Nymphing, stripping smaller streamers and matching the bwo hatches are getting it done on these hungry fish. The break in the weather has turned them on!
Quick fish with my bud. He may be 11, but it doesn’t slow him down. Photo 1: River preparations. Gus is helping behind the scenes. Photo 2: Laser focus. Photo 3: Fishy kisses. He had to kiss each one. They couldn’t swim away fast enough.
Rouse Team Conejos 2018 was over the top. Love these peeps! Here’s a little photo journal from our adventure (Top to bottom, left to right):
Photo 1: Wild hair and cheerios. No better way to start the day. Photo 2: Jordan’s wild brown. We ran around the river through the boulders to net this one. Photo 3: Hike and fish. Probably one of the hottest days there, but still doesn’t compare to the heat and humidity of Arkansas. Photo 4: Start them young. Cameron is dodging Harper’s backcast. @rouseflyfishand Little Miss are lighting them up past the bridge. Photo 5: Intense. PC @rouseflyfish (He paused from cooking our dinner to snap this one.) Photo 6: Snake charmer. We later saw a similar snake engulf a small trout on the bank.😳 Photo 7: Kinetic sand for the win. Photo 8: Hammock times are always good. Photo 9: Squirrel trapper. All ground squirrels were released soon after capture. Photo 10: The Gang. The only photo of our entire group. ❤️
We had such a blast taking advantage of a day off and heading to Dry Run. It was freezing but so much fun! Little Miss plans to do more fishing during warmer temps. T was an ice cube by the end of the day.
The river is more than a weekend retreat for us. It runs through our veins. It’s a way of life, our livelihood. For me it also symbolizes change–almost 15 years ago leaving the city life and venturing to the unknown. It doesn’t always give freely with conditions that can change in the blink of an eye, making it difficult for the average bear. I am forever grateful for our Papa Bear who is way beyond the average. I’ve watched our children grow from “fishing” with us in front packs to mending their lines better than many adults.
As we continued on our Colorado journey, I was feeling the frustration of being sick and not running. (Probably the most I have not run in years. The upside was fresh legs for the couple of runs I finally felt like doing! And I found my one pair of shorts lost earlier in the trip. Winning!) I also had not had a lot of fishy time to myself. As our kids are still kids, fishing usually includes a lot of splashing and skipping rocks with obviously fewer fish. Sometimes not any fish, if you are not quick enough to get a line in before the chaos.
We haven’t really pushed our kids to fish. We want the desire to come naturally from within. One night I was going to sneak off to grab some much needed solo river time. Shortly into my hike, I realized I had company. A certain little 9 year old decided she really wanted to fish with me. At that moment I knew that this was better than the moment of solitude I was seeking. I wouldn’t give anything for our night on the river.
We wrapped up our time in Colorado with the epic stonefly hatch on the Conejos living for a moment in a tiny cabin in the middle of the fish camp full of people that plan for this hatch every year. We didn’t realize until we got there that it was happening. We couldn’t have timed it more perfectly and will be back next year–probably with many of the same people. What a special community where our kids made quick friends and rode their bikes freely through the camp.
Of course we managed to squeeze in some stellar disc golf in Beaver Creek. It was way beyond amazing. I absolutely love my group of humans and savor these adventures we have together. Each year we have a theme song. This year was Leon Bridges’ “River”.
HANGIN’ WITH THE CREW
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So glad to have everyone back home. We enjoyed a big family dinner of vegan quinoa and black beans, fresh fruit, big salad, bonfire and a little disc golf in the yard. Jamie and I couldn’t have picked a better group of guys to be part of our team. This is our first family photo. Tony didn’t get the flannel memo.
Fish happy,
Kati
Beautiful little trout makes for a good start to the week. That and Little Man ate three green beans last night. He liked them. It’s the little things.
The local elementary school was doing a painting class fundraiser for the Gifted and Talented program. This month’s focus was on trout, so Jamie and I were asked to be a part. We thoroughly enjoyed painting with the kids, especially one particular 8 year old! I just hung our 4 masterpieces the other day. Jamie is top left. I am top right. Little Miss is the bottom two, and I’m pretty sure she outdid her parents.
Love for the outdoors to inspire art in kids. Look forward to doing more in the future.
