Fly Fishing
When we retired we decided that we would only start new hobbies that we both were interested in and could learn together. One new thing that we really wanted to try was fly fishing. We went to an Elder Hostel in Red Lodge, Montana, where we studied Lewis and Clark on the Yellowstone and learned how to fly fish. After the Elder Hostel we went to Hope, Idaho, and fished for a week on our own. We were "hooked" after just two weeks!
We fished for four years in Big Sky, Montana--one year on our own, one year with friends from the Twin Cities, and two years with our friends, Warren and Lee, from Las Vegas. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 we fished in Colorado with Warren and Lee. In 2007, they were unable to join us, so we spent two weeks on our own. We missed them but had a great time anyway. In 2008 and 2009, our friends, Homer and Gayle joined us so we have had some great adventures with all of them.
One of the joys of fly fishing is the gorgeous scenery.
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In 2007, we took many trips over the pass on our way to a couple of different spots. On the left is a photo on the other side of the pass after a slight bit of snow. On the right is a view of the mountains on the other side of Lake Dillon. We stay very near the lake and see views of it each morning, no matter which direction we go to fish. Gorgeous!
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On the left is the Taylor Fork near Big Sky, Montana, and on the right is the "Dream Stream," actually the Middle Fork of the South Platte River. Jodie got some ideas of where to fish from an email geocaching buddy in Breckenridge. When we went to scout out the spots, we stopped at a small fly shop in the middle of nowhere. Sandy got out of the truck to visit with some guys that were sitting on the porch of the shop. Jodie thought, "We may never get out of here" and finally got out also after about 15 minutes of cooking in the hot truck. It was a fortuitous stop: one of the guys told us about a very interesting spot south of a reservoir. It was called the "Dream Stream," and it was all of that. We had such fun fishing it for two days. Unfortunately, it was after Warren and Lee had gone. We did fish it again in 2006 but it wasn't as much of a "Dream."
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Colorado, 2011
This time Warren and Lee were unable to join us because friends from Texas were meeting them for a trip to Yellowstone. However, Homer and Gayle spent nearly a week with us. We did have some decent fishing, although we wish they would have had a little more good luck. We did have a great time.
Left: We saw a herd of nearly 30 antelope the first day we fished alone.
Right: Group Photo of Homer, Gayle, Jodie and Sandy.
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Tools of the trade: Hat, rod, reel and flies, a nice fish, boots, waders and gorgeous scenery!!!
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Colorado, 2010
Left: Lee lands a nice one; Center: Jodie, Sandy, Warren and Lee; Right: Jodie casting for a big one!
Homer and Gayle went to Europe and were unable to join us. We had the best fishing we have ever had--ever--with Warren and Lee. We were alone for most of the first week. The day before Warren and Lee were to join us, we stopped at the fly shop we usually patronize to ask what might be a close area to fish; they pointed us north of Dillon on the Blue River. We had an OUTSTANDING ten days of fishing and caught more fish than we had ever before. One day the four of us had a "fifty fish day," which is unbelievable. In fact, it was probably more than that but we quit counting. We hope to do the same in 2011--this year it will be with Homer and Gayle for a week and by ourselves for a week as Warren and Lee are unable to join us!
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On the left is the Tomahawk, probably our favorite spot to fish--we really had some good luck there in 2007. Right: Sandy casts for that big one.
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This is a nice fish that Jodie caught and released in 2007.
We fished it again in 2007 and even tried some night fishing, without a whole lot of luck. However, we did have some great
views of the sunset over Spinney Reservoir.
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We also had tremendous luck on the Blue River in 2007.
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This was the view of the mountains as we headed to the Blue, close to the reservoir. Fantastic views!
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Our last day of fishing in 2007--on the Blue. We kept catching and releasing fish all day!
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There is fishing . . .
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And there is catching!
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Left: Near the Tomahawk, a public access to the Middle Fork of the South Platte south of Fairplay, Colorado. It was a beautiful spot and we fished here several times. We actually did some "catching" also. Right: On the Piedra River, west of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. We had some good fishing one day not too far from here.
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At the Tomahawk
Left: The two of us with our friends, Warren and Lee, from Las Vegas.
Right: The two of us with our friends, Homer and Gayle, from Washington.
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On the left: Resting after lunch near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in 2004 with Warren and Lee. On the right, 2006 and the Middle Fork of the South Platte River.
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We toast you and wish you well as we leave fly fishing for our next adventure!