Howdy!
Greetings!
I've lurked on this site for a while, and I finally decided to make myself known. I share the same passion (or obsession) as you folks: catching native trout and salmonids. I'm HTC #66, and I also earned a Cutt Slam certificate from Wyoming Fish and Game last summer. I've been in email contact with a couple of you in the past years/months, and have really appreciated the info that you have provided in my personal angling quest. I read Grateful Trout's (HTC #65!) reply to Tinpusher's introduction, and I could really relate to where he was coming from. I always appreciate carefully crafted words and heart-felt expression. Nice job!
I am not a fan of crowds, by any stretch of the imagination, so I'm very cagey as to where and when I caught the fish that I have. However, I am confident that you folks share the delicate nature of the information that we have and how we share it with others.
In anticipation of setting up an account on this board, I set up a blog, which I don't plan on updating very much, but it contains my own "life list" as it stands right now. http://flyguydave.wordpress.com/
I look forward to hearing about your adventures and sharing mine as well.
Cheers!
Fly Guy Dave
Glad you decided to join and
Glad you decided to join and make yourself know. I think everyone on this forum is the real deal. I really like the profile pic too! That hike is a bitch isn't it. I'm guessing from your life list picture you caught yours in #3 correct? If so did you hike to #4 or #5? Even bigger ones there, but that much harder to get to. Been over 10 years for me, but I will make it back one day. You look like the leader for overall species caught by a CA angler. Nice blog. I am envious.
Ned
Hey Ned
Thanks for the welcome. I'm glad to find and share info and experiences with like-minded folks. Yep, that hike is a nasty one. Beautiful, plenty of solitude, but steep and long. I got plenty of Colorados out of #3 and thought about hiking down to the others, but I was solo and taking enough chances in that loose scree. The fishing in #3 was REAL good too, so there wasn't much need to leave, either. I'm impressed that you know where that is from that tiny picture. I've caught Colorados in Wyoming too, in order to get the Cutt Slam certificate and those were a LOT easier to get to.
I'm two trout away from a second HTC certificate and I plan on making that happen in 2010. I'll have eleven species, not twelve, but that's OK. I'm also planning a trip to Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah this July for the Apache, Gila, RG Cutt and Greenback Cutt. Yeah, I know that's a less than ideal time to go, but I have this "job" that impacts my fishing from time to time and that's the only time available.
Cheers!
--Fly Guy Dave
I here you.....
The job thing is a necessary evil. But when you have a wife, kid, and another on the way in June it gets complicated to say the least. Temporary I hope. Anyways I could not resist on your profile pic. I studied that trail for 7 years and remember looking at every possible picture of that Mountain from every angle. That trip for me, was probably the biggest angling accomplishment that far and away eclipses the HTC. You agree? I flew solo on my trip in July 1999 (was not married then) and was scared to death going down to #3. Unstable talus was quite a bit more that expected. When I got there the fishing was epic but I kept saying to myself "when is the next time I'm going to come here." So I sacked up and went down the gorge of eternal peril to #4 & #5. I think I got one out of #5 that could have been close to 22" to 24" and for that elevation and lack of biomass, could be the record fish up there. Anyways I will leave it at that. Maybe when we feel up to it, we could go together so we won't be totally screwed if someone falls and breaks a leg. I wish I could go to the Southwest and catch all of those fish. One day.
Ned
Yeah, getting to where the
Yeah, getting to where the fish were did require a lot of single-minded determination, it is indeed quite an accomplishment. Going down the talus to #3 was pretty hairy and I had a few close calls. I hadn't seen anyone around since the day before, so I wasn't about to head down to the other lakes by myself. It doesn't surprise me that you caught such a nice fish down there. I didn't get the feeling that many people fished #3, so I bet #4 & #5 get even less attention. I'd wager you were probably the only one that whole year.
If you are interested in heading back there sometime, I would definately be down with that. Bear in mind the timing and the restriction issues due to the sheep. (Man, this must just sound REALLY wierd to the others who have NO idea what or where we're talking about...) SHEEP?!? WTF?!?
Cheers!
--Dave