BONEDALE FISHING REPORT #10

BONEDALE FISHING REPORT #10

THERE’S NO WORD ALONG THIS RIVER I CAN UNDERSTAND OR SAY

Out west some folks still fish with guns. I know I did as a lad. My brothers and I fished with spear guns, fondue forks, snagging hooks and when given the opportunity, a twelve gauge pump. Zane Mirfin tried to get his father to appreciate the fly rod on the waters around Nelson, New Zealand, but as far as I know he still prefers the twelve gauge. It’s still sight fishing, which counts for something. We’re mostly in the business of harvesting Whitefish out of the Crystal, but I’m not above killing trout. Last week Santini, Kevin Hurley and I went up to Harvey Gap to fish for big Pike. Kevin landed a thirty-five pounder, but he’s dedicated. We tired of hucking big fur bugs on 8-weight Reddingtons, even though we boiled a couple of big fish as I cranked a Barracuda tube, while Santini stood at the ready with the bug. After an hour, he switched to a giant Rapalla, which produced a scrappy stocker Bow. I haven’t kept a trout in this valley for years, but the usual rules of engagement were quickly thrown aside. My 98 year-old stepdad deserves a few more fish before he stuffs it. We caught several nice Crappie, but Kevin being younger and without fish-killing roots, kept intentionally losing them to avoid the stringer. Late in the day a big orange Midge came off, which made for good dry fly fishing, and we released almost everything to help fatten up the Pike and Muskie. Afterwards, the great Santini and I went to Dinkel Lake and posted up at the inlet and smacked a number of fish on Tim Heng’s Autumn Splendor. We held the local population at bay, then called it a day. There’s nothing quite like springtime in the Rockies. P.S. SEND SWAG.

Live from the WORLD HEADQUARTERS

Kea C. Hause esq.

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Casting for bluegill and bass in some ponds along I-70 near Rifle, CO. Photo: Copi Vojta