Day 3: I grabbed some espresso and a muffin at the bakery next door and stumbled into the shop at 9 to meet my guide and find out where we were going for the day. Dan Rejda, great dude, low key, very accommodating, and absolutely full of stories. We fished from Rancho Del Rio to Two Bridges that day I’m pretty sure. Otter suggested Dan take me to some water that was a little more fun since I can cast better than most of their clientele. The scenery out here is fantastic, I zoned out while working the water all day and you tend to forget to look around and take it all in. I made sure to take plenty of breaks today to do just that. I think due to the sunny weather and slightly high water for this time of year we did about the same as the day before, like 8 in the net and plenty lost. We stopped a really scenic BLM campsite with some picnic tables for lunch. One of the best parts about the full day floats from VVA is their lunches. You get a cooler full of beer, soda, water and everything to make yourself a huge sandwich, crackers, brie, fruit, and a big cookie to top it off. We grubbed and chatted about growing up in the Midwest, laughed at some rafters and fisherman working the wrong spots. There was a chipmunk named Alvin at the campsite that must get pretty used to taking bits of food from strangers. Later on that day while casting into the wind I managed to hook myself with a trailer nymph, size 16 probably. The barb was still on and Dan had to yank it out with a piece of line, not sweet… My favorite part/fish of the day was a good sized brown that I managed to keep from getting unbuttoned while we ran some rapids or what Dan called a “Trout Relocation Program.” More good fish and another great day to be in the Rockies. Erik comes up in the morning and hopefully we slay em with the cloud cover I’m anticipating from the front rolling in. We’ll see… It’s still hard to sleep and I really miss my family.
Day 4: I woke up to a text from my buddy that he didn’t have to make any stops on his way up and that he’d be at the hotel around 8:30. I texted Otter to let him know we’d be ready early if he was. We fished a little further out of town today so the early start was crucial. We grabbed coffee and our lunch from a different deli that was also awesome and set off for our nearly 2 hr drive to the river. Where we put in was surrounded entirely with steep red rock walls and perfect xmas tree shaped pines. We set up, string up, and get comfortable in the boat. Apparently we have to navigate some of the sketchier sections of the river today, both of them require rowing backwards like mad in order to slide between bridge supports. Clacks and concrete do not mix. Dude wasn’t joking, these weren’t the fun splashy rapids i had gotten accustomed to, but instead just crazy fast shoots with rocks and a bridge to avoid. To me it seemed like we barely made it but I was assured that’s just how it rolls and that it took circumstances like this to find water with less pressure from other angler and guides. We only saw 2 other drift boats for the whole day. We worked hopper droppers, double dries, and an indicator rig for a while but no serious action. I had suggested upon arrival that one day we focus on catching big fish, today was looking like that day. Otter ties on a streamer and catches a hog first cast. Streamer time. It is so much fun tossing big flies from the drift boat. I always want to fish streamers but never put in the time. Glad we did, Erik and I bother learned a ton and hooked some massive trout. I was right about the weather conditions being in our favor. It rained for a little while and then the fish started coming out the woodwork. Flash after follow and a bunch of hook ups. I managed an 18 inch rainbow in some pretty froggy water, my biggest yet, as well as some really gorgeous browns. Erik however landed not 1 but 2 19 inch browns, one taking him for a run, and coming back to the boat, kype and all. Magazine photo fish, I felt like i had finally joined a club I had been pining for since my interest in this lifestyle had peaked. After getting back to Edwards, having dinner and a few beers, all we could do was look at each other and just say” Dude.” “I know dude.” I finally slept well.
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