More high country

[Ed Wahl]

This time with Phil.

Last weekend.

We set out at o'dark thirty heading up to Ubersecret Lake to play with the cute little cutts again.

Weird weather's been going on so I brought along a rain jacket just in case.

Well, it didn't rain on us, which is a good thing. The not so good was that I hadn't considered just how cold it is first thing in the morning at 8000 ft with iffy weather and nasty winds. Brrrrrrrrrr.

That rainjacket saved the day for me just for keeping me warm. It was probably in the thirties when we left the truck.

The walk in to Ubersecret Lake is a warmer upper though, and when we did finally manage to find it (i thought i had it dialed) we were quite comfortable. The sun even put in a couple of appearances.

So here we are, standing on a rocky knoll above and just through the trees from the lake. I hear Phil say, rather excitedly, "What the?", are those fish?

I could see through the gap in the trees he was looking through and sure enough, the trout were rising right along the near shore. Talk about a hard time rigging up. How many of you ever dropped the leader and line back down through all of the guides when you were in a hurry?

So we finally got rigged up. I told Phil to go get 'em while I take pictures.

Here's the best I could do zooming in on the rising fish from our vantage.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil002.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil003.jpg

So Phil goes in for the kill. Like the consumate professional he is (he took classes you kow) he stalked, low and quiet up to his chosen stand.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil005.jpg

Ready at last. He checks to make sure his quarry hasn't detected him. Then, glancing over his shoulder he checks his lanes for the back cast.

At last he's ready.


On his very first cast no less!

"

"


"


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil007.jpg
Que the trombone sound effect.....Waa waa waa waaaaaaa.
Hee hee.

So after some swearing on his part and laughter on mine he goes in again.

This time he's dead serious.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil009.jpg

And the pay off.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil010.jpg

I could see his mental gears shifting after that first one. Now the pressure was off and these fish have proven that they can be caught.
We circled the lake picking up one here and there 'til we came to a large boulder/small cliff back on the side where we started.
We both opted for smallish bead head nymphs here. Up on the rock when the wind stopped and the sun came out you had a birds eye view of cutt after cutt first noticing the fly then coming in for the easy meal.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil014.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil015.jpg

Once you hooked up you had to jump over to this gap, climb down and release your fish. Quickly.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil016.jpg

Phil caught a couple that had real pot bellies on them, like this one.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil018.jpg

Here's on of mine, took the pic just cause it was so pretty.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Brookies%20and%20Cutts/Cutts%202/cuttsandphil020.jpg

While we fished from that rock we took turns, one drinking a beer and the other fishing. You've got to love a civilized fish like that.

We were hoping to catch some brookies on the way out buy high water in one spot and running out of time and weather at the other meant no squaretails this time out. But we do have another destination to be checked out at a later date.
Got rained on in a big way during the drive out. Perfect moutain weather.

What a day.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That's great that they seem to have plenty of food............

I think I'm am somehow related to that fat one?

[Phil Synhorst]

Yep, for what looked like it was going to be a miserable day right from the start, it turned out pretty darn good. Luckily with age, you do sometimes use a little wisdom. The light gear we brought for rain saved us from switching to plan B do to cold.....the runny nose/snot freezing on your face cold.....it was the end of August, damn it!!!!:-({|=

It all started to look better after we found the spot, "I've got it dialed in, this time":-k. Famous last words.:lol: The thunder clouds that were always on the horizon were kind enough to skirt around us; and the wind was manageable for the most part.

How can you not love fishing for Lahontans?? They're so pretty, and(knock on wood) so accommodating. Fishing from that little cliff was a blast. If there wasn't a few cruising 10-12ft. in front of you, just put the fly out over the deeper water and watch 'em torpedo in from the darkness.

Back to the beginning, that now infamous first back cast.:o I couldn't tell if Ed was laughing out loud(hope he was) over my loud litany of swear words. But, I'm pretty sure he was at least silently laughing and quoting Bugs Bunny, "What an imbecile, what an ultramaroon".

I had two realizations at the end of that day. One, I still have some work to do overcoming some bad casting habits I've formed over the years. And two, I need to get my slothful butt in shape this winter. The hiking was fairly easy, but at the end of the day I was drop dead tired.



Bill, I'm not sure about your relationship to those Cutts. I don't think your spot pattern matches up.:lol:

[Mrs.Finsallaround]

Back to the beginning, that now infamous first back cast.:o I couldn't tell if Ed was laughing out loud(hope he was) over my loud litany of swear words. But, I'm pretty sure he was at least silently laughing and quoting Bugs Bunny, "What an imbecile, what an ultramaroon".


No worries, Phil. Paul and I were out the same weekend, but on the Truckee. I pulled the same exact stunt :roll: .

Granted, it wasn't QUITE as cold (42 in the morning), and it rained on us most of the morning/afternoon.

But, once I got it figured out, I was able to hook 'em too. Never sight-fished or short-lined before. It was a blast! :nod:

[Phil Synhorst]

Hey Robin,

I'm not sure how I missed your post about the Truckee:question:, so of course I had to track it down and read it.:)

Nice going up there! I know you said it's not quite your cup of tea, but get a big Bow on that takes a few screaming runs, and few tail dances and you'll likely have another fishing addiction.:unibrow:

[Scott V]

Nice tree Phil, nice tree. Will you get a tattoo of the tree on your other leg now. :lol:

[SHigSpeed]

What?! Didn't pack in the Supercat?! Lazy lazy lazy... Just kidding. Gotta hit that lake some day, but I still have to get into the headwaters before the end of the season.

_SHig

[Phil Synhorst]

Nice tree Phil, nice tree. Will you get a tattoo of the tree on your other leg now. :lol:

I should ink it on my forearm. Give me a good visual reminder of what NOT to hook.:D