Utah Cutthroat Slam II - Day 1

The start of a great week of fishing, as always, high in hope, full of excitement. Dover and Rob picked Tom and I up on the way through Salt Lake and we were off to the Raft River drainage in search of the Yellowstone cutthroat. Leaving the freeway at Snowville, we headed west into the land of ghost towns and almost ghost towns. This is about all that is left of Naf, Idaho.

Naf Dance Hall (photo by Jimmy Emerson from Flickr; we thought of stopping, but wanted to get fishing)

Our destination was George Creek, where we would hike about a mile down from the top of the mountain where the creek starts to where the water gets big enough for the trout to be found. But our path took us by Onemile/Sawmill Creek, where I had fished with Mel a few weeks before. Of course we couldn't drive by water with fish, and the thought was that maybe would could pick up our Yellowstone cutts quickly and have time to fish the Logan for Bear River cutts in the afternoon. So we piled out of the car and got geared up.

The gang at the start of a great week

Since I had the slam already, I guided the others to a couple places that I'd found fish my last trip. Dover was the first to score, finding this monster by dangling the fly by a grassy bank until the fish finally tired of the sight and came up and hit the fly.

Dover and his Yellowstone cutt; good thing there isn't a size requirement

Tom was next, doing some serious maneuvering to get his fly on the water, let alone hook the thing. I was there to put the net under it; it would have been very difficult for him to thread the rod and the fish back out to where he could get hold of it.

Where's Waldo? This shows typical accessibility to Onemile Creek

It takes the Cutthroat Slam to get this excited about a tiny fish

We ran out of fishable sections of Onemile, and started up Sawmill. I joined the fray, hopscotching with Rob and dangling a fly anywhere there was enough water in this trickle of a stream. Rob finally found a willing fry, I mean trout. Now it was just me.

Rob Yellowstone cutt just came out of its egg sac

We continued up the creek, with me dipping and threading the fly through grass and branches anywhere it looked like there could be a fish. I had numerous chances, but came up short on all them. Since I already had the slam, we decided to head for Logan and some real fishing. But not willing to give up, I went back to Onemile while the others ate lunch. First hole, I missed a 6-inch fish that then held in the middle of the little pool and ignored everything else I tossed at it. Downstream a little, I threaded the rod through a tangle of branches, and with only three inches of line out, dipped the fly on a pool surrounded by brush. Three times the fish hit the fly, but with only three inches of line out and the rod in the middle of branches, it was impossible even to strip set, so my only chance was that the fish would hook itself. It didn't. I continued downstream, until at the barbed wire fence prominently marked with "No Trespassing," there was one last, little pool, just on the other side of the fence. With less than a foot of line out, I threaded the rod around branches and under the lowest wire, dropped the renegade on the water, and was rewarded with an immediate swirl. Unable to lift because of the wire, I did a minimal strip set and pulled the fish towards me. As I dragged it out of the water onto a mat of sticks (rod was still under the wire so I could only drag the fish), the hook came out of the nice, 8-inch cutthroat. It lay there for a second, but before I could react to drop the rod and dive for it, flopped back into the water, along with my chance for the second slam. I now have a reason to visit this out-of-the-way place again someday.

With the Yellowstone cutthroat in hand for all those who needed it, we headed for the upper Logan River, where we knew the Bear River cutthroat would be a slam dunk. We split up, Tom and I starting at a campground, Rob and Dover going a little further up to another section we have traditionally fished. They would pick us up a couple hours later. Tom and I started mid-campground, and it took Tom one cast to get his Bear River cutt.

Tom's first of many Bear River cutts from a perfect stream

I had one shortly thereafter, and we proceeded upstream, with hopper-dropper, catching fish after fish. We had more than a dozen before we reached the end of the small campground a couple tens of yards upstream. Lots of beautiful cutts. After a couple hundred yards and lots of fish, the water changed, dropping faster, and we did a lot of walking in big, slick boulders with few fish. As it neared the pickup time, the water flattened a bit, and we started getting into a bunch of fish again. We had about 60 or 70 between us in the two and a half hours, a stellar evening. We saw Rob up on the side of the highway, and I reluctantly climbed out; there is always one more cast to make. The stretch  Rob and Dover fished was renegade water, and they found nearly as many fish, landing 50 or so between them. 

Dover and a long Bear River cutt

Rob's Bear River cutt

With the Bear River cutthroat safely in hand for everyone, we headed back down the canyon to Logan, to eat, rest, and plan for tomorrow. 

Love the Logan River cutts!

Utah Cutthroat Slam Warm-Up

Tomorrow is the start of the search for the slam with all the Merrill boys plus Dover (nephew-in-law), but today it was just Rob and me checking out a couple small creeks on the Wasatch Plateau above Fairview. First stop was in a beautiful, high mountain valley with a very small, heavily beaver-dammed creek. Lots of love for the eyes, none for the fly. Did a good bit of walking and bushwacking through willows, but saw no fish.

Fishing was not as pretty as the view

So it was on to stream number 2, a tailwater below a reservoir, blue ribbon fishery farther downstream. It was running pretty fast, but some nice looking water. Again nothing. As we drove around the reservoir, we noticed there was no flow in the tiny inlet stream - these reservoirs are nearly at the top of the mountains, so it is possible the stream below the dam dewaters in the winter. On to stream 3, a beautiful stream I'd fished before, but now with only a short section left fishable after a big fire burned the valley a few years ago. Saw a few fish, I missed one on the hopper, but that was it. Enough exploring, time to go where we could catch.

First stop, Boulger Creek where Rob had gone earlier in the week. Tiny little stream overflowing with small tiger trout and the occasional cutt. Got our confidence back with several dozen of the little guys, then Rob was ready for something different (it was his third visit to this stream in the last week).

A fun roadside stop for fast action on small fish

Off down the mountain and across the valley to Nebo Creek, one of Rob's favorites. I had only caught a couple my only visit, so I wanted to see how it was done. Once in the small creek, we quickly found browns in a range of sizes, none too big, not super plentiful, but enough to keep things interesting.

Typical Nebo brown from a beaver dam

Dropped Rob off at Dover's and headed up to Jessica's, to pick up Tom at the airport, and get ready for start of the fishing festivities.

Along for a fishing date at 9,000 feet

Brian took his girlfriend, Amaya, fishing today and I got to go along too--probably because I brought the rods and flies from home!  We went to upper Huntington Creek and Boulger Creek which are beautiful small streams at nearly 9,000 feet just up from Electric Lake.  The hillsides are covered with  pines and aspens so it was a pretty place to spend some time today.

Upper Huntington Creek

Amaya didn't have much experience fly-fishing, but she didn't let that deter her.  She had fish coming up to her grasshopper fly soon after she began casting and it wasn't long before she managed to get this tiger trout all on her own.

Amaya's first of the day

It was windy today so there was some challenges with getting the fly into the narrow stream, especially with the overhanging grass in many places.  Best thing about this creek--no trees to get hung up in for the backcast.  Brian found many tigers it was fun to be able to watch the fish take the flies and watch the kids enjoying the experience and each other.

Brian with a tiger trout--notice Huntington Creek in the background--tight casting!

I did manage to get my fly into the water as part of a rotation--Rob, Brian, Amaya, repeat.  I tried to convince them that since I was old it should be Rob, Brian, Rob, Amaya, Rob, Rob . . . but that didn't fly. Amaya ended up landing five and a half fish (Brian helped with one).

A Boulger Creek tiger
With a Renegade, of course.

I had come up a few days before to scope out the streams in the area and try to make sure we had some place that would be good for a beginning fly fisher.  (My son-in-law Brad will be wondering how come I didn't do that with him if he reads this post.)  There appeared to be adequate numbers of fish when I was here last week and it turned out to be a great day in the high country.

A nice upper Huntington Creek cutthroat

There are tigers too

A Boulger Creek cutthroat with an interesting vertical line
demarking a dark front from a lighter back

Fishing in a tie...

With three hours between taking pictures after Tom's daughter's wedding and the luncheon, and the road to the luncheon following the Logan River most of the way, and two pairs of waders in the car, it was rather obvious what to do. Spend an hour of quality time with my daughter Jessica catching beautiful Bear River cutthroat!

The gentleman fisherman

Jessica ditched her skirt after putting on the waders

The photographer

With Jessica as the photographer, I got lots of pictures, including ones that show more accurately my true abilities as a fly fisherman

In the tree

In the belly

As Rob found the day before, the renegade was the ticket, as it always has been on this stretch of the Logan.

The renegade

This is an incredibly beautiful stream, with steady action on beautiful cutthroats. 

The stream

Watched this 14" cutthroat and a friend chase my fly, then tossed it out again to watch him take it.

The fish

The hour we had was too short, but Jessica kept me honest and we left in time to arrive on time at the luncheon. I would definitely have missed dinner if I were alone! My photographer captured this beautiful close up. I should bring her along more often.

Here is my new screen saver

Utah Cutthroat Slam - Day 2

Mel and I started the day at BYU, where she had a few things to take care of, then we headed for Silver Creek near Park City to try and find a cutthroat to qualify for the Bear River cutt. This was a location where I found a YouTube video of a guy catching some nice cutts from between the eastbound and westbound lanes of the interstate. I found a small stream with pretty low flow, but not nearly as small as the ones yesterday. Cut down a couple feet below the grassy banks, a good bit of small brush covering the stream. Runs shallow, with some deeper runs along undercut banks. Didn't see any fish on first inspection, but decided to give it a try. Didn't fare any better when probing with a dry. There could be fish here if we went further from the road, but didn't want to take the time. On to the backup plan - Beaver Cr and maybe a tributary.

I had fished Beaver Cr before around the 4th of July, and remember it had pretty good flows. We pulled up at the tributary, which had shown reasonable number of small cutts in a survey, but it was smaller than the streams yesterday, and a solid wall of brush. So we crossed the highway to try Beaver Cr. The flow was a fraction of what I remember it had been when I previously fished it, pretty small, but plenty of water for fish. But fish there were not. Worked with Mel a little to get the hang of casting, then started moving up. Some OK water that could hold fish, but nothing seen except fry coming up and hitting the fly. I dropped my fly in a little run after Mel had fished, and hooked this monster trout! I don't believe there is a size restriction on the cutthroat slam, but this was a cutt, even if a little small. It will have to do, unless I get a chance to fish the Logan after the wedding tomorrow. Tried to find another for Mel, but we were not successful. So we moved on to the upper South Fork of the Provo to look for a Bonneville. 

Not much for size, but it is still a Bear River cutt

I had caught a couple dozen in this stream around the 4th of July a few years ago. I figured this to be a slam dunk, with plenty of action likely to keep Mel entertained. But it was not to be. Lots of beautiful water, but few fish. Turned one dangling the fly into the downstream hole where we entered. I landed two, with no other strikes. Mel had one good hit, when she saw a fish rise in the current, then tossed her fly up above the overhanging bushes, where the current took it right to the fish, but too slow on the set. I had my Bonneville, but Mel was ready to leave, so we climbed back to the road. I was really disappointed with this one. Based on my experience a few years before, I expected Mel to have a chance in at least every second or third hole.

Beautiful Bonneville cutt, just not enough of them

The last species on the list was the Colorado River Cutthroat, which inhabit the W Fork of the Duchense just over Wolf Creek Pass from the S Fork Provo. This is a Utah Blue Ribbon fishery, and I expected to find reasonable numbers of fish. However, that expectation was not to be fulfilled. The three stretches fished were all similar, fairly shallow and rocky with occasional deeper runs or holes. First stop, didn't see a fish, not even when walking through the holes after fishing them. Went up farther, same thing. Fished up to a big beaver dam, only had one dink strike. Observing the pool above the dam, only saw one rise and saw no fish. Headed back to the car. Time was running out to get the Green River cutt. Heading back downstream, I stopped to try one more time. Mel was anxious and wanting to leave, so I told her I'd be back within 30 minutes. Found a similar stream, with similar results. Until after about 10 minutes and 100 yards of stream, I tossed the fly into the riffle above and immediately had what looked like a dink hit. Once hooked, it was apparent it was not a dink. A quick lift into the net, and the slam was completed!

Colorado River cutthroat - slam complete!

Accomplishing the slam in two days was fun, but was also greatly tempered by Mel's lack of success today. I thought she would at least see lots of action, but just did not. I was bummed. Guess I have an excuse to visit her at college now to help her complete her slam.

Utah Cutthroat Slam - Day 1

Tom's daughter was nice enough to decide to get married in Utah, and my daughter, a bridesmaid, got tickets to Panic! at the Disco in SLC, so it was an excuse to come down early, reconnect Melinda with fly fishing, and prequel the cutthroat slam for our brothers' trip labor day week.

For those who aren't up on flyfishing, the Utah Cutthroat Slam consists of catching each of the four species of cutthroat native to Utah in their native range. Mel and I are trying to do it in two days, and the first day was a success!

We stayed in Boise last night and got an early start so we could have about 3 hours in the Raft River Mountains in NW Utah, right at the Idaho border. The Yellowstone cutthroat is native to only a few small streams that drain into the Raft River, which, when it isn't dry, drains into the Snake River. Did I mention small? Really, really small.

This is a small stream, even by my standards

Arriving right on schedule at YCT stream 1 (thanks to good 60 mph gravel roads except the last couple miles up the canyon), we hopped out at the lower end of where the trout are found. Walking over to the trickle of a stream, it was mostly heavily overgrown, and I promptly spooked a trout in the first little bit of deeper water. Working upstream, I spooked more, and never had a cast to one before it spooked. After 100 yards or so, we climbed out and decided to drive a little farther and walk upstream where the creek leaves the road.

Segment 2, more of the same. Very difficult access, very nervous fish. Lots of pathways, so it looks like these little guys are seeing a lot of people in the accessible areas. About 1/2 mile upstream, I finally came on a deeper hole where it drops over a log. I saw three decent fish at the lower end under overhanging branches, which spooked before I got anywhere near. So I went up above, found entry mostly clear of branches, and dipped the irresistible wulff at the top near the water plunge. A nice cutthroat immediately came up and sucked in the fly, and with a gentle lift the most difficult species for the slam was in the net for the picture. Now, it was time to get one for Mel.

A beautiful Yellowstone cutt

Searching for anywhere she could get a fly on the water, I saw about a 7-inch cutt holding in soft water at a three foot high cut bank. We were somewhat protected from view by a tree, and perhaps the lighting since the fish was in full sun, because it didn't spook. I positioned Melinda, shortened the line to a few feet, and handed her the rod. She threaded the rod and line through the branches and dropped the fly on the water ahead of the fish. It didn't move a bit as the fly drifted over. Mel repeated this multiple times, and the fish still didn't move. I told her to jiggle the fly on the water, but it kept pulling up off the water. Still the fish hadn't moved. So I took her hand and showed her how to jiggle just the tip. The fly danced on the water just ahead of the fish. It moved! First forward a few inches, then a slow rise to swallow the fly. Mel and I lifted together, brought the fish to the net, for the second YCT. But we wanted one for Mel without any assistance.

Mel with the one we caught together

A bit further upstream, found another little drop into a bit of a pool, completely overhung and fully shaded. Creeping under branches, I shortened the line to about 18 inches, got Mel into position, and watched her dip the fly over the drop. Nothing. I turned to move out, and she pulls out a fish. She couldn't see the fly, but felt it take, and pulled out a cute little guy all by herself. Mission accomplished! Both of us one quarter of the way through the slam.

Mel's very own Yellowstone cutthroat

I wanted to visit one of the other YCT streams, so we headed back to the car and drove about 20 minutes to the next stream. Had about 20 minutes to explore before we had to go. Found another similar size stream, and caught one the first cast (got tangled in the grass and off before the picture. Then very brushy, and with Mel in shorts rather than her waders for the quick stop, she didn't want to bushwack (she detests bushwacking, even fully clothed). I found one more little guy, and we were off to SLC. Tomorrow, Mel has a couple errands at BYU, then we are going to try to pick up the next three species along a path I have mapped out. Hoping tomorrow will be a little easier, and just as successful as today!

Very thankful for these guys!