Another Adventure by the BilletHead's UTAH!

[BilletHead]

   

3 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

BH - Still like one or two of the tigers. The cuts on these fish were really vibrant. They are definitely a 1B with that first tiger as 1A on my list of favorites! I wonder if you could cast well enough while treading water? That bolete was huge!

   There you go John #swim and tread water to get to the fish in those high country lakes. Keep in mind the one is at 11,317 feet and cold. There may be shrinkage involved .

        Going with tigers for fight and Colorado for looks. 

BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

6 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

There you go John #swim and tread water to get to the fish in those high country lakes. Keep in mind the one is at 11,317 feet and cold. There may be shrinkage involved 

Nobody wants to think that you are fishing bait if there is a red wiggler in the water .

[Flysmallie]

I grew up fishing from a float tube. I think I was around 6 when my dad started taking me. I had to spend a couple of years tethered to his until he set me free. 

Great way to fish. 

[BilletHead]

22 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Nobody wants to think that you are fishing bait if there is a red wiggler in the water .

       Think real hard before presenting  your bait. Browns and Brook trout both have a nice set of teeth. Tigers as you know are a cross and have a  good set too. #stayoutofthewater . Or maybe #keepitdry,

BilletHead

[BilletHead]

2 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

I grew up fishing from a float tube. I think I was around 6 when my dad started taking me. I had to spend a couple of years tethered to his until he set me free. 

Great way to fish. 

           Thanks Ronnie,

  Will keep that in mind for next trip,

 BilletHead

[BilletHead]

     7 Uintas part 2,

          So out of the Boulder Mountains and headed back North again. How far North? How about the High Uintas again? Covered ground again to Heber City for a real campground and needed showers. Laundry too. So we landed at this really nice campground. Packed like sardines but nice. We were there for a purpose and it would only last one night. Priced on the lower end of this type of campground it was by far the nicest we have ever been in. We felt dinky in our little rig. Fifth wheels larger than the first place we owned for our self's. Mega big motor homes each had a tow vehicle of an SUV or tricked out jeep. I don't think we would ever want something like this. I am meaning millions of bucks of stuff and I can only imagine the loans that had to be taken out on some of these. Showers taken, laundry going, food of course the last package of carnitas thawed and worked up with cilantro of course. Photo just for Ness and Ham ,

   So while the Mrs. was finishing the laundry I decided to sit back and relax at the natural gas fire pit,

 

   There was an open gated area that had a sign stating adults only. This was part of it. Fire pit, tennis courts, club house with a full kitchen and tables, game room including free pool table, foosball etc. A pool and a hot tub. Hot Tub? Yes but it was like a mini long pool outside. We were invited by a young couple to go to this  with them and we politely declined . Kind of like Ness says. A human crock pot ! No discrimination to children intended in here as they had a family place of their own matching this. Big play yard included, volleyball courts etc. This cost us 38.00 dollars with full hook ups. All we used was water and power. Our sewer in the camper consists of a mini sink that drains into a five gallon jug. Grey water that may or may not be soapy that can be dumped anywhere.  This place had mini cabins and ATV rental.

    We were up early breaking down in the dark. As quietly as possible not to wake the masses we were getting ready to leave. We backtracked back to the same area in the high Uintas we had been before. The potential of this place is great. Up higher we went and along the road,

     We ended up at a forest campground not too far from the one before. This was on Washington lake, overlooking the lake. The lake was being fished and we heard fish were in there but it was drawn way down for some type of work. Bare muddy, sandy rocky shoreline. We would fish here later. So we were here early enough to do another hike in. Studied the map and picked Cliff Lake. Got stuff together and posed for a photo again. Finding a nice young lady to do the snap shot deed,

 

  

    Nice trail. At the trail head we met the nephew of the missing hiker. I had checked the news at the Heber City campground and knew the scoop. Still missing fellow. The official search was scaled back and now it was just family and friends looking,

http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/628977154-officials-8216scaling-down8217-search-for-hiker-missing-in-uinta-mountains/

   Nephew asked us to keep our eyes open please and of we  went as Melvin Heaps Nephew and his friends got packs ready for their hike. Up we went right by the lake area Melvin had disappeared from. Found a sign and trail split going to Cliff Lake. Took that and at the crest of the trail this is what greeted us,

   Surface action on the lake. Small flies would be needed. Rigged up for this,

   Missed a few here and there. No back cast in most places so steeple and roll casts was the norm. We made it about half way around the lake. Folks on the trail once and awhile. We then heard bells? Not the bear type but more like cow bells. Soon this was what we witnessed,

   Pack Goats! Go ahead laugh boys this is the real deal. When I had to get rid of my horse (Used to travel, ride and pack in Montana bow hunting) many moons ago I bought a book on raising, and training pack goats. Wish I had this book back. Loaned it out and would like to reread it. Anyway goats are easy to feed and maintain on the trail. Eat what horses don't want and is plentiful up there. They will bond to you not having to be tied or picketed out at camp. Can be milked on trips. This book had plans for packs to fit goats too. This pack train consisted of three goats, two men and three kids all carrying loads. When we first seen one of the kids his pack was so big and filled all we could make out was a pack with little legs on the trail. Too funny. He is the one with the green pack leading the string on the top in the second photo. By the lake we were fishing they went up a trail to higher ground, other lakes and who knows where? Then Big ominous looking clouds appeared, lightning, thunder, rain and sleet hit. Temps dropped and we hunkered under a tree. Filled water filtration Bottle, opened our tuna and took a break and ate a bite. We began to get wet and then looked towards where the goat packers were headed.  The higher ground was getting white,

      Weather slacked a bit and we decided to drop back down to camper. Like a rainforest on way down. By the time we got to within a hundred yards of the camper it let loose and we got soaked. Downright cold in fact. We got out of the wet stuff and hunkered down for a spell. Good time for real food too.  Wild turkey, last of the yellow squash sautéed with onions in butter and if I remember the last of our tomatoes,

   Looking out the window at the drawn down Washington Lake with rain and sleet coming down,

    One thing I learned on this trip was that we were there in the middle of monsoon season. Yes again you heard that here. Utah and other states experiences a monsoon season. We were wet a lot on this trip. Something we did not really see in Wyoming and Montana much. Here it was wet and lush. No fire restrictions like we see in other states we have visited. While Montana, Idaho and Wyoming were having wildfires we were wet. Soon the weather lifted to cool clear skies. We re rigged and headed down to Washington lake. Being moving water people we hit the discharge of Washington. Caught some Bookies here. Did not last long as we were told the lake had grayling,

     So we began to work the lake shore. We could see small tigers along the bare shore. At times fins out of the water working shallows looking for food. We would pick one out and throw dries their way. Most fish would go nuts after them if you did not spook them. We caught one fat one and a few skinny ones. I felt sorry for the fish. With the draw down food was at a premium and you could tell that in the fishes health. Everything was getting muddy, us, and the fly lines. Kind of a mess. It began to cloud up and get dark. Fish were dimpling farther from shore and we began to cast to them. Back cast no problem now with the clean bank. (no trees and brush). More tigers to hand and then the Mrs. Screamed grayling! Did I mention this was the day forty years ago I married this young girl? I found this gift very appropriate for my bride,

   Bigger grayling then we caught in Wyoming. Rain and sleet hit and of course we got wet again. Back to the camper to dry out and hit the sack. Up early and another plan was conceived,

BilletHead

 

 

 

[BilletHead]

   Part 8 , Just a little more in the Uintas

     So we dropped out of Washington Lake campground and back to highway 150 that continues more into and up higher into the Uintas. Lakes and trailheads scattered along it's winding road. It then begins to drop down into Wyoming to the town of Evanston. Traveling down still in Utah we made a right up another forest service road into Christmas meadows. The Stillwater river flows through here. More what we would call a creek I imagine during snow runoff it is a river. You could see beaver ponds in the distance. We chose to drive all the way to where the road ends at a trailhead. Here was another campground and we stopped here for one night. Pretty uneven ground so leveling was a trick. I really thought I would have to give the Mrs. a boost to get in and just let her jump out,

    Rigged up the rods once again with thunderheads and rumbling up the valley from which we came. We hiked to the river and proceeded to fish. The catching was slow but we did manage to keep the one fish dinner we planned on,

   Brook trout  were on the menu,

  Caught a few and kept a couple for dinner protein and cleaned them right on the creek side. Worked our way back down with weather getting closer. More monsoon is coming. Did not want to quit so Pat ran them up to the camper and then back to where I was fishing. This is what we were in for from where we had driven down from,

   By the time we got back to the camper we were soaked again! It rains in the Uintas !  So drying off it was food time again. Brook trout S&P sautéed in butter, Maque Choux and mac and cheese. If we would of kept them I think I could of eaten a half dozen of these fish ,

  Pat kept wanting a  campfire again. This would be the last chance for one of these so later on after the rain I managed to get one built. Sitting there after awhile she says hey you know we haven't got to cook hotdogs. Ok babe whatever you want and out they came,

  I have to admit they tasted pretty good. Just relish and mustard. Out like a lite and up again early to descend to the town of Evanston. Then trough Wyoming a bit and back to where it all started in Vernal. About to the end just one more fishing foray. It is going to be a long day on that trip,

  BilletHead

 

[BilletHead]

     Part 9,

   Going to have to break this down into two posts because of picture overload. I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did being there. So we are back in Vernal for two nights and one day. Laundry again and hot showers. Dinner that evening was Szechuan fragrant duck on a bed of rice. 

       To bed early and up way, way before sunrise for the forty mile slow trip to Jones Hole. So a bit about Jones Hole. We were on vacation approx. 25 years ago when BilletHead Jr. was just a pup or wee lad. I was in my fly fishing infancy and did not know squat. Some say I am still that way but I hope not . So I was poking around a sporting good store in town and guy asks me what I was looking for. Fly's I said. He than asked where I planned on fishing. I said not sure maybe the green River below flaming gorge. Told me about Jones Hole and gave me some fly's to use there. Yep fellows this is how our hobby really started. Showed me on the map and told me I would never regret going there. To this day this holds true. Soon you will know why. Jones Hole is in part of Dinosaur National Park. It is in a canyon that leads to the Green River. There is a spring at the top of the stream and a national fish hatchery that hatches and raises fish for streams, lakes and reservoirs in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. This being said the stream is wild and it is not stocked like one would think. The trip we took the first time was mind blowing, yes I caught fish but that was only a part of the experience. The vertical canyon walls going straight up. A narrow canyon too. Fremont Indian pictographs along the walls. Lush vegetation along the stream. The length from the beginning to the green river below was four miles. We have been there again right after the Mrs. Recovered from her breast cancer. it never gets old going here. So this will be the grand exit of this years trip. Like I said this has to be in two parts so we will start with the ride in and show off a few things here. The road is paved going to here. Paved is a misnomer as the speed limit is 35 MPH. So forty miles is a long driving time. About the time it is getting light enough to see off the road we are on diamond mountain plateau. Game is plentiful. We see elk, pronghorn and mule deer galore. Crappy photo I know but there are some nice bucks mixed in with does and fawns,

   A bit lighter know we re looking at the road down to Jones Hole,

    Some fishing and scenery, the fish will come later,

    You all see what I mean?  Now to the images left by the Fremont people,

     Some mallard made a summer home here,

  The lizard is like our Missouri Fence lizards we have here. After posing  for a picture I grabbed for him. Before my fingers got there he went right up a tree,

   Next we will get to maybe catching some fish !

BilletHead

[BilletHead]

       Part 9 continued,

  Now to the fishing. Before on trips here we caught rainbows. Never browns but we were told they were here and big ones hiding in holes and undercut banks. So right off the bat this happens,

   

  Tears were beginning to form here and not a more deserving person got it,

     We than caught rainbows and small browns,

     And then this happened,

  Not a prouder spouse I could be. Pat could hit the pockets that held the fish. She would say I put it right here and it came from there to take the hopper. ,

   Took a break for filtered spring water and a small bite to eat,

    Then we took of a side canyon to Ely falls for some cooling off,

  Very refreshing to say the least. Shadows were beginning to get long we headed back to the main trail and back to the truck. The BilletHead had been out fished by a girl. Not just any girl either but by My Girl . Wouldn't of had it any other way. I got the best complement by her though. Actually two of them. One was and this is her speaking, I had a good net man and you taught me all I know. Guys I will take those complements any day, any place, and any where. When we got back to the truck we checked the time. We had been dinking around that canyon for nine hours, yes nine. We began to pull off our wading shoes. Pat says hey what is this white stuff on the inside of my neoprene socks? I said look at your wrinkled wet feet, that is sloughed skin. She says eeew. I say some people pay good money to soak and peel their feet and just sit there. You got to fish during your treatment while softening your feet. What a deal I take the eeeew back. Took the rods apart one last time on this trip. It was dark as we drove back to Vernal. The lights in the distance showed us the way back to the campground for our last night in Utah. In the morning we left for home. Stopping in Wakeeny Kansas for the night. From then on all the way home we talked about our trip. It was the best!,

   Billethead

[Ham]

I had no idea the Fremont people were such Klaus Nomi fans.