Classic Trout Rewind - May/2019

 

It was the last week in May of 2019 when three trout obsessed guys, from three different states, met at a small town restaurant out in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico. The tiny town was about an hour and a half outside of the wilderness area we planned to camp and fish. We were a bit tired from the drive and were happy to see each other again...and hungry. Seemed all of the state biologist and hot shot crews were eating lunch there and the place was buzzing. About half way through our meal, Steve looked out the window and noted it was snowing. We had planned to set up camp that afternoon, but the waitress warned us the mountain roads would be dangerous and suggested we wait to go into the wilderness the next morning. She was very nice and got us motel rooms nearby. Good thing, because it turned to blizzard conditions that afternoon. Oh well, so much for the plan we made to get in some fishing that day. 

By the way, we were there to fish the New Mexico native, Gila trout. We had been researching and planning this trip for a long time and it was our first time to fish this particular side of the wilderness. So you know, the Gila trout were wiped out during a huge forest fire years earlier and the state had been working hard to re-populate the streams with a sustainable trout population. Were were there to check it out...

The next morning presented blue skies with the snow melting away fast...just what we hoped for. We stopped at the restaurant for some breakfast to let the sun melt off more snow and then headed into the wilderness. It didn't take long to set up camp, rig up our rods, and set off to the creek's headwaters to find some Gila trout. 

Yes, indeed, the trout were there. They were leetle fellers, but there was a healthy population in the headwaters...in a location that will remain untold. Steve and Greg were catching them left and right. Me? I was getting hit after hit, but no hook set. I didn't net a fish all day even though I had ongoing hits at my dry fly. Depressing, but happy for my fishing buddies.

Next morning, I snipped off the dry fly I had been using and tied on a different fly in a smaller size. Just the ticket! That #18 orange stimulator was bringing them to the net. Why didn't I try this smaller fly yesterday? I guess I was determined to catch one on that fly (obviously too big) because they kept hitting it. Stubborn? Maybe. Oh well.

I must say this was a fun trip. Got to see a new stream and wilderness area. The camp food was fabulous, great company, and the Gila trout were beautiful. And then...we woke up on the fourth day to some snow flurries. A quick huddle and conversation about what to do. We decided to break camp and get out of the canyon before we could get stuck there in a snow storm. Haha, that camp broke down faster than any I've seen!

Below are some random photos with a parting shot of the wilderness while on the single track road out of there...

Click on photo for larger view