BilletHead's ride again. 2018 trip, new fish,new places!

[patfish]

Strong trip reporting BilletHead.  Thanks for taking me along for the ride via the General Angling Discussion forum.  Glad y'all had a good time and made it home safely.  Peace. 

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, patfish said:

Strong trip reporting BilletHead.  Thanks for taking me along for the ride via the General Angling Discussion forum.  Glad y'all had a good time and made it home safely.  Peace. 

         Thanks Pat my friend,

  means a lot to us to share and more important that you all are enjoying it!

   BilletHead

[tho1mas]

BH -- Great pictures & report.

How was the garden when you got home?

[laker67]

Did motroutbum take the picture of the mountain goat on your trip up the mountain?

[BilletHead]

           Part 3 the Rio Grande,

   Leaving the North part of the state it was now time to head South and finding the Rio Grande cut. We had told Randy the plans to find these fish and to our surprise he had been doing research for us behind the scenes . A text came in from him. Hey I found a place you might want to try. I have never been there but what I found said it has a great survey result. He passed on the name of the creek and the area. So as the Mrs. was driving I got the map and found it. The creek was in the Sangre De Cristo Mountain Range. Access through the great sand dunes National Park and Reserve. I had no idea what we were in for and how dicey it was going to be. On the way down we stopped in Salida in three places for info. Place one a welcome center chamber of commerce type of place. We needed some water in our supply tank and here we got it. In the building we went to see a couple in charge. They asked what we had been doing and where we were going. We gave them the scoop and what we had done and our next quest. The gentleman responded. "You cant be fishing for those fish it is illegal" " There is nothing like those around here" I pointed to a picture of the three native cutthroat of Colorado on a wall poster and enlightened him. Really he said I had no idea. I asked if there was a fish and game and or a forest service office for more info. They gave us addresses and we headed for those places.  Place two the forest service office. So in for more maps and info. The lady asked just like the others our business and what we needed. I explained and her response. " We don't have any fish like that around here" " There was a big fire years back and they went in and took them out before the ash run off killed them out" "You know those fish are rare and endangered" I explained on deaf ears and we ducked out. Not their specialty I thought maybe the Department of fish and game can help. Stop three and the circus continues. So we waltz in the front door to three sitting behind the counter.  A lady, and two men one pretty young. So again I give them the plan. The young man proceeds to tell me there is no such thing as a genetically pure Rio Grande Cutthroat. They are all crossed up with rainbow trout. I told him we had seen the paper on the creek we were going to that Randy had sent us via text. Showed it to him. See right here the fisheries biologist says Rio Grande 100% pure 30 fin clips. Again he wanted to tell me I was wrong and the fisheries biologist too.  We slipped out of there also. I get it not everyone can be specialists in one category but in this world of technology don't you think they should do some self enlightening? I mean even I took pictures of plants and trees I have never seen before, made notes and will be looking them up for my self enlightening. So to google up one more phone number and make a call. The Great Sand dunes. I get a number and call. Lady answers and I ask about the process of driving through the dune road into the national forest. There was a pause on the other end then she asked what I was driving. Told her a 3/4 ton 4WD pickup with a small fold down camper in the back. Another pause, Sir do you know you will be travelling through a primitive deep sand road? Well yes I had seen that. Another pause Are you sure you know what you are doing? This time I paused   good truck, new tires, small camper I think so. No pause she asks what were we going to do up there? I explained and she lightened up saying she was a fly fisherman and conversation got better from there on. I thanked her and on South we traveled to the Great Sand Dunes. As we traveled in what I would call high desert in the distance we could see large buildings. Seemed out of place in the area. As we got closer we could see tall fences and razor wire on top of the fence? Then it hit me growing operations for the new cash crop in Colorado! These buildings were all over in all sizes and shapes. There were also many that had not succeeded and abandoned. No doubt they had smoked the product to be sold and gone broke.  So we finally hit the gate of the Great Sand Dunes  . Late in the afternoon. Man and Woman in the booth one facing each side. We got the lady. First thing she said after looking at the truck and camper. Do you know our campground is full and it is booked yearly in advance? I said yes mam We seen the sign. What are your plans she said? I explained we are going to drive through the primitive road into the national forest. The response was borderline epic, "IN THAT?" Yes then the interrogation started. Is it 4WD ad not AWD? Yes. "Do you know what you are doing?" I think so . "How heavy is that camper on the back of the truck?" Not too bad. She cocked her head and said just a minute. She grabbed the other guy in the booth. I could hear her. Do you think that and they could do the road up into the forest. He stuck his head out and looked over out rig and said I think so . Whoo Hoo that is all we needed and off we went into the national park. Soon the blacktop ended at the base of the park campground. At that place there was a RV dump and right next to that was a big industrial air compressor and a sign air here. I thought that was odd, never seen one of those in places like this. That answer would soon come to light. The road became less and less until we arrived at a turn around. Flashing signs, hard signs, warning signs. Soft sand, point of no return, lower tire pressure for traction etc. Now we passed those signs and kept on a trucking. The pucker factor went out the roof as the Mrs. and I gave each other a look of fright. The road became a two wheel slot for your tires. The hump in the middle where undercarriage and differentials had been dragging. There were high bank turn outs  on slopes along the way where passing may be done. You could see where tire digging had been done on these banks.... The pucker became even tighter. Yes in 4WD high it had the feeling of driving in deep snow spinning and drifting feeling. Not a feeling we actually were. Met three vehicles coming towards us  in places. Fancy jeeps and other tricked out giant tired rigs. Oh Heck I thought. Have we bit off too much this time? There was eight miles of this road in the National park signs along the way no parking, no camping etc. We finally could see trees in the distance and soon we were upon them road not much better we made it to the national forest. Besides the sand we now had to thread the trees on both sided of the road. I am puckering just typing this. We soon started seeing pull outs and picnic tables, bear boxes too. We pulled into one still spinning we backed into one. leveled the camper. Then took a break. Up from the camper was a ridge and over that ridge and down the slope the creek was supposed to be. We walked up and looked down to see a small creek. Slid down the sand bank to see Rio Grande trout darting off from seeing us! My goodness we found it! Back to set up the camper fully and quickly build and string up our rods. Rig and view from site,

  Now to the fun part. Within 30 minutes we had both landed our first Rio Grande Cutthroat 100 % pure Natives I might add ,

    Again small creek, tight fishing and passed up many places you could not fish at all.

We ran into a couple hikers, a man and his son. We asked if they would take a picture for us? They did as we stood in the little creek,

This is where we turned around and took the trail back to the truck but there was one more cast I wanted to try to make. Right above where we stood was a pool. in front of the pool there were two logs above the water above the water the willows enclosed the top. one small hole to send a fly through. I set up and made the cast. The hopper shot through like I knew what I was doing. Pat said you lucky turd,

  The spot but the cast was back from where I stood. The hopper floated maybe two foot and up came the cutty and it was one last fish on. I fought him and landed him under the double logs. Pat just shook her head,

        We got back to the camper, broke down the rods. Got inside and at the same time. We did it, all three Colorado natives. Dinner and a nights sleep. A bit restless though as we were both pondered about getting out of here. So later it will be the ride out and the Dunes. The fishing is not done and more surprises lay ahead,

  BilletHead

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, tho1mas said:

BH -- Great pictures & report.

How was the garden when you got home?

        Thanks Tho1mas,

  Actually garden was till going pretty well. I had taken out some tomatoes before we went. The ones left gave instructions to the lady watching the house. She watered, picked and had our dear friend Annette pick. We came home to ripe Black Krim's and some rainbows. peppers too!

58 minutes ago, laker67 said:

Did motroutbum take the picture of the mountain goat on your trip up the mountain?

         Randy was the goat of which I spoke of. Up ahead of us. if I would of took the time to get the camera out of my pocket he would of been out of site before I could snap the photo. To be young again! . Do it while you can boys!,

  BilletHead 

[BilletHead]

         We will finish this part of the story up,

  Up at 4AM.  Got to moving and doing morning ritual then cranking the top down. On the road through the sand in the dark. Two reasons. One so as to not meet anybody and two we wanted to watch the morning sun hit the sand dunes.  We did the trip in reverse than inward and up not stopping yesterday. This time we stopped where the warning signs were as we traveled going up,

    No other numbskulls out early like the BilletHead's. We drove to one of the dunes parking lot. Coffee still hot from the ride down we had a bowl of cereal on the observation deck. We had a big wind the night we were up the creek and was hoping it had cleared all the tracks and ours would be the first on the flats before the dunes. Not so there was four rigs in the lot and people crossing the flats and heading to the top. Through binoculars we could see tracks behind the climbers. Telephoto lens on the better camera did not justice because of low light. I  know Flysmallie I could of used the tripod and adjusted the aperture, baby steps buddy I need to study. As we gazed some things came to mind. Lawrence of Arabia on horseback riding across the dunes, a line of camels taking trade goods to remote places. The best of all were the people already on the dunes. All you could make out was forms. I thought of some of the creatures in Star Wars, the sand people on the dunes with the sand craft speeding along the flats. I really had no idea this place existed. We watched one young lady solo start at her jeep. She put on her water hydration pack and hiking boots. She then told us she was going to the summit. We watched her do it. up and over dune after dune. She would disappear and pop back out all the way to the top. Just thought of something else. The movie Dune with the singer Sting. A panoramic view of sorts,

   I assure there are people on those dunes!

    We went on down to the visitor center but it was closed. What's wrong with these people Early to rise your burning daylight!  Leaving we passed the gate and I wondered if the lady the day before thought we may never make it out .   We worked our way farther South to Alamosa and were greeted by some of the town's residents. Actually we almost hit one. They should look both ways before crossing the road,

       This concludes the Rio Grande. I will prepare the next part of the trip. We are still on the Sprint part if the run. Tired yes but pumped up all the same. We again visited with our friend Randy. He said he had no idea we would complete the three native cutthroats in three days. We may be flatlanders but we are go getters,

  BilletHead

   I will attach four more taken from the lot at breakfast with the telephoto. First the young lady heading up.

     Then towards the mountains we had just spent the night in,

A couple of the imaginary sand people,

      Neat place. i think it was 1.5 miles to the top of the farthest dune in the picture and it goes way beyond that. With the binoculars you could see the walkers slide and fall down. As we left there were two kids carrying plastic sleds getting ready to head up. Now that would be a hoot going back down! 

 

[ness]

Nice cutt-bows! 😄

Seriously, as you know, I love the small stream hunt, especially for natives. Love seeing this. Had to look up Great Sand Dunes. Looks to be directly north of where I fished for Rio Grandes. 

[BilletHead]

6 minutes ago, ness said:

Nice cutt-bows! 😄

Seriously, as you know, I love the small stream hunt, especially for natives. Love seeing this. Had to look up Great Sand Dunes. Looks to be directly north of where I fished for Rio Grandes. 

              Oh you men the easy place where the not so hard headed fisher people go? .

  BilletHead

[ness]

3 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

              Oh you men the easy place where the not so hard headed fisher people go? .

  BilletHead

I’m an efficient fisherman. Didn’t need as much time as you guys took 😄