Fall Fishing In The Uinta Mountains

An evening in the Uinta mountains fishing with my grandson

It was an interesting and very enjoyable evening spent fishing in the Uinta mountains with my grandson.  We arrived late in the afternoon with just enough time to get in some good fishing and relaxing time before the sun began to set. 

Fishing with my grandson
nice monster rainbow
trout he caught

...To Build A Fire

The setting sun was about one fingers width above the mountains and as I had promised, it was time to build a campfire for my grandson, Tanner.  He helped me gather the kindling from the surrounding sage brush and watched as I split the white pine I had brought from home into progressively smaller pieces.  There is something really satisfying about splitting wood, and it is more than the old “wood warms you twice” adage.  For some reason you somehow have a relationship with the wood and are grateful as it gives up its structure for your warmth.

Then we started the fire with paper and matches.  Tanner could hardly keep from piling all the wood on at one time, so I showed him how to add a little wood at a time so the fire would burn down into nice coals and still keep a nice blaze going. 

Then The Stars Came Out To Play

My fishing buddy with another
trophy trout

It got too dark to fish and we pulled our folding chairs upwind of the fire and warmed our feet and hands.  The darkness gathered around us like an old familiar blanket.  The stars began to speak up and the Milky Way appeared; something I haven’t seen for a few months but still a familiar silver cloud of stars adorning the darkness.  It always reminds me that there is more out there, so much more.

And then, my attention was drawn back down and into the fire.  Sitting there, wrapped in my hoody was Tanner with his face aglow in the fire light.

Good Night Sweet Dreams

Is there anyting more beautiful
 than the outdoors?

It’s at times like this that I get in touch with something.  It is more than fishing and catching fish and crawdads.  It goes beyond a day spent fishing and enjoying the outdoors – the animals, trees, flowers and water that seem to fill my soul.  I don’t know what it is except that I saw it…in a child’s face lit by the campfire.

                                   Fenwick Fleigenbinder  9/5/2011




www.trophutroutschool.com

Mid Winter Fly Fishing Or Blue Bird Days Still Water Fishing For Trophy Rainbow Trout & Tiger Trout In Utah

Blue Bird Winter Fishing Days Are Here & I Am Ready

It's 7:09 a.m. Friday February 11th 2011 and I am going fly fishing in a couple of hours with my best Friend and fellow guide Ralf.  Ralf likes to sleep in and fish during bankers hours in the late morning after the sun is well into the almost mid day sky and the black midge hatches are starting to stir the clear open waters of the still waters where we fish for trophy tiger and rainbow trout.  We stay near Salt Lake City & Park City in the lower altitudes where the open waters don't freeze and the tiger and rainbow trout are big and feisty.

Most people write about the great day they have had fishing....to be truthful, I am like a kid on Christmas ever and just couldn't sleep any longer.  So to kill some time before I head out I am writing about some preparation work I've completed to make this day a success.  But just so you don't get too bored I have attached some great pictures taken in the past three weeks of fly fishing in Tooele County Utah at Dove Creek West located on the Hogan Ranch and home to Trophy Trout School.

Roaring Tiger Trout with kipe jaw and huge teeth holding a small chironomid in his lower jaw.

 Get The Equipment Clean

Getting ready took longer than I thought, mainly because I haven't stopped fishing this past summer, fall and winter to clean up my fly boxes and get organized.  So I began by washing the many layers of dirt and mud off my 9 1/2 foot fly rod and and bathing the reel and floating fly line in a warm bathtub of clean water....no I was not in the tub with my equipment.  I had a shower earlier.  Anyway after removing all the line on my reel I opened it up and scoured out he the mud and dust from the past year.  Yes there was mud from falling into some slippery spots on the bank a few times.  I used a clean rag to run the run back onto the reel and does it ever shine.  Now rod and reel are ready for the giant trout the next step is preparing the fishing vest and flies.

Giant Winter Rainbow Trout solid red bars on his side starting to stage for Spring Spawn.

Get Those Flies In Order & Ready To Tie On 

Fishing vest unloaded and sent to the washer, organize all the flies in the 8 double sided floating boxes I always have close by in the trusty vest.  Clean the flies by removing left over tippet that I didn't take time to clear after using them sometime in the past year.  It is a pain to grab just the right fly and find you have to stop and clean the eye before you can tie it on..

Giant Winter Spawning Buck Tiger Trout At Trophy Trout School In Full Orange & Red Colors, Note The Kipe Jaw

Get Your Go To Flies Ready & Check My Hatch Chart

Dry the vest and organize the gear in your pockets so you know where each item is located.  My fly boxes are arranged dries on one side and nymphs on the reverse side located on my right hand outside pocket.  This is my go to side, yes I am right handed.  Left side is streamers, leeches, muddlers, sculpins, chironomids, terrestrials, scuds, sow bugs etc... the secret to winter fly fishing is to be prepared with every fly you may need to have a successful day of catching and not just fishing.  Take a look at my year round hatch chart at. http://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/fly-hatch-chart

Sweet Monster Winter Rainbow Trout On A Cold Day With The Winter Snow Melted At First Thaw 

Ready To Go And All Gear Is At The Door 

This includes boots for the mud, extra drinking water bottles and some snacks to enjoy while I am catching trophy trout.  For more photos check out the website at http://www.trophytroutschool.com/

After The First Winter Thaw The Snows Came Again But What A Perfect Setting For Still Water Fly Fishing

One last parting shot of a buck tiger trout in full winter spawn colors in the net ready to be released.

I will post some current photos of today's fishing along with some videos ....now get out there and do some winter blue bird fishing yourself.