Silver Creek

October 2008

After a wonderful weekend in Greer we decided to stop by Silver Creek on our way home. I had heard some good things about the Creek, and although as I was told it is not a very technical fishery there were several stories of some big fish. I had also heard that it was a pretty well maintained area so I figured it would be a good place for us all as a family to take a break and have some fun for a couple of hours before heading home. So after stopping by the local general store of the town of Silver Creek to get directions we finally found our way to the creek. Silver Creek is one of the few fisheries in Arizona that mandate catch and release only as well as artificial lure and fly only regulations. I am a strong believer in catch and release regulations and am glad to see the state supporting the sport.






We made it to the creek early in the afternoon with the thought of fishing for a couple of hours or so while exploring the area. I was not to optimistic after talking to two fishermen that had just spend the day with out a bite. However on the first hole I was landing my first Apache trout (native only to Arizona waters, as well as the only fish to come off of the endangered species list). Turned out that the fishing was actually rocking and we were landing Apaches and Rainbows every 10 minutes or so. Pretty soon an hour turned into several hours, luckly I have the most patient wife and son and we were all having a blast exloring the creek and catching fish. Finally when we were about to call it a day we came a cross a whole that was producing a fish on every drift. After several smaller fish I hooked into my first really big (over 14 inces) fish of the day and landed a 18.5" Apache. If that was'nt enough after a few more casts I hooked into a fish that ran me 30 feet up the creek the second I set the hook, after several more runs, as well as struggling to land him in my net which was half the length of the net I landed this beautiful 24" rainbow. One of the best parts about fishing with my wife is she takes some amazing pictures. It ended up being a wonderul day for fishing as well as some family fun, the only way this sport can get any better is when you get to share it with the ones you love.

X-Diamond Ranch

October 16-19, 2008

Had a great weekend with my wife and son and some friends to one of my favorite vacation spots in Arizona. We took off for a long weekend to X-Diamond Ranch near Greer Arizona to fly fish their private water section of the Little Colorado and stay at one of their cozy cabins.

I was able to fish for two days from sun up to sun down and although the river was running low there were fish to catch in almost every pool throughout the day. I went on the trip dreaming of landing a large Brown however while I saw some large ones and even had a few rise to my fly, such as one of the times when I snuck up through some tall reads on a large shallow pool, I tossed out my fly just up current of the pool and as it drifted into the mouth of the pool I saw a beautiful dark red brown cruise over from 4 feet away to hit my fly, alth0ugh as is very commen problem of mine just as he went to grab the fly I got so excited at seeing this georgous fish I set the hook to early and pulled the fly out of the water just as he was hitting it. So while I was sad not to land my dream brown I had a blast catching rainbow after rainbow a few in the 18" range.













Look closely and you can see that my amazingly talented wife snapped this shot just as this Rainbow jumped out of the water.

Chevelon Lake

October 11 2008

Since I have started to really get into fly fishing this year I have been looking for and dreaming about my first big brown. All summer long I have been hearing about how during the fall spawn they really start to get active up at Chevelon lake. So when I heard that my Mother and Sister-in-law were going to be in town in October I figured that would be my chance to get away. So after a week of anticipation and dreams about 20"+ browns taking me into my backing I was ready to go. However there was one problem, the weather report was saying 40+ MPH winds all weekend long. Being one who hates to change his plans as well as not understanding when to give up I decided to head up anyways. So Late Friday night I drove 3 hours up to Chevelon Lake and hunkered down in my sleeping bag in the back of my "new" Jeep (from here out known as Rubi) for the night. I started to get concerned when at 2 in the morning "Rubi" started to rock and shake from the winds, but while falling back asleep I hoped for the best. Sadly when I awoke at dawn to the sound of tree limbs snapping in the wind I knew I was in for an adventure. I snaked out of by sleeping bag and strapped my pontoon boat onto my back for the mile hike down the canyon into the lake.


I knew it was going to be a ruff day when I could barely get into my pontoon boat without it blowing down the lake. But not to be deterred I lunged in and despite the small group of boy scouts looking at me like I was crazy (while probable thinking how exciting it's going to be to finally have the opportunity to put to use the CPR they learned for their first aid marit badge) I kicked out into the lake. The wind was blowing spray from the lake horizontal across the water and as I tried to row and kick across the lake the wind drove me down the lake five feet for every two feet across. To make a long story short I've learned my lesson and for now on I will heed the weather man.

I stayed and fished the whole day and after cramped legs from constantly kicking my fins against the wind, and sore arms from rowing, I had myself 3 small Rainbows to show for it. Despite all of that, it was, as it always is, a great day to be in the outdoors and a wonderful place to spend a Saturday.