Risk and rewards of bushwhacking

[riverdog]

Had about 6 hours to get out and fish yesterday. Decided to hit the middle section of my favorite stream. Since no roads or trails reach it that meant a couple miles and going over about 1200 ft of mountain bushwacking. The first picture is my route up going just to the right of the highest point. After about 30 minutes a rattler 2 steps in front of me is there to welcome my approach to the top. Went around him and had a drink and let my pulse drop out of the 160's and snapped the 3rd picture as I enjoyed the view from the top for a minute. Once finding a route up I ran into a sign that said 'Danger Explosives' half way up. Sorry no picture but I go wide around that area. Probable just another crazy fly fisherman put the sign up[] but that doesn't mean he didn't mine the route[shocked]. After another half hour me and the dog hit the little stream. Down in the canyon no explosives or rattlers to worry about. Just the occasional mountain lion that tries to sneak down. Mountain lions seem to be really attracted to the smell of smoked salmon. I can't say I blame them but the dog is never in the mood to share. Caught about 3 dozen fish in 2 hours on the water. Not bad but on cloudy days fishing can be twice as fast. Today about 80-90% are what I call " 2 lb brown" - a healthy 15-16 inch brown trout. No big trout as hoped today but only one was less than a foot long. The whole time not any signs of people or even a single piece of trash in sight. Assorted smaller stones were hatching (there is one in the net above the brown in the photo) and size 8 -10 nymphs and then dries all worked equally well. Only an hour back over the mountain and another hour drive and I'm back in time to pick up my son as planned.
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[remo_5_0]

Nice Paul,

I am amazed at the size of the fish in that stream, looks like perfect weather and a great fishing day.

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[riverdog]

Mike,
Those really are just the cookie cutter browns in there. Given some more time to fish and maybe a few clouds and you have a good shot at some lunkers. Let me know if you're ever up for a nice workout and plus some abrasions getting in and out and I'll show you.
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[wetyourfly]

That looks like a great way to spend 6 hours. If you dont mind sharing i would love a little info on the area you are fishing. I feel like everywhere i go there are a million people. Thanks for the post and peaking my intrest
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[Anthonygreer]

If there are cutthroats in there, we were on the same stream. Nice shot with the chernobyl in the mouth
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[riverdog]

I think we fish some of the same streams so it wouldn't surprise me. I only caught browns last outing but yes there are a few cutts and rainbows as well. Most of the time about 10% of my fish are something besides browns. The 17-18 inch bows are real footballs running 2 and a half to 4lbs. So do you ever spend a several hours getting to the middle section or bushwhack into there? Say hi if you see me. It's a lonely place to fish for all those really stupid trout[sly]. All it took me was about 50 hours of trial and error bushwhacking over the years (and hundreds of scrapes and cuts) and now I know my way in and out throughout the place. The biggest thing is to learn where not to go because there's a lot of cliffs and impenetrable brush you want to avoid.
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[Gibbyutah]

Nice photos. Looks like a great day. That is a fat snake. They always scare the crap out of me.[]
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[shadowcaster]

Hey Paul -
Good work back there. Just for the record - I didn't put up the explosives sign. haha. Had a bad day there about a week or so ago. It was weird because it was under the exact same conditions that I did poorly last year. I really think there is a brief moment when the hatches become so prolific that the fish don't feed as much because I usually put up big numbers there. What is your forecast for the hopper fishing this year?! Seems like the weather has thrown a few things off (salmon's were pretty spotty).
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[riverdog]

Josh,
I think you're right, the first half hour I fished a very thick hatch of stones and caught only one fish and it was the smallest of the day. They must have just been stuffed to the gills. As I worked up on the leading edge of the hatch the fish all of a sudden went into a crazy feeding frenzy for an half hour. The last hour up the river slowed a bit as the stones really thinned out further.
There is actually a reason explosives where used in the area in the past. But I wonder what the fine would be if we put some danger explosives signs up to keep the hordes out of a few of these very best streams in Utah[]. I've seen signs warning of rattlers as well in Utah- maybe we could convince the forest service those signs are desperately needed. Last year I quit bushwacking late spring after seeing several rattlers every single trip in.
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