Flaming gorge April 26, 27

[pezvela]

Arrived Friday night in Manila to brisk winds and cold temp. Got a room at the Villa and settled in with a rum and coke to pass the evening while praying the 20 knot wind would lay down enough to fish in the morning.

6:00AM saturday. Colder than a step mothers kiss. In spite of being above average in intellect, we decided to put the boat in the water. 24 degree air temp.10 to 20 MPH winds. trolled from the marina across swim beach, along the ledges to the pipeline. We put 5 rainbow in the boat. All were small, 14 to 18 inches. None were fat. All were beautiful. They looked like steelhead bright from the salt. Fought doggidly below the surface without the typical rainbow acrobatics, but what the hell, I didn't want to be out in that cold, bitter air, why would the fish? All of them caught on RMT serpent spoon. Too cold to change lures. By 12:00 noon we had enough. Put the boat back on the trailer.

NOTE: Lots af anglers fishing from the vicinity of the launch ramp and having what appeared to be good success. The spawning rainbow return to the area where they are planted, in this case the launch ramp and there are a small legion of anglers gathered to meet them. What a joyous reunion for everyone, save the fish who expected a little sex at the end of their travels and got a purple leech instead.

Sunday promised to be a little nicer and I certainly hoped so. I felt like a shift or two had been put in on the Bering sea with the discovery channel in pursuit of crab.

Our plan was to be on the water all day IF the wind didn't blow so we waited around for the Villa restaurant to open at seven. I didn't like that late of a start, but what is a boy to do? After all breakfast is the most important meal.

It was after eight when we launched, but the air was dead still and it felt pleasant even with the 25 degree air. Off we went trolling tracing our path from the day previous.

We fished all of the day basking in the warming sunshine. We celebrated life and a magnificent day with apricot brandy and black steaming coffee between bouts with valiant rainbows. It was a day to remember. Flaming Gorge has no equal when she is benevolent. We caught only rainbow and none were larger than the previous day, but we didn't care. Spring is here and the fishing has begun. It was, as they say, A day not soon forgotten.

Keep the wind to your back

[line_dangler]

I see you too, became victims of the wind. I just love your spicing-up of your report. You are absolutely right in that the Gorge has no equal. None anywhere else in the world.

While you were there, did you hear abou the 40 lbs Mack caught there by an anlger fly-fishing? He was using a 12-inch long rainbow shaped and colored fly when the monster hit it hard. He had a heck of a time landing it.
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[pezvela]

I didn't hear about the 40 lber on a fly, but we were aware that numerous big lakers ( I can't force myself to write " Big Mac's") were being taken.

I talked to Fishley on the phone from the bar ( I was at the bar not fishley) and he reported catching big fish down towards the dam somewhere deep in the Utah side.

Aaron Reid was having a great time with 20 lb class fish and Kyle Edwards, the talented guide, clients took an upper 30 pound class fish and some smaller ones Saturday. I don't know what happened Sunday. The majority of the lakers I heard about were taken on jigs, but a few were caught on the troll. All in all, when the wind doesn't blow, Flaming gorge is producing a lot of fish, both from the shore and boats

It is only a 3 1/2 hour drive from Central Utah so I am amazed that more anglers from the beehive state aren't up there.

I'll be eating those words when the Villa derby starts in a couple of weeks, 900 fishermen, 300 boats. It will be a good time for me to check out Lake Powell.

As reported on this forum the new gas station in Manila has the cheapest fuel around. It's a self service station that doesn't have to pay an attendant so the cost is way down so if you go to Manila doen't fuel your boat or vehicle until you arrive. You'll need a credit or debit card. Good luck and good fishing.
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[line_dangler]

I was at the Gorge last weekend, before the storm came through. Brutal wind. We did not get any lakers. We didn't see Old Moe or Jim, but they have larger boats than us and may have gone further.

Fishley is definitely right about the big guys by the dam area. I have graphed them numerous times at depths below 200'. I have never taken out though. When I go there next time, probably in about twenty days or so, I will focus on them. In another month or two, they will be down deeper and harder to catch. Lake Powell will be great in that time too, so I may have to skip the Gorge. After that, I will probably not have an opportunity to fish Powell or the Gorge for a long while.

I am anxious to see the outcome of the Derby. With 300 players, this should be some real competition. I will wish you the best for Powell.
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