Emigrant 2017

[John H]

I got out of the heat for six days on a backpack trip to the Emigrant Wilderness. I spent most of my time between 7000 and 9000 feet. Plenty of snow patches and the streams were still high but dropping fast. That elevation was just becoming accessible and some of the trails looked like they had not been travelled yet this summer. I got the idea that 10 days earlier the stream crossings on my route would not have been fordable. The bugs were no too bad, the flowers were at their best, swimming conditions were good and I had a thunder storm with a few drops of rain one day. My dog was very tired and will probably lay on the floor for a few days to regain her energy.

I did a lot of flip flop and barefoot fishing so I could wade and had my waterproof point and shoot camera so I tried some underwater shots of fish. They are hard to get because you don't know if you are pointing the camera at the fish. I took a few shots, let the fish go and then looked to see if I had cut off the head or stirred up so much sediment the fish was not visible. Lots of loser photos but some good ones in the bunch and the fish prefer to have their photo taken underwater.

http://i.imgur.com/MExxbMhh.jpg (http://imgur.com/MExxbMh)

http://i.imgur.com/AZypwY7h.jpg (http://imgur.com/AZypwY7)

http://i.imgur.com/VsdABBGh.jpg (http://imgur.com/VsdABBG)

http://i.imgur.com/H8WZed4h.jpg (http://imgur.com/H8WZed4)

http://i.imgur.com/D4VoXwCh.jpg (http://imgur.com/D4VoXwC)

[k9mark]

Nicely done!

[cdevine]

Awesome! That looks like an old Ross Gunnison reel? That is a legend. I have a couple along with the Cimarron. Good stuff.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Nice old G Loomis GL3 rod too.

[OceanSunfish]

Heck of a year to go to the Emigrant Wilderness!

Was it possible to gather snow and make some sort of cooler to keep beverages nice and cold? If it were possible, this would be the year is suppose.....

[Fly Guy Dave]

Those are some really nice trout and some great shots to boot. Nicely done on both!

[John H]

I did a trip once where I took cucumbers and put them in the snow to keep them cool. I eat a lot of snow while I am hiking. I grab a handful and let it melt in my mouth. Great way to stay cool and hydrated and break up the monotony.

I did not think of my gear as old but it is definitely well used. Maybe I need to work in some new stuff. I am not really a fishing gear person. I am more of a place person. I care about where I go and don't care about the gear until it breaks down. I do have several Ross reels all of which I like except for the Evolution which is always breaking and should have gone to the landfill long ago. Back in the depths of the recession I bought a few Ross Fly Rise reels because they were about $70. I use one on my smallmouth rod because the fish are rarely on the reel. It is beat to hell from throwing it in the bottom of the canoe.

[Ted S.]

Beautiful fish. Thanks for the report!

[cdevine]

John,

I think Ross built some of the best reels back in the day. I still use all of mine religiously especially in the backcountry bushwhacking because they can take a fall and ding better than the new light big arbor ones. Great shots and glad you shared your trip. Thx again.

[OceanSunfish]

I am not really a fishing gear person. I am more of a place person. I care about where I go and don't care about the gear until it breaks down.

Bravo! That's the way to be.......

I think a lot of folks lack a lot of time to be places......... so there's a lot of emphasis in gear which can be tinkered with after all the other responsibilities are completed.......

[TyV]

Some gorgeous fish. Thanks for sharing your adventure...Inspiration...

[Mr T]

Great pics- best thing about digital imo, is that you can take a lot of pics and dump what doesn't work-

[Dick]

Great pics. What camera were you using? And what service did you use to post the pics?
Thanks for taking us along on your trip.
Dick

[John H]

I have a Pentax Optio. It is 5+ years old but still does okay. My iPhone is probably better but does not go under water. I expect there are better waterproof point and shoots out there now. I was using photobucket to post pictures but they stopped their free service and wanted $40 a month. I started using Imgur and it seems to be working well and is free.

[Dick]

Thanks for getting back with answers to my ????. I have an Optio also a little square one (43WR) that I keep in the truck , probably had it at least 5 yrs also. Amazing what they can do. I have seen what photobucket is doing with their site now. I will take a look at Imgur all though I don't post many pics.
Thanks again.

[Vet_Squared]

Thanks for the awesome pictures and extra-special kudos for taking the photos of the fish under water, the colors are way more vibrant and, most important of all, it is where they "breathe"- increasing their chance of survival.
Brief thread hijack - I use Catalyst cases for my iPhones to take underwater pictures- they're good to 15', have a lanyard to dummy-cord them to my vest and never leaked once- saltwater fishing, at the beach, swimming with the dogs, snorkeling, etc. I find the Catalyst cases better than Lifeproof - which have terrible sound and only 6.5' of depth. It is one less piece of gear to bring along when back-packing. Downside is that if you lose it / gets wet you're SOL.
And amen to the "it's the trip, not the gear" mentality.

[John H]

Vet - Nice job on post #1. I was thinking the same thing on the underwater shots. The fish are in their own environment and look really good. The fins are impressive when fully extended and the colors come out. I am going canoeing at the end of the month and am going to try to get some underwater shots. Maybe I will try for underwater shots of what they call the canoe country grand slam - pike, laker, smallmouth and walleye. I may try one of those cases.

[Morgan]

I too love the underwater shots! Really makes me want to get a new case for my phone.
I wish I could like comments on here...haha!
Great mentality on the "place, not the gear". Words to live by right there.

[yankeefanbob]

Ok, I'll be the bad guy here and say what everyones thinking (or should be)......great underwater shots, but, how about the one laying on the bank? Doubt it if that one made it......

Just saying.......:(

[EricO]

Zoom in YFB,

The reel is under water, the cork is almost all the way under.

Fish is underwater.

I would've left that one alone either way...buzzkills a thread.

Just say'n.

Eric

[Jeff F]

Ok, I'll be the bad guy here and say what everyones thinking (or should be)......great underwater shots, but, how about the one laying on the bank? Doubt it if that one made it......

Just saying.......:(

Really? C'mon Bob. Let's get real here. That fish is laying in water. I don't know John, but he's been on this board for long time and always seems like a guy who respects fish and the environment. Posts like yours are what killed the NCFFB. We don't need that here. At least his fish is laying in the water, unlike your avatar pic. Get over yourself.

I guarantee that fish is perfectly fine and cruising around looking for bugs as I write this.

Great report John! The Emigrant rules!

[RaffiB]

Great report and pics!!! thanks for sharing. Now, I have to wipe the drool off my keyboard

Rafdawg_34

[yankeefanbob]

Really? C'mon Bob. Let's get real here. That fish is laying in water. I don't know John, but he's been on this board for long time and always seems like a guy who respects fish and the environment. Posts like yours are what killed the NCFFB. We don't need that here. At least his fish is laying in the water, unlike your avatar pic. Get over yourself.

I guarantee that fish is perfectly fine and cruising around looking for bugs as I write this.

Great report John! The Emigrant rules!


Ok, I'll give ya that one Jeff.....I'm not a bad guy, and my avatar was taken in less than 5 seconds which I was standing in the water when taken!

My bad if I offended anyone :oops:

[Jeff F]

Ok, I'll give ya that one Jeff.....I'm not a bad guy, and my avatar was taken in less than 5 seconds which I was standing in the water when taken!

My bad if I offended anyone :oops:

No worries Bob. We know you're a good guy, (even though you're a Yankee fan). :)

Take care,

~Jeff

[yankeefanbob]

No worries Bob. We know you're a good guy, (even though you're a Yankee fan). :)

Take care,

~Jeff

:rolleyes: