South Georgia Hunting Report, 11-13 December

 Yeah ... a bit late.  But hunting conditions don't change as much as fishing conditions.

Venue: Southern Woods Plantation, Sylvester Georgia (https://southernwoodsplantation.com/)

Participants: John and "Dr. Jim Beam" Hupp, Captain Dipaola, Phil Weglein, CDR Curt Toomer, son LT Josh Toomer, son-in-law Tim Canney

Purpose of the gathering: 40th anniversary of the Army-Navy Executive Committee, enjoying great food and beverages with friends, watching the Army-Navy game, upland bird hunting

Quarry: Quail

This is a smart one....

Weather: Sunny/partly cloudy skies, temps in the high 60s-mid 70s.

The lodge:  About a 2 hour drive from Atlanta, also accessible by a commuter flight from Atlanta into Albany, and then a 20 minute ride.  If you're into upland bird hunting, there is no better outfit than Southern Woods.  An absolute first-class experience.  Excellent accommodations, fantastic down-home southern cooking, and you could not ask for more gracious hosts than the Deloach family, who manage the preserve, and the staff and guides who were committed to making the weekend memorable.  

The daily routine: Breakfast of eggs, bacon and smoked sausage, grits, and biscuits, followed by a morning hunt, lunch at the lodge, an afternoon hunt, cocktails, then amazing dinners of prime rib, bacon wrapped stuffed quail, smoked pork chops, followed by more adult beverages.  

Pregame.  As Thursday was check in day for the party, I had scheduled our first hunt for Friday afternoon, to give us a chance to "tune up" by busting some clay pigeons on the property.  It only took a few rounds before all looked pretty dialed in and ready to hunt, or at least that's what I thought.

Issue of the weekend.  Is the West Branch Tavern in Canada?  A feisty debate occurred Friday night.  Curt took the position that the WBT was indeed in Canada, with his son-in-law Tim, a hot-shot D.C. lawyer, taking the opposite tack.  After some very thorough research, out that the latitude of the WBT sits less than 7 miles south of the southern most latitude of Canuck-land.  Cost Curt $20, but still too close for comfort.  So we'll be stocking Labatt Blue as a contingency, should an invasion from the north occur. 

The Hunting.  The lodge owns around 4000 acres, with some additional leased property to accommodate the 60 some odd hunters who were at the lodge that weekend.  The hunting is for a mix of wild and released birds; over 200,000 are released during the season that runs from October to March.  Our party broke up into two groups of four, and mounted the jeep-drawn carriers that would take us to various locations across the preserve.

The terrain was pine woods and switch grass, with the occasional briar patch.  Not too difficult getting around, but we did quite a bit of walking.  

For many of us, this was our first outing for quail.   Unlike pheasants, which are loners, quail are normally hanging together in coveys; sometimes only a few birds, but in some cases the dogs would flush coveys of a dozen birds or more.  And any sense that the birds would fly in a predictable fashion did not survive the first flush.  These birds go in every direction and at every angle of elevation.  It's a recipe for fast shooting, but also presents some serious safety issues.  Fortunately, our guide Russell provided the experience that we needed to maintain a level of shooting discipline that ensured that the only targets were the birds.

Of course, the stars of the show are the dogs (the lodge owns over 200).  Russell had two sets of four dogs that he rotated throughout the hunt.  Two of the dogs were short-haired pointers.  Once the dogs got on point, and Russell set us up on a shooting line, he'd send in two spaniels as flushers.  It didn't take long for the flushers to do their job, the covey would bust, and the shooting commenced.

Over the course of two days there was a lot of shooting.  As to the hitting, well, it's a good thing that the dogs couldn't comment.  Many of the birds the dogs flushed lived to fly another day.  Russell's constructive criticism ("great shooting," he'd often say, I think sarcastically) made for a truly enjoyable outing.  I'm not sure the dogs would have been as kind.

We had one more hunt Saturday morning, with pretty much the same results; the spent-round-to-bird ratio improved slightly, which was good.  But obviously requiring some more practice before heading back to south Georgia.  Phil and Josh put on great performances in the field.  For the rest of us, we settled for feeling that our outing turned out much better than sitting in a cold stadium, especially after Navy's, goose-egg performance on Saturday afternoon.

I'll take Southern Woods any time.

Shoot straight, and Happy Holidays

Mikey D Fishing

End of the Season Fishing Report

 Turns out that our late-October foray into the Chesapeake would be our last for the season.  Over the next couple of weeks, Captain DiPaola ventured back out several times, only to find the bay barren of working birds and fish.

Fortunately, the end of Bay fishing doesn't mean that fishing has ended for the year.  The trout streams in NC PA are back to normal flows.  And, if you don't mind getting on an airplane, warmer climes provide opportunities to hook into a variety of species.  So last week I headed down to Jacksonville, Florida to fish the Intracoastal Waterway with long time friend and squadron mate Curt Toomer.   Our plan, which had been hatched several months ago, was to spend a day with a guide who specialized in targeting spawning bull redfish.  The guide (who shall remain nameless, for reasons that follow), also had a reputation for finding keeper flounder.

I arrived in Jacksonville last Sunday to sunny skies and temps in the upper 70s, a far cry from the 30-degree temps in Potter County.  Unfortunately, we missed the big Reds, which had already moved offshore.  But the intracoastal is still a phenomenal fishery, with a number of species that hang out through the fall and winter.  The forecast for Monday, our day with the guide, looked pretty good.  A cold front was moving through, but temps were to stay in the 70s, with winds at 10 knots, dying off as the day progressed.

So it was somewhat surprising when the guide called at 6:45 Monday morning with concerns about the winds.  He had based his observations on the trees in his yard (he lives on the southside somewhere, and not on the water).  Now, I suppose that looking at trees is one way to get sense of the winds.  But you'd think marine forecasts would provide a bit more empirical sense of the weather.  And it didn't look bad to us.  Whatever.  Maybe the guide wanted optimal conditions, and Tuesday's forecast showed lower winds and warmer temps.  We had flexibility, so we pushed him to Tuesday, and went with Plan B.

The tide was set to begin to fall around 9:00 AM, giving us plenty of time to grab some live bait (mud minnows), and head to the marina where Curt keeps his 17 foot Maverick skiff.  

We headed up the IC to scout some water and find some fish.  Now, fishing with Curt is both about exploring as well as catching fish.  He meticulously studies satellite images of the IC to find the spots in the back creeks that should hold fish.  You could fish the banks along the main channel of the IC and probably pick up a few fish.  But it's the feeder creeks, with their points and oyster bars, that you want to target.  Plus, it's just fun poking up into skinny water looking for fish.

We spent the afternoon hitting some spots north of Blount Island.  As forecast, the winds died and the temps warmed; despite the guide's concerns it was a prefect day out.  And around 1:45 PM, two hours before the bottom of the falling tide, the bite turned on.  We anchored at a small creek mouth, and proceeded to hit the Northeast Florida Slam, catching a Red, a few Speckled Trout, and a keeper Flounder.

Fishing for Reds and Trout isn't particularly technical.  You basically need to be in the right spot when the water is moving.  We jigged live mud minnows and soft plastics (paddletails) off the bottom.  Flounder present a different challenge, as they prefer to chew on the bait for a spell before committing to the take.  Patience is a must to catch 'em, and the smaller the founder the more difficult to detect chewing from striking.  But it's all part of the fun.  

By the time we got off the water, the forecast for Tuesday had changed a bit.  Winds were now going to blow between 10-12 knots.  Perhaps a choppy ride in the main channel of the IC, but certainly enough protected water in the feeder creeks.  Plus, we were fishing with a guide, who would know where to go, right?  So it was all the more exasperating when the captain called again, almost exactly the same time as the day before, claiming that the wind was "howling" out there and it might be prudent to sit the day out.  We used the guide's weather tool and looked at the trees, noting a bit of a breeze, but not quite "howling," but then again not knowing the guide's tree-based Beaufort Scale.  Suspicions were growing, and we told the guide that we'd meet him at the Mayport boat ramp to make the final call.

As we drove to the ramp, Curt and I decided that, if the captain began whining about the weather, we'd just bag him and head back out on our own.  When we got to the ramp the wind was blowing a bit, maybe 12-15 knots.  But the river wasn't too choppy.  And the forecast was for the winds to lie down as the day progressed.  Sure enough though, when we met the guide at the ramp, he immediately launched into "wind is howling" mode, and again expressed his reluctance to be on the water.  All the while , had he turned around, he would have observed several flats boats going into the water.  Obviously anglers with a death wish.  He then went on to regale us with his TV appearances, the most recent of which was with Bill Dance.  "Bill Dance ... you gotta be kidding me," I thought to myself.  A septuagenarian, still wearing that Tennessee trucker's ballcap.  Why not Orlando Wilson or Roland Martin or Jimmy Houston, for crying out loud.  Maybe had he mentioned Tom Roland or Rich Tudor, then he would have had some street cred.  That pretty much did it for me.  For whatever reason, the chucklehead did not want to go fishing, and earn his $500 fee, which to me seems a weird business model.  

Pro guide Tip: If your business is taking people out fishing for money, then in order to make your business work, you need to take clients out fishing and collect your money.

So we bid Captain XXX (who shall remain anonymous for now, since he still has Curt's deposit) farewell, hit the bait store for live shrimp, got onboard the Maverick, and headed out into the "gale."  Aside from being a bit cooler and breezier than the day before, it was certainly good enough for fishing.  And, since the tide would fall a bit later than Monday, there was no hurry to get on the water.  We fished the afternoon exploring creeks just north of the marina.  The first we hit seemed promising, especially when we landed a small Red on the second cast.

But it turned out the only fish brought to the boat.  So after staying awhile longer, we moved to a second spot, just as the tide was about 2 hours from the bottom.  Just like the day before, we no sooner anchored up and started tossing live bait and plastics that fishing became catching, mostly Speckled Trout, but also a number of Ladyfish (also known as "poor mans Tarpon"), and even a small Snapper.

It was a great two days on and off the water.  And always a great time hanging out with Curt and his lovely bride Michele, who has tolerated our fishing antics for over two decades.  

So, another Mikey D season is at an end.  The boat is out of the water and getting prepped for winter storage.  And the last of the Striper filets have been devoured.

A bit sad, but barring Covidiot travel restrictions, there are still fish to be caught (Belize beckons in January), and only 5 months until the opening day of Trout season in Pa., with Striper season not too far behind.  We're also excited about extending our reach south to Cape Charles this summer.  Stay tuned.

Happy Thanksgiving, and Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, 30 October - 01 November: Back on the Board

 It's been a whacky fishing season.  Maryland's governor decided that the risk of Corona Virus exposure was high on the bay, so he shut down recreational angling for most of the spring.  With July came warmer water temps and spread out fish.  The DNR shut down the bay again for the last two weeks of August to angler-induced Striper mortality.  And on, and on, and on....

Even the fall fishing, which is typically when the bite really turns on again, was abysmally slow.  Time was running out before we'd have to pull the Mikey D and be left with nothing but looking for to 2021.

Fortunately, the fishing gods intervened and provided some decent weather, and Stripers eager to hit a lure.  We were supposed to take out a charity charter on Friday.  But the clients bagged, leaving us with no other option but to fish.  We got out on the water Friday afternoon.  Air temps were in the 50s, water temps around 62, and the tide was slack.  And when we turned the corner from Burley Creek we spied birds working Whitehall Bay and in the mouth of the Severn River.  Not the typical level of activity that we've seen before.  But if the birds are working, there are fish underneath.  We fished for a couple of hours, racing between spots where the birds were working.  The catching was a bit disappointing from one perspective, as we put no fish in the cooler.  But we caught fish, including a chunky 18 incher. 

A lot of factors go into a good bite.  But perhaps the most important is moving water.  Saturday weather was a bit cooler when we left the dock, but we left right before the tide was to change, which turned out to be the right call.  Joining us on this foray was Mike "Chunks" Shina.  Only a couple of days before, Mike had retired as a school teacher, so we recognized his decades of service by offering him a Mikey D special of a $1 dollar charter.  Magnanimous chap that he is, Mike tipped the mate 100%, and we were off.

We got into Whitehall Bay around 10:00 am and immediately saw far more birds working than the previous day.  And within the first twenty minutes we had limited out with 19 and 20-plus inch fish, a reminder of how great fall fishing on the bay can be.  For the rest of the day the bite was consistent, with metal jigs being the ticket.  We easily caught over a dozen or so fish, and even released three more keepers that were bigger than the fish in the cooler.  Highlight of the day was watching a 36-plus inch Rockfish charge after a smaller fish that Mike was bringing to the boat.

It was a great feeling to have the filet knife in hand once again.  Our plans for a third outing on Sunday were stymied by 20 knot winds and 4 foot waves in Whitehall Bay.  But, using the rule of thumb of scheduling three days of fishing to get one good day of catching, it worked out well.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

From the OBX to WVa

The transition from in-person tailgating at Navy football games to destination tailgates has brought our tailgating crew together in some great locales.  Two weeks ago Mike and Mary Kay Shina hosted a most splendiferous week in Corolla, NC, on the Outer Banks.  Now, the weather on the Outer Banks in the fall can get somewhat dicey, as fall hurricane tend to head up the eastern seaboard.  For this week, though, the weather couldn't have cooperated better, with sunny skies and warm temps.  A bit windy on a couple of days, but plenty of time to spend on the beach.  And, if you have to watch Navy get pasted, I can think of no better place than at a beach house!

Being at the Outer Banks also offered the opportunity to so some offshore fishing.  Fellow tailgater Bery Edmonston, who is also a regular on the Mikey D, set up an offshore trip on Haphazard (https://www.haphazardsportfishing.com/), a 61 foot custom-built fishing yacht based out of Manteo, about 40 minutes south of Corolla.  The angling crew, which in addition to Bery included Bery's wife Clare, John Hupp, Mike Shina, and yours truly, set out from the house at 0400, arriving at the dock just in time to board the boat, stow our gear, and put lines over at 0500.  The trip was set for six anglers, but work requirements kept Capt. DiPaola from making the trip to NC.

Pro Gide tip: When work gets in the way of fishing, it's time to find a new line of work!

Like clockwork, Capt. Joey Belton headed out, along with dozens of other offshore charters.  Again, we lucked out on the weather.  Temps would be in the mid-70s, with relatively calm winds.  There was a bit of choppiness as Capt. Joey drove the boat through Oregon Inlet, a bit uncomfortable, and lending to a new nickname for Mike.  But once we cleared the inlet, the seas calmed and the ride was comfortable for the entire day.  Being on a yacht, with enclosed cabin, galley, and full head also offered enough creature comforts to make for pleasant fishing.

Our area of fishing was about 40 miles or so offshore, trolling in depths that ranged between 45-65 fathoms.  Captain Joey's mate Kyle was a master at rigging the 10 lines that would be trolled behind the boat.  The rigs were a combination of squid teasers, plugs, and frozen Ballyhoo.  The target species were Blackfin and Yellow Tuna, Mahi, and the prospect of a billfish.  We arrived at the fishing area probably around 0645, and within a half hour had our first fish, a Blackfin Tuna, in the boat.  The rest of the day would be consistent hookups, with multiple doubles, and at one time 5 lines had fish on.  Captain Joey knew exactly where the fish were, and Kyle did a phenomenal job mending rigs and boating fish.

While the technical side of fishing was left to Capt. Joey and Kyle, for us the fishing was more mechanical, but no less enjoyable.  The captain or Kyle would note a hookup, transfer the rod/reel to an angler, who would reel the fish in to the transom, where Kyle would gaff the tuna and throw into the cooler.  Reel, gaff, repeat.  Some of the bigger tuna we caught would thrash around and try to run when they got close to the transom, but the big rigs and heavy monofilament kept them from smoking too far from Kyle's gaff.

It was a great day out on the water, and when we pulled into the dock at 5:30 we offloaded 280lbs of Blackfin, which after cleaning came to about 120-130lbs of filets.  Turned out to be the largest haul of the boats on the water that day, a testament to the expertise of the Haphazard crew!

Departing Corolla with coolers full of tuna steaks, it was a quick turnaround before heading to West Virginia to once again fish the Elk River.  I had first fished the Elk in 1995, our first family vacation.  The fishing that week was phenomenal.  The Elk is one of the premier brown trout fisheries in the east, with two and a half miles of catch and release fly fishing-only water.  Making that first trip even more memorable was our guide, Dave Breitmemier (https://www.elkfisher.com/), whose knowledge of the Elk and surrounding waters and skills as a guide are unmatched.  

Since 1995 I was able to make 2-3 trips a year to fish the Elk.  But retirement and the move to Potter County opened up waters that made trips to WVa fewer and fewer.

Having not fished the Elk for perhaps 7 years, I figured it was time for a return, and scheduled a fall trip.  Our group, which consisted of myself, John Hupp, Bob "Troutwhisperer" Volkmar, and Captain DiPaola, arrived last Thursday afternoon.  We stayed at the Elk Springs Resort (https://www.elkspringswv.com/), located at the headwaters of the river.  The lodge, which has gone through several iterations of ownership, is comfortable, has a good restaurant (take out only due to Covid), and an excellent fly shop.  We stayed on one of the two island cabins, which sit between the spring and the Dry Branch creek.  Clean and comfortable, but not quite fulfilling the description of a "full kitchen."  Fortunately, there was a Dollar General about 5 miles away.

As I said earlier, the Elk is a renowned trout fishery.  It not only has supported a healthy population of wild browns, but over the years had also shown natural reproduction of Rainbows.  Regrettably, though, the lack of rain in the northeast left us with very little water to fish.  I had not seen the river this low, particularly in the fall.  

There was little if any holding water, and what pools we could find in the C&R section held few if any fish.  Our fishing was essentially limited to a small pool outside our cabin, the Mill Pool, which sits behind the resort, and a pool of the Dry Branch, which in the summer leaves fish trapped and unable to get to the Elk.

Conditions were tough, but we did catch fish.  Almost all Rainbows that easily went better than 15 inches, with a couple that went 18-20 inches.  Also managed an 18-inch Brownie in the Mill Pool on a "Megg."  For the most part, we caught fish on eggs, chamois worms, and San Juan Worms.  John did manage a fish on top, casting a tiny white midge to match the only hatches that we saw all weekend.

Saturday was blast-from-the-past day, as Joe and I were guided by Dave Breitmeier.  Given that we had pounded the Mill Pool for two days, we asked Dave to take us downriver.  The idea wasn't as much to catch fish as it was to find some moving water.  Dave hit a couple of the traditional spots on the C&R section.  On a couple we saw fish, and Joe even got a hook up on an ant.  But, for the most part, the fish either scooted due to low water, or just weren't eating.

Water conditions were so poor on the C&R, that Dave had to take us down several miles before he put us on running water that reminded me of what fishing on the Elk was like.  Six Rainbows, all around 15-16 inches, in less than thirty minutes, took some of the sting out of otherwise poor conditions.

It was a great day with Dave, perhaps not for the fishing, but for all the knowledge he has and shares on the river.  And it was in our conversations that he noted the declining condition of the Elk.  It wasn't the river of ten years past, or 25 years ago when I, Mary, Angela and Charlie experienced it with Dave.  Dave moved to the vicinity of Seneca Rocks months ago, and guides on the streams in that region.  So his time monitoring conditions on the Elk has become extremely limited.  From Dave I inferred that the river is suffering from neglect, from both the state government and the businesses that have relied on anglers wading the C&R chasing wild fish.  The draw of the Elk has been its runs, riffles, and pools, prolific hatches, and wild trout.  The Mill Pool is fun, for a bit, but it's also like a petting zoo.  Until the necessary actions are taken to return the Elk to it's original state, I'm not sure it's worth fishing.  Fortunately, there is a guide who can put you on great water and wild fish elsewhere in wild, wonderful West Virginia.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Colorado Trout Fishing - Four Different Seasons, Two Different Days, One Beautiful Creek - 10-11 September

The unofficial end of summer afforded Katie and me the opportunity to experience cool dry mountain air in the Colorado Rockies.  What we didn't bargain for was a early season snowstorm and temperatures well below freezing.   Undaunted, we ventured into Rocky Mountain National Park on our second day, and the snow covered vistas did not disappoint.  The sublime beauty of the subalpine terrain made our first hike through snow and ice to Alberta falls at 9,900 feet well worth the trek.         

We enjoyed great meals and hospitality while we based in Boulder, CO during our getaway.  Boulder is also the home of Front Range Anglers.  On day 3, Katie opted for the Spa at the St. Julien where we also stayed.  I had pre-arranged a guided fly fishing outing through Front Range Anglers located in Boulder.  I drew the lucky straw when I was paired with Tim Neering as my guide.  Tim is a Colorado native and grew up in the shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park in the gateway town of Estes Park, where we spent our day on the Big Thompson Creek.  We had originally flirted with the thought of a "Colorado Slam" inside of the Park by attempting to bring 4 trout species to the net in a single day (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Greenback Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout)

Luckily I took the advice of the guide (one of the many reasons to hire an experienced local), who assuaged me of a slam in favor of consistent fishing, given the cold front that shut down fishing for the two previous days.   Tim recommended that we work the lower Big Thompson Creek.  The creek below Estes Park is a tailwater fishery.  We fished a mix of two and three dropper patterns including an attactor, sow bug, and the always steady, zebra midge.  Tim noted that many fisherman fail to take the elevation into account when selecting the best fly size.  The entomology at 7,500 feet is different than at sea level.  In general, the bugs are smaller, and Tim suggested using his recently tied size 22 - size 26 flies.  The crystal clear rocky mountain water necessitated 8x tippet.  The morning was chilly with mostly cloudy skies so we armed ourselves with my Scott 5 weight and optimistically carried one of Tim's rods rigged with a dry fly in hopes that the sun would emerge and the trout would rise. 

Our first stop on the creek was a piece of swift water with several pockets and seams to work.  It got busy quickly, when my third cast produced a nice 10 inch rainbow.  Most of the fish in that section tend to be in the 8 - 12 inch range.  They are mostly wild trout, with vibrant colors, and feisty when hooked.  Tim and I worked downstream, finding one fishy spot after the next.  Though often subtle, each spot produced multiple strikes.  Although Tim preferred a strike indicator, we more or less employed a high sticking or dynamic nymphing technique.

Pro Tip #1:

Instead of a standard hook set, swiftly raising the rod tip vertically, increase the percentage of hook-ups by turning over your wrist during the nymph's drift so that your palm faces down toward the creek.  At the first indication of a strike accelerate the rod tip parallel or up to 45 degrees from horizontal and upstream.   I noticed a significant increase in hookups throughout the day once I tried this method.

The action remained steady with some spots producing multiple fish.  The largest was this exceptional 16" brownie.  A real beauty.  A short break for lunch did not slow the action.  Our first stop after lunch was the run just downstream from the dam.  One rainbow followed another to the net.  It was nonstop for at least 20 minutes.   And of course, no matter how many fish bring the line tight, it never gets old.  

Pro Tip #2: 

Instead of using your trigger finger to hold excess line and using the force of the rod tip to set the hook, allow the line to remain slack.  As the rod tip swings upstream from the strike, the reel drag will apply the proper pressure to set the hook without pulling the hook or breaking the tippet.

As the day progressed, the sun failed to appear as the wind picked up and the temperatures began to fall.  After a day full of fishing action and 18 trout to the net, it was time to call it a day.  My compliments to Tim.  As Mikey D Fishing has often declared; we have fished with many guides.  Most were good, a few were terrible and occasionally, we fished with the exceptional.  Tim was exceptional.  Patient, attentive, and informative; he mixed banter with pointers and put me on the fish.  If you are ever fishing the area around Rocky Mountain National Park, Tim Neering is the guide you want.

Our final full day in Colorado brought sunshine and higher temps.  Since higher elevation hikes were inaccessible due to the recent snowfall, Katie and I decided to hike an area through a valley that led to Cub Lake.  Providence treated us to a sight and sound that I never thought I would hear in the wild.  A bull elk was minding his stable of cows just yards from the trail.  We positioned ourselves on a giant outcropping of boulders, providing a safe vantage point.  From there we were able to witness the bull defend his herd of elk from a younger male challenger as the elder elk made repeated bugle calls that echoed down the valley...simply amazing.

Near the trailhead, the upper Big Thompson Creek cuts a meandering path through the meadow.  Katie became my defacto guide as she encouraged me to cast a few times.    I was skeptical given that it would take a bit to rig up and didn't expect to be able to hook into a trout with limited time.  It didn't take too much arm twisting however, and with Katie on the far side of the creek, I dropped a #14 Frenchie along a high bank that with a seam that segmented the creek.  Unbelievably, on my third cast, I felt a tug and a short retrieve ensued rewarding us with a beautiful 10" wild rocky mountain brown trout!  Kudos to Katie at her first foray as guide.   An exclamation point on a great day.  With the sun getting lower in the sky and dinner reservations awaiting, discretion pulled us from the stream and the backdrop of the Rockies.    

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing