The Ice Is Fleeting

This very well could be the last ice trip of the year. Wind and temperature forecasts look poised to peel the hard stuff away this week and usher in the open water season. George graciously let me tag along for an early morning trip. We got on the ice and set up just as the sun was peeking over the horizon and started working to the trout. We had quite a few come through and George was on them well landing several with one 20 incher. I missed a strike or two and then broke a bruiser off as he just ran right off with my setup. As things slowed in the mid-morning we packed it up and headed into town. George seemed pretty convinced that this was it for the ice.

A 20 incher coming through the hole on the end of George's line


After fishing, I headed over to the Conservation and Sustainable Living Expo at the fairgrounds here in town. Our newly reformed TU chapter had a table and I worked it for a couple hours and visited with people. It was nice to see so many people out at the expo and excited about spring. If you want to check out our chapter the website is at:

www.laramietu.org

We seem to have some real momentum in the chapter and people are excited to get things up and running.

Windy Day

The winds were terrible today. I tried to wait them out to see if later in the day they might lay down a bit but that never happened. It made casting the fly rod an act of timing and target practice. I was able to battle the iced up guides and find a couple trout before the wind finally drove me back home to spend the evening indoors.

The nicest fish of the day was this pretty rainbow trout, which was also a nice surprise in this heavy brown trout water.

First Brook Trout Of 2011

The weather was too nice to stay indoors today. Temperatures in the 40's negated the cooling effect of the stronger gusts of wind. I had to get out and explore some of the iced up water in a hunt for trout.

The first hour was uneventful with most of my time spent enjoying a nice Breckenridge Brewery Oatmeal Stout.

Right at 4:30pm I had the first take, and landed a fat rainbow trout on the scud pattern.

Another hour passed and as I was actively working my marabou jig, it was engulfed by a decent brook trout. My first brookie of the year for 2011. I fished about 20 more minutes before finally heading out at dark.

Icing At Dusk

Beau and I decided that maybe the fish would be active right at dusk tonight under the ice and that we might be able to take advantage of the good weather and luck upon some husky rainbows. We set up and fished it hard for 2 hours but it just wasn't in the cards for us this evening. Some good conversation, a couple ales, and a beautiful sunset kept us satisfied but the fish never materialized. We'll get 'em next time Beau. Thanks for heading out and giving it a go.

Beau working the jig trying to find any interested trout

The sun fading behind the Snowy Range

Sunset over the Laramie Valley

Dusk On Moving Water

I managed an hour out on the banks of what has opened back up here in the local area. The fish were active and hungry and I managed to find four brown trout willing to take the leech. The best fish of the night boiled on the leech right as it hit the water. There was a big swirl and immediate tension on the line as I was unable to even get a single strip in before the fish engulfed the fly. After a few leaps and a bit of a fight I brought him in and got a quick picture as the sun was setting, painting the sky in pink and purple hues.