Fishing Forum

Little delay on the posting. I've been traveling on business but I wanted to share this still.

There are very few trout streams close to the Salt Lake Valley where my fishing buddy Kota can come with me. Usually we have to go to American Fork canyon or over the mountain to the Weeb or the Provo. I'd always heard that you could take dogs up Millcreek canyon on odd-numbered days (which is was) so we decided to check it out.

It was very crowded. People, dogs, cars, people, dogs... not a single other person fishing though. I was packing around my fly rod and net, getting a lot of strange looks and a lot of people asking me if I seriously thought I was going to catch anything in such a tiny stream.

We finally got off the beaten path and found a little stretch with some nice pools and eddys. Small stream fishing never ceases to amaze me. It's like every spot that's deep enough to hold a fish invariably does. Magic!

Lost a lot of flies to the trees, and even got myself into a couple situations where I was getting strikes but couldn't raise my tip enough to hook them because of all the vegetation.

In 3 hours we landed 15 or so (I kinda stop counting after 10, becuase at that point you've officially had a good day) on EH Caddis and PMD's. Lots of good agressive strikes, some of them jumping clear out of the water.

Most were tiny @ 4-5 inches long, but a couple were 8-9 and suprisingly fat. See pics.
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I never got the crazy look when I would fish there. I lived like 8 minutes away a couple years ago and went there often. It is getting way more crowded though and I don't care for that.




I seriously thought of hitting there again for old time sakes, thanks for sharing that.
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Right on! Millcreek is a bear to fish with all the overhang and what not. Still, it's pretty freakin cool to find fish in wat[]er that's not much more than a backdrop to most people.
I remember hitting it once when I was about sixteen, and I came upon a couple ten or so year olds fishing the creek right below the pond owned by log haven. They hadn't caught anything, and I asked if they had fished the pond. They said no, they didn't want to go to jail. Being the responsible, arrogant, good example I am, I told them to just do it, because they were too young to go to jail.
the both chunk a worm out and start reeling in. First (and only) cast, this kid lands this AWESOME buck bow with a big old kype, probably 23" and pushing four lbs. The kid hugs it to his chest and this fish is spraying milt all over him! I tell him he's got to let that fish go. He says no way, my mom will never believe I caught it.
Just then, some dude comes running at us from the restaurant yelling in a french accent "you damn kids geet ze hill out of heya before I call ze poleeze!" The kid folded his vest over the fish and ran like Forrest Gump.
sorry to jack your thread with this story, your post just reminded me of it
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Simply AWESOME!!! When I saw the title I about pee'd myself in excitement!!

I have asked a few members about it and they said they had no idea about the fishing there. Well my twin and I have tried the pond as tiny kids but never had any luck. My twin tried again this year and with a bad knee and all the snow it was a no go. Well I am saving gas money these days and we thought about hitting it again. I was close last week but opted for Big Cottonwood instead as it's closer. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE REPORT ON MC!! Just wait to see my skunking report...coming soon!
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[quote flygoddess]I never got the crazy look when I would fish there. I lived like 8 minutes away a couple years ago and went there often. It is getting way more crowded though and I don't care for that.
[.IMG][url "http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/FlyGoddess/Millcreek/IMG_0732.jpg[/IMG]"]http://i44.photobucket.com/...k/IMG_0732.jpg[/IMG][/url]

[.IMG][url "http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/FlyGoddess/Millcreek/IMG_1411.jpg[/IMG]"]http://i44.photobucket.com/...k/IMG_1411.jpg[/IMG][/url]

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This year my twin and I have joked about taking our fishing rods with us backcountry skiing. We shall have to dip a line in Spruces in Big Cottonwood and then dip a line in Millcreek. My buddy that rides with us is gonna hate watching us fish instead of going for 2nd laps. Thanks for sharing the winter pics. Brings me right back to how I have learned to love both sports! The Tri-canyon tour (LCC, BCC, MCC) is gonna be tough to find some fishing time though!
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I decided to go up there after work a few months ago just for shits and giggles. I was shocked by the quality of fish and the size. I make it a regular stop on my way home, hitting it maybe twice a week for the last three months. My worst day was probably ten fish. My best day? Too many to count. It is definitely hard to fish and not really suited for beginners (unless you don't mind getting snagged on trees, losing a crap-ton of flies, and generally being pissed off). []

I have snapped a few pics:






Believe it or not, there are 18" plus fish in there. I've only caught 3 rainbows this year, but two of them were over 16".
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NICE! 18" ers....? I guess there very well could be. I love that auto reel in the first picture.
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[quote flygoddess]NICE! 18" ers....? I guess there very well could be. I love that auto reel in the first picture.[/quote]

Mock if you must, but that reel was money in the bank. Heavy, bulky, and not much to look at -- but worth its weight in gold when trying to pick up 50 feet of slack on a 'Berry Cut or 20lb Carp that's charging you.

Sadly, it fell off my tying bench a few weeks ago and burst the spring. I gave it over an hour of CPR, but it did not recover.

RIP
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Not mocking at all. That thing is a classic. I have one but no were near as nice to look at, and sure it needs more than a spring, on an old bamboo. The weight of that reel balances out that old 9' Boo perfectly. Just tell me it is on an older fenwick glass.... 😃😄
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[quote TroutBumDave]I decided to go up there after work a few months ago just for shits and giggles. I was shocked by the quality of fish and the size. I make it a regular stop on my way home, hitting it maybe twice a week for the last three months. My worst day was probably ten fish. My best day? Too many to count. It is definitely hard to fish and not really suited for beginners (unless you don't mind getting snagged on trees, losing a crap-ton of flies, and generally being pissed off). []

Believe it or not, there are 18" plus fish in there. I've only caught 3 rainbows this year, but two of them were over 16".[/quote]

Super cool dude. Sounds like you have it dialed. I gotta start going there and getting to know it intimatley. Don;t be shocked if you see a porcupine and a "clone of it" on your waters! You are not seeing double and I swear we are humans, dispite the appearance and all.
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You know there is a fee?
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[quote Troll]You know there is a fee?[/quote]

Now if I backcountry ski there you would think I knew that right? Yes I do have a annual millcreek pass. It is totally worth it!

Plus you can always hitch-hike up and out and avoid the fee![]
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I know funds are tight for you, didn't want you to be surprised, because you pay on your way out, not in.
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[quote TyeDyeTwins][quote Troll]You know there is a fee?[/quote]

Now if I backcountry ski there you would think I knew that right? Yes I do have a annual millcreek pass. It is totally worth it!

Plus you can always hitch-hike up and out and avoid the fee![][/quote]


You mean, someone will actually pick you up with that hair...[laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh]
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[quote flygoddess][quote TyeDyeTwins][quote Troll]You know there is a fee?[/quote]

Now if I backcountry ski there you would think I knew that right? Yes I do have a annual millcreek pass. It is totally worth it!

Plus you can always hitch-hike up and out and avoid the fee![][/quote]


You mean, someone will actually pick you up with that hair...[laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh][/quote]

Hitch hiked out of White Pine in Little Cottonwood yesterday and did just fine! Got a ride within 10 cars that passed me up. Ya never know if the hair helps or hurts though.

As the same people begin to see you thumbing it every weekend they eventually warm up to you. Many times I have gotten a ride and they say "ya I saw you a couple of times now so I decided to pick you up".
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Just a joke, but must say, I am impressed in this day and age that people do pick people up still. Sorry, from past experiences, I am never going to be one, but that is just me. I do know you two though, so I would probably do it...[laugh][laugh][laugh]
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The canyon folk are different than than as if you were in say Rose Park...LOL

I worked at Solitude for about 5 years. There are ALWAYS thumbers at the mouth of Big Cottonwood.

Some interesting conversations were had on the way to work.[cool]
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I don't know about different. I lived 5 min. Away from the mouth, and lived there for many years (Skyline Eagle). I have lived in the Cityfor a few years, but moved back last year after living in Millcreek for three years. People are the same, and graffitti is a problem there too.
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I am just saying the people that live or work UP the canyon are more willing to pick the thumbers up since they are making the drive anyway, at least that is why I did.
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You are probably right...I lost some close friends due to THEM picking up a thumber is all I am saying, and we ARE talking about taking a total stranger up a canyon.
Not my cup of tea, but you get a ride, more power to ya.
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