The Rube

[Ed Wahl]

Fished my home waters today with Scott. Being up there always brings the memories flooding back. Since my digicam isn't waterproof I don't carry it when up on the Rube, too many duckings have finally left a mark. Scott brought his waterproof camera so tomorrow, late, when he wakes up and shakes off the muscle soreness you might see some pics.

It was an excellent day up the canyon, clear cool water on a hot day never felt so good. I even took the water temp at noon, 65 degrees, not bad. No size to speak of today, but plenty of tiny 'bows on drys. Plenty of those million dollar shots you see on calendars of spectacular waterfalls. Plenty of bugs,plenty of laughs( Scott, stop teasing the rattlers) plenty of miles, and plenty elevation changes. If you're not going up, you're going down. If you guys can remember the Flinstones, Scott, without ever saying anything out loud, did a perfect impression of Fred Flintstone muttering on our last little journey down a 'lost trail' to our last spot. All he said out loud was," I hate you". I think he's ready for something hard now.

I noticed a lot of old Golden Stonefly husks on the rocks, wish I would have been up here in June, looks like it was a great hatch. You guys that note such things, write that down, you won't be sorry.

I didn't see as many caddis cases crawling around on the bottom as I used to see, I wonder if any of the regulars up there(Carnazzo) have noticed the same thing?

And, as always, when the time came to leave I really, really wished I'd gone ahead and brought overnight camping gear with me. The canyons in the evening and at night are like a narcotic on my consciousness. The air calms down and gets velvety smooth, the smell of Mountain Misery surrounds everything, the ambient sounds seem muted, it seems like the whole canyon is holding it's breath in anticipation of the night. It is, at least for me, a magical place. Ed

[roostersgt]

I often wish I had brought my camping stuff at the end of the day also. For the same reasons Scott has probably thought of. Because I'm usually so damn tired and beat up from hiking up and down the canyons. If I can't crash in my tent and recover from the days beating, then I would like for a helicopter to pick me up and let me nap in peace for the ride back to the car. :P :P :P

Love those lil' trout!

Steve

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

"15 minutes down, an hour back out".......

I have heard many fly fishers over the years talk about hiking down into many streams east of here.

Going down hill in the cool morning is fine but hiking uphill in the warm afternoon when you are tired of rock hopping all day is killer.

It is great that those back-country trout streams will be there for many year because they get little impact.

[Charlie Gonzales]

Good for you guys. As usual it sounds like you had a great time.

[Scott V]

Yep another trip further than I expected but should be use to it by now. Ed decided I need to see much more of the Rubicon than I did before with my wife. I should have known something was up when we took a different trail that headed up instead of down to the water. The trail was an easy trail but for me it was a good long trail, I guess I just have a problem walking in the dirt when I could be down walking in the water. So after what seemed a couple of miles, which was probably not even 1 mile we get down to the water. We saw a couple backpacks in a small camp but never saw the hikers til later in the day. I took my first good fall on this trip, a boulder I stepped on to decided to roll away allowing me to land flat on my back and butt on to those nice not so round rocks and boulders. It was one of those falls where you just decide to lay there for a minute and think away the pain. But all in all it was a great trip that I will not forget for a long time.

Why are we up here when the water is down there.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Rubicon/2nd%20trip/IMGP0839.jpg

Ed working a good pool as I rest from the hike in.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Rubicon/2nd%20trip/IMGP0841.jpg

Here is where I started thinking "I might just hate you Ed" and where the heck are you going?
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Rubicon/2nd%20trip/IMGP0847.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Rubicon/2nd%20trip/IMGP0850.jpg

This looks like a good spot for a break.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Rubicon/2nd%20trip/IMGP0855.jpg

Ed thought the same thing, this is a nice spot for a break.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Rubicon/2nd%20trip/IMGP0856.jpg

Here is an under water pic of this little guy I saw tanning on a rock.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Rubicon/2nd%20trip/IMGP0858.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Rubicon/2nd%20trip/IMGP0859.jpg

Another trip with lots of hand size fish, I had a great time but boy did my legs hurt something bad after this trip.

[Hairstacker]

Great report and pictures guys! That does look like a magical place. Although pretty rugged, it also looks like a lot of fun.

[Scott V]

Yeah it is a little rugged, I only lost 4 lbs. on this trip. and the bruise I got on my back side is a reminder of the fun I had. :D

[Ed Wahl]

Hah, my wife no longer tells me not to get hurt up there, she just says don't get hurt too badly. Minor injuries go with the territory. I've left enough skin up there from my shins to graft another whole person. :lol:

On a more serious note, I spotted quite a bit of litter around the bridge access and I'm going to be doing a clean up, possibly during the Fall Caddis hatch. No date set yet but it'll be within a month. If anyone's interested( there will be fishing) let me know and I'll hurry up and nail down a date. Ed

[cmaday]

Hey Ed and Scott,

Thanks for the pictures and fishing tales. Enjoy reading and seeing some of the beautiful spots near our home. You guys have definitely added to my future adventures, and the Rube is definitely on my long list. Seriously, too many places and not enough time.

Thanks,
Cory

[Ed Wahl]

Take it off your long list and put it on the short list Cory. It's under 2 hrs away. Like my post said, I'll be up there again before long to clean it up and spend the rest of the time fishing. If you want to show up, just stay tuned. The work part won't take more than a couple of hours, that'll give me plenty of time to show people around my little slice of heaven. This time I will bring overnight gear. Ed

[cmaday]

Appreciate the offer and will see if I can get a kitchen pass. Would definitely enjoy to see the area. Thanks and hopefully I can make it.

[SuperFlyGuy]

Ed, now thats my kind of hiking. hahah... Looks like you guys had fun. I gotta head out there one of these days with ya. Let me know when you nail down the date for the cleanup, Ill be willing to help.


-Micah

[BillyB]

Ed,
I'd be up for some clean up/fishing on the Rube. My days off are Mon/Tues. I'll be out of town in the middle of Sept. Late Sep works better for me.

Bill