Fishing the Summer of 2021!

 

  

The perpetual neon blue skies with a few buckles of clouds illuminating with a few thunderstorms.  The mountains, rivers, and creeks are laden with the mesmeric beauty with multitudes of wildflowers, and a sundry of scents twirl in the dry air.  Summer brings in long flattering days of the year, where fly fishing and lifetime friendships are made.  This summer has been stupendous fly fishing.  I have met some incredible fishy friends as we kindled our own fishing symphony and many days on the rivers.

Phil Iwane and I fishing the S. Platte River.

Phil reached out to me a little before summer was coming to fishing together.  One of his cherished places to fish is the S. Platte River.  Phil Iwane is one of Umpqua's elite fly designers and the innovator of the No Mercy Midge and his Extended body Mayfly.  To be honest, I felt a ton of anxiety fishing with Phil since he is well-known in the fly fishing industry.  We met in the parking area of Cheesman Canyon with a group of is fishing buddies, Scott Stisser and Mike McVay.  Sometimes, with all the nervousness we place on ourselves just puts us at a higher level to try to meet expectations.  We had an exceptional time on the river catching an uncountable number of good fish.  Phil is one of the kindest, fun, happy-go-lucky fishing friend I can appreciate, share, and learn from.  And boy, that No Mercy Midge drives those fish crazy!  I love fishing often with Phil.

I told Lee, I see a big trout.  He said, "well cast in there Cat, go get em!"

Lee Beard had been following me for a couple of years on Facebook and a bit astonished of this Cat in the Hat who posted a lot of fish pictures.  He shared with me, when he would view my postings, he said to himself, this girl can fish!  Lee Beard is a retired successful crew chief in the History of National Hot Rod Association drag racing.  He has an impressive history of 55 National Event wins in Top Fuel and Funny Car classes.  His first win as a crew chief was in 1980 at Bandimere Speedway High Nationals.  In 2017, he was inducted into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame and in 2018 into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

A winning cutbow in the net!

He reached out to me to fish sometime, of which I gladly accepted.  We met on a day to fish the Blue River.  I realized in fishing with this guy, it seem imperative that my expectations needed to be at a high caliber.  I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off at a river I was unfamiliar with.  To summarize that day, we both caught some substantially big fish of which we kept slapping each other of the exhilarating day.  We fish almost weekly.

Lee Raley with a fantastic rainbow.

Lee Raley and I have been friends for a couple of years.  He gifted me his old Big Thompson fly tying vise a couple of Christmas’s ago that helped unfold my passion of fly tying.  We fished the Yampa River that cold day with lots of fish in the net.  Lee reached out to me this summer to fish together.  We met out on the Eagle River on a hot summer day in July.  We had not fished together for a couple of years, and so the day was relaxing and easy.  A kind-hearted man I love to call my friend, we fished until we knew it was time to go home.  Boy, we had a very successful day on the river.  

A big Snake River Cutthroat Trout for me!

There is something so special in connecting with other fly fishermen.  We all share a passion that only we can go off the deep end.  With Lee, we really can fish, and we can zero in just in the little, big world of fly fishing, the river, and share the excitement of netting another beautiful trout as if it was our first.  We fish as regularly as we can.

Son Tao and I getting after these big fish.

I have been following Master Fly Tier, Son Tao on Instagram since the start of my love for fly fishing in the last 3 years.  I envied and marveled over this man of his exceptional talent in fly tying.  Master Sergeant Son Tao has a combined 22 years of service in the US Army where he has been deployed to the Philippines, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.  Not only is he a master fly tier, but an extraordinary fly fisherman.  We got to meet on the S. Platte River with Phil Iwane and I for a day fishing with the boys.  Every time I glanced over at Son, I started to believe his rod was bent before we even got to the river!  Kind of cool to be up in his fishing status and even a double catch.  I’ll miss Son as he and his family will relocate to S. Carolina.

I netted this fat rainbow and netted Anh's rainbow on top of mine.

One of my favorite lady anglers I love to fish with is Anh Thai.  She is an outstanding fly tier, and she is one of the fishiest girls I know.  We both agreed this summer, we must fish. The day came, and we wet waded and fished the Blue River.  We stalked the trout and had an amazing day and made efforts to out fish the guys on the river.  Since then, we have had some great days on the S. Platte River as our fishing crew keeps growing.  Anh and I are both involved with United Women on the Fly as well as Colorado Women on the Fly teaching, promoting, and educating about fly fishing.  I will have new blog to come out soon with United Women on the Fly.

Beauty of a rainbow from the S. Platte River.

It was such an amazing summer of fly fishing, honestly I have lost track of how many fantastic fish I have caught.  This summer I found myself more days then not on the rivers.  I am a full-time registered nurse, and I am constantly under a level of stress sometimes I don't want to admit.  The rivers, creeks, and the fish keep me coming back.  To recharge, enjoy, and remember why I am here.  To help take care of others, to fish, and to enjoy what life has to offer.  I am so thankful for all my fishing friends as well as new friendships.

Duc and I on a double catch at the S. Platte River.

I have been fascinated by the pictures Duc posts on Colorado Fly Fishing on Facebook. The beautiful trout he catches with his son Oliver at Deckers are unbelievable.  Duc Nguyen is an award winning certified koi judge with some big koi shows. Kois are judged by their size, vivid color, pattern, and presence.  It is the art and hobby movement of ‘koi kichi’ or koi maniacs.  You know this guy is fishy and beyond!  Phil and I got the chance to meet Duc at Cheesmen Canyon.  You guessed it, yet another fishy day with friends.  We even had a triple with the three of us!  Can’t make that happen unless it’s Cat, Phil, and Duc!

Duc, Phil, and I all caught and netted a fish at the same time.

I have met some amazing fishy friends and these friends are some to mention.  Fall fishing is starting off like a firecracker!  I intend to fish and fly tie through winter and back around to spring.  I hope your summer was incredibly fishy as mine was.  May this fall bring lots of fish in your net!

The fish crew, Cat, Michael, Jeff, Son, Phil, Anh, Erin, and Son in front.

What a fight this rainbow threw at me!

Welcome fall with a glimpse of the fishing!

Last day of Summer treat me well with a huge Cutthroat trout.

Does it get any better than this with the colors?