Sundance Round II

Friday I went up for a morning session just to see how the boots would feel and to go into the crud. I broke out my Wailers for the morning. I thought after I had got there I made a bad choice on the ski selection. It looked as though the mountain had received rain instead of snow Thursday and it was icy. The trails were groomed out but they were hard and icy. I got to the top of Flathead and turned down Grizzly's Ridge and onto Badlands and found it even icier. Loaded onto Red's and went to the top and went into Hill's Headwall for a run and found some decent crud. Got in some good turns. I went back to the top and hit Liftline again this time for redemption. I hit to the right and made it through the cruddy crud and back to the bottom. The lines started forming with film festival-goers and my boots were tapping me out. I made a few runs but when I had to wait in line for more than a couple minutes I called it and went directly to get my boots worked on by Lynn. I think we have them dialed in!! I can't wait to get on them next week.

Skiing Sundance

This week I went skiing a couple times and got in a few turns. Tuesday I took the carvers for groomer runs and made about a dozen runs overall. The snow was hard but groomed well on the runs and off-piste was packed crud. I stayed mainly on the corduroy. I did one run down lift line and ate it, thinking the whole time I should have stayed on the groomers. Picked myself up and kept going. The boots were not feeling great by the end of the morning. Still in the break-in phase? Not sure. The morning was bluebird and enjoyable didn't wait in line once. That's how we like it!

Ice Fishing Starvation Reservoir

Parker and I went to Starvation Friday for the day. We arrived at the lake around 8 and got ourselves and the train setup and ready to go. We ended up getting lines in the water by 8:30. We fished this area for about a half-hour and saw nothing so we moved. 

We drilled and set our poles in the new spot in Knights Hollow. Within a few minutes, Parker got the first fish of the day and we thought it was going to be a good spot. Not so much. We stayed another half-hour and moved to a spot with great structure on the bank and we drilled. Found the water to be 5 feet deep and I moved out about 30 yards and fund it to be 6 feet deep. We fished here again for half-hour and got a few strikes but no hookups. 

We moved again to line up with the rest of the folks on the lake.  This time in 18 feet of water and we sett the tent as the temps dropped and it got chilly. We set up the camera and could see fish. We got a few fish here. Nothing to brag about all 12-14 inch rainbow. Didn't see any other fish just trout.

We ended the day with a couple fish decked and learned a few things along the way. It was fun to get out with Parker!

Skiing Brighton Ski Resort!

This week I worked a little and played a little. Skied Brighton Resort for the first time in 20+ years. I had a company consultant in town and he has an Ikon pass that gets him on the mountain so we headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Sad to say I do not venture into BCC very often and it was a nice ride for me since Sean was driving. Arriving at the resort just after 9 and the parking lot was in its second row and it was snowing. We hit the ticket window which was a breeze since he had the Ikon and I purchased mine online and picked up my card quickly. We hit the Majestic lift first and topped out a short time later it was the slowest moving lift of the day, probably because it's their beginner lift. Anyhow, we unloaded and looked at the map and headed to the Snake Creek Chair.

Sean is a seasoned snowboarder and was ready to hit the big runs. Snake Creek is an advanced lift with multiple black and double black runs. We loaded after a quick run down some black and blues. This lift is a true high-speed quad and made short time of the distance covered. We arrived at the top and took off. I went down the black I saw and Sean followed me for a little while and we met up at the crossroads of runs. We wanted to stay on Snake Creek so we angled our way back toward it. I thought was behind me but he took some trees to find fresh uncut powder. I continued down the run and hugged the trees for softer snow. At this point, I was winded, to say the least. Stopped I looked for Sean for a few minutes waiting to see him come down the slope and catch my breath. When he didn't come down I went for the bottom and saw him riding up the chair. Which honestly was good with me, I was sucking air bad and the legs were already feeling it. New boots didn't help the situation.

I met up with Sean at the top of the lift and got the keys to the truck. I told him to take his time and enjoy the day I was headed to the bottom to relax for a minute or 10. I headed to the bottom taking another black and making it almost to the bottom before I walked out my binding! I hate when I walk out of them, I didn't need to be released. I Barney'd it and gathered myself up and put my ski back on and made my way to the lodge. When I arrived at the lodge my legs were toast! I looked like one of Warren Miller's comedy clips going into the ski racks I couldn't stop, luckily no ski's were harmed in that venture, but I'm sure folks were laughing hard!

I went in took my boots off and got me some choco milk and a muffin. Sat and pondered what the hell just happened and laughed at myself. After a few minutes, I donned my boots and went back on the runs. I made another 9 or so runs before I called it and my feet were killing me again. Someone find me some boots that don't kill my feet!!!

I called it about 1:30 and got in a dozen runs I felt good about it. Went to the lodge and got me a large Gingerale. Sat and pondered the day and smiled about it. Got in some face shots with the fresh powder and the legs didn't give the second time for a while. Sean met up with me around 2 and we called it a good day. Sean had a great day riding fresh pow and hitting tree runs all day. The last one he hit he went just outside boundaries and found himself inside the cabin zone but he found his way back the slopes after a small hike. We both smiled about our day and I will return to Brighton to ski the lifts I did not get to.

Ice Fishing Utah Lake - White Bass 01-13-20

Sunday evening Shifty texts me and asks if I want to fish Monday morning. To fish with Shifty I definitely said yes. Then he said I want to hit Utah Lake and go for White Bass. I hadn't had great success with UL and white bass in the winter but I said let's go!

I picked him up at 8:00 am stopped for a quick breakfast sandy and we were on our way to Provo Harbor. We drove right down onto the boat ramp and unloaded the sled and walked out about 20 yards and cut holes. It was an overcast morning and breezy. I had my hole in 12 feet of water and Shifty was in about 11.5 feet. We fished for about 20 minutes and got nothing. Shifty talked with a couple guys from the bank and they told him their friend had caught a bunch of Crappie by the dock and bank, so he moved that way.

Ice Fishing Red Creek 01-11-2020

Saturday I met up with Jason from Fishfearme Studios at Red Creek. He had extended an invitation for the last couple weeks and I was unable to join him. This Saturday I was going to make it. I got off late and made it to the lake by 9:30 and had to be home by 3:30 so I only had a couple hours. I didn't want to miss this invite. When I got to the lake I found his camp across the lake in a small bay. Steve with Packs-a-lot was with him, all three of us are from Utah Valley and have YouTube channels and that's how this trip came together.

I packed out across the lake to meet up with them on the other side. Stave had all his gear set up and holes drilled all around the camp. Steve uses Jawjackers for the most part and he had them set to go off. He has created a cool stand for his jackers to be on that makes them easier to work with and it works great. Jason and Steve were there before sun up and had already got six nice trout in the basket. They were waiting for a couple big ones to finish off their limits. I got there late enough to miss the morning bite but was still happy to be there.

As we met and introduced ourselves Jason showed me around camp and the tent. His set up is very nice and warm. He has plenty of room in his tent for all the accessories. I got my stuff situated and poles in the water. We continued to talk about the happenings of the morning and the day itself. Jason landed a rainbow trout within a few minutes of my arrival. I was still waiting for a hit. Next up was Steve he landed another rainbow trout both on power bait. I was still waiting. After watching them release their catches I settled in at my holes and seen one tip was barely moving so I picked up the pole and worked it for a but and coaxed the bite. I set the hook and reeled in a rainbow trout. The only one I would catch for the day.

We retired to the tent and talked about adventures and life for a while and had a pleasant discussion. We talked until I needed to head for the truck. I never got another bite that late morning early afternoon. Of course, as I was leaving their poles started going off and brought in a couple rainbow trout as I hiked back to the truck.

It was a bluebird day and a great little lake. I will return.

Fishing Tibble Fork Open Water Brown Trout

Today I hit Tibble Fork reservoir, I was planning on fishing the stream but then I saw the open water at the North end of the reservoir. As I got ready to make the hike from the parking lot to the stream I noticed an ice tent on Tibble Fork, the ice looked skeptical but talking to some folks found out that it is about 12 inches thick. Walking out of the parking lot I looked over the lake and noticed the open water and saw fish rolling. That's when I decided to throw some hooks in the water.

I tossed my first cast into the water and immediately got a hit and hook up. I didn't have my camera on yet didn't think I would catch one that quick. Landed the little Brown Trout and the skunk was off. I had multiple followers and short strikes after that with the first lure I was using. I changed out to an F5 brown trout and got another brown trout after a couple cast and then again multiple flashes and short strikes. Changed out again this time to a purple descent had a few followers but no takers, so I changed out to a rainbow and got another brown trout landed. The same pattern catch one then multiple flashes, follows and short strikes.

I changed out again this time to F3 thinking the smaller profile would entice more hits, not so much. Didn't even have a follow with a couple color patterns used. I broke out the Kasmasters and started tossing long distance. A few casts into it I hooked up the biggest of the day. Of course, as I was reeling it in it surfaced and gave me a great tail dance and then flipped me off. My lure went left and the fish went right! After that, I had a few more follows and flashes but no other hits. I changed lure colors and sizes but didn't get anything else. It was dumping snow by then and my fingers and lips were frozen so I called it a morning and headed back the Ramblin' Rogue.

Catching Big Perch!

Thursday night Parker texted and said lets hit Echo Saturday.  He had fished the week before and came home with some chunks. I thought that would be a fun day on the ice so we planned it out. Cody Hunt one of Parker's friends joined us. We made it to the lake by 7:30 and had holes cut before 8:00.

It only took a few minutes to set camp and get lines down. Cody landed the first of many very large Perch. The biggest I had ever caught in Utah waters. The day was starting out great and it didn't disappoint like last week's morning.  He had his fish before I even got my pole in the water.

The perch kept coming some small, some average but a number of pigs also came through the ice holes. Our cameras were the ticket we could see the fish on the bottom and kept our bait in front of them. They were picking up our lures on the fall and right off the bottom. We would stir up a little mud once in a while and they would come back in the see what was going on. Small perch eyes were also the bait they wanted. I had on wax worms but until I put on the eye I wasn't catching as many as the poles with the eyes on. We ended up with over 30 and lined up some of them for a pic. The big perch were numerous.

I caught the next few and Parker was swinging and missing Cody's hole went slow. Parker then got into one and it was a nice big perch. Cody was next with another big perch. I was feeling a little jealous about now because I hadn't caught a "slob" as the boys were calling them. They were pigs.

Then I got into one and it surfaced like a sub coming from the depths. It was the biggest of the day at that point. I was elated that I finally got a "slob". I could barely get my hand around it. The day continued to produce big perch. We fished the morning away enjoying the battles we were having with the big perch. As we ended the day another camp came over to see what we were doing so we showed them and gave them a few eyes that we had.

We finished up around 1:00 pm the bite had slowed down significantly and Parker had to go to work. We packed our gear and hopped on Parker's Snowdog and headed for the truck. Parker returned and picked up Cody. We loaded the truck and headed for the Polar King in Coalville and had a good lunch and laughed about our day and the size of fish we caught.