I don’t remember much from the day, but I do remember the fishing being so-so (compared to other days) for me, Marcus doing a good bit of Euro nymphing, and we actually ran into another fisherman later that morning (we were fishing behind someone). Apparently the day was completely overcast too according to the pics. My memory fails me at times and this is certainly one of those times. I should probably do a better job of documenting these trips shortly after they’re completed.

I also remember the arduous hike from the river to get back to the road when we were ready to make a move; which is from where the above perspective was shot. We fished a section of river in the morning that curved away from the road, parking at one end where it was relatively easy to enter the river at and hiking back when the road and the river met back up a good bit upstream – the only issue with that was the elevation was quite a bit different, as you can see. Probably not an issue for folks who are in shape and are use to elevation change, but I don’t resemble that remark.

We made another move up river and if I remember right the fishing improved a bit, to the point where I quit taking pictures of every fish. It’s hard for me to get to that point when I travel far to fish, but it does happen.

Here’s your sign! It was another great day spent on a river in Northern Idaho. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to experience catching a bull trout in bull trout country on this day. We had one more morning to go before it was time for us make our way back to Spokane.