New Foam Hoppers

Just got bored of tying lots of the same patterns, so I played with a couple different foam hopper/cricket patterns.

Secondhand River Updates

I haven't had much of a chance to fish lately, thankfully I have been staying busy with my work out here. But I have been talking to my brother, and my roommates, who have been fishing a lot in the last few weeks. 

It has been really warm as of late, and with that we are seeing some different bugs emerging in force. I have been hearing of good to great midge hatches. And marginal to good Blue Winged Olives hatching. This is good to hear, as it means some good dry fly fishing, and hopefully some healthy fish looking up. 

With the good weather, I am hoping to be seeing some of the similar hatches to what we saw year before last. A good early season flying ant hatch. And hopefully a good prolific Cicada hatch. But as with every year, the hatches are different every year, and we will see what it is like when the time comes.

Status Update

Hey there all followers of my little rants on the goings on of my life as a guide on the Green river. I hope that this winter has treated you well so far. And that with spring on it's way my thoughts and dreams turn more and more to life on the Green.

I have been pursuing a route of financial independence that has left me absolutely exhausted, and energized at the same time. I have been working a job driving a truck hauling water in the oil fields of Northeastern Utah. The work sucks, but the money is good. And because I live rent free with my folks, I have been able to pay off a lot of bills that have been plaguing me as of late. I am now almost ready, except for saving the money for a decent down payment, to buy a new car. One that will be reliable and fun to drive so that I will be able to guide effectively and in style. 

My plans for the moment are to, after purchasing a new car, to begin the 2009 guide season in the second or fourth week of April, depending on how the bookings are looking for that time. I will then proceed to guide through the month of October, where I will then go to Mexico for a nice vacation fishing for roosterfish, and a few other bluewater species for a week. Before I then head to Vernal to drive in the oilfield again for the winter.

All in all it should be a good year, with lots of fishing, and lots to learn and be gained. I can't wait. I'll see you out there.

Status Update

My friend gave me the idea to make a slight update. I haven't had a chance to do any fishing for the last few weeks, and it sucks. I wish that I could go and spend some time on the river. But, I have to work, make some money, and get some bills paid. I need to do all of this so that I have a job this spring. So I am driving a water truck in the oil fields (technically gas) of Utah. The pay is good, but the hours are long, and no where near as much fun as guiding. But with the good pay, I should have the money to buy a new car in time for guide season this year. A good rig, that I can rely on to get me where I need to go, in style and comfort. Even if this means that I am going to get a bit of a later start to the season this year. For all of you looking to come fishing with my, at the moment my start date should be somewhere around April 25th of this year. So I look forward to fishing with all of you. And wish that you all have a good winter, and don't go too crazy, and get some good fishing in while the timing is right.

This weeks fishing endeavors

Over the last couple weeks I have been able to get a little bit of fishing in. On Thursday afternoon a good friend came up to fish with me for a little bit. The fishing was fair considering the lack of real effort we put into it. The temps seemed to drop, and the wind picked up quite a bit. Making the fishing fairly poor.

Friday morning my brother and I decided to go wade down at little hole for a little while. We waded across at Catwalk shoals, and fished up the grassy bank. We didn't land any but each missed a few. And after about an hour or so, and fighting wind, and serious glare we took off without having landed a fish.

And while not fishing related. 

Saturday afternoon, my beloved Utah Utes football team capped off a perfect season, and made their way into the BCS for the second time in 5 years. What a great way to end the week. 

I look forward to following them to their bowl game and cheering loudly and proudly.

The loss of a great friend and mentor.

I got some tragic and saddening news this afternoon. My employer and great friend Dennis Breer passed away. Denny was a great proponent of the fishery on the Green often going to great lengths to inform the public and the powers that be about things that affected the river that we love. He single handedly created what is quite possibly one of the largest fly fishing outfitters in the country, as far as trips ran per year.

An avid outdoorsman, writer, fly tier, and great human being. He loved to teach and instruct everyone in the ways of his favorite sport. Taking young fisherman under his wing, and shaping them into great guides skilled in many aspects of the sport. 

I owe him a lot and will miss him incredibly. 

Season's A Wrap.

This year's season has been one wild ride. I have learned a few things, forgotten a few things, acquired a few things, and lost a few things.  We were very fortunate to see quite a few prolific hatches. It all started with the spring blue wings, carried through some amazing terrestrial hatches (Cicada's and Hopper's) and ended with an excellent fall blue wing hatch. I was able to fish a lot of dries, and dial in my skills on teaching a cast even more so. The nymphing was different every day. But all in all it was fairly good.

I finally got a newer car. One that I could rely on, was comfortable, and was honestly a lot of fun to drive. Unfortunately it did have a fairly high center of gravity, and if one were to lose control. It just happened to roll very well. Lesson learned. So now I get to go and find another newer car. 

Now that I am beginning the off-season, I get to devote more time to flies. I have already restocked on a few patterns that worked well this last summer, but should have time to make even more. I am now looking forward to next March/April when I can begin another season on the Green.