Saturday morning dawned frigidly cold in the north country. We sat huddled in the truck looking at the 29 degree mark (a cold temperature for Arizona boys) that blinked on the dashboard of the truck, and we thought twice about our decision. In the end there was no way we were turning around, so we geared up, put on all available clothing, and headed towards the water. After spotting fish in the first pool and attempting to fish to them, we realized it was far too cold even for the fish to be moving, so we built a small fire and waited for the sun to come up over the canyon walls and warm the water.
Arizona Brown Trout
Fishing was slow, but around eleven o’clock, I coaxed the beautiful brown above from underneath a large boulder. The fight was brief and Antonio swung the net underneath him. As beautiful as the photo is, it does not do this trout justice, as the yellows and oranges glistened in the sun.
Trees
The fishing continued very slowly and we saw/spooked a few big fish. As the sun disappeared, I was worked a long pool and sailed an orange mini-hopper to a likely looking spot. After a slow boil, I lifted the fly rod to find life on the other end. Within seconds, I realized that is a was a large fish and quickly fought him to the shallows, where I stared down at a beautiful beefy brown trout. With a few quick photos, he swam quickly back into the deep green water.
Arizona Brown Trout
I felt blessed to hold, not one, but two beautiful fish out of this creek. The cold weather is going to put the kibosh on the stellar fishing soon, but until then, I’ll continue to push my luck and try to fool another of these big browns.
Mountainsmith Lumbar Pack (Review to come soon...)
I talked my hunting buddy, Austin, into skipping out on the first part of work to join me for a sweat-dripping walk through the desert in search of Arizona Gambel’s quail. After the first day of quail hunting, my hopes were very low, but with the chance to check out a new spot, I was looking for a chance at redemption. The early morning was eerily quiet and it was not until a couple hours after daylight that we actually started hearing and seeing birds. We scared up several coveys who immediately flew to the top of the surrounding hills. Hacking through the underbrush I was able to knock a couple birds down. In spite of the low numbers, I have never been so happy to put two birds in my vest.
Little puffs of dust rose from every footstep. With the light just cresting the surrounding hills, the desert was eerily silent. The smell of mesquite hung in the air as I shrugged into my hunting vest, and I spot checked to make sure I had the necessities for a few hours in the desert. With the truck locked up, I turned up the wash and headed toward a couple of springs that I knew, in hopes of finding a covey or two of Gambel’s quail.
About a half hour into my walk, I still hadn’t seen or heard any birds. What I did see was a half dozen shells littered around on the walk in, which means I’m not the only one who knows about these springs. Someone had probably come in here on opening day while I was hard a work. Such is life.
I only heard a couple of birds throughout the morning and I was able to only put up one covey. I dropped on bird as it rose, but 20 minutes of searching still left the game bag empty. The springs were all dried up and the desert was a bit on the crispy side. I have a feeling its going to be a long Arizona quail season.
I had a nice change of pace this weekend and was able to head to the high country with my wife Michelle and our good friends Dan and Kera. We camped for the night in one of my favorite spots and enjoyed the cool September night with campfire food. The next morning after laying around camp and cooking a big breakfast, I had the pleasure of sharing my love of fly fishing with my wife and friends. A good time was had by all before we came back down to the Valley. After a wonderful night in the sticks, I imagine we’ll be headed that way together again soon.
Around the FireBreakfast of ChampionsA little guitar playing around campShowing the Mrs. some of the finer points of fly castingTHE Dan Parker laying down some line on the creekMr. and Mrs. Arizona WanderingsOn our way out
The Arizona Quail Season Opener is upon us. In excitement of such a glorious event, the “I Quail AZ” tshirts are on sale for $15 in the AZWanderings Shop.
Arizona quail hunting will open for Gambels and Scaled Quail from October 5, 2012- February 10, 2013. Mearns quail season opens up on December 7 and also runs until February 10, 2013. Oil your gun and break out your hiking boots…it’s quail season.
We sped up to the White Mountains on Friday evening and enjoyed a small campfire before heading to bed. The elk bugling woke us at first light and after a bit of breakfast, we headed down the road to the wash. We bailed into the trail-less canyon and walked several miles to the point of the river that we believed would have big pools and big fish. But as is the way of scouting trips, we found small water, small fish, and solitude. No complaints though. Hanging with a good buddy, catching wild browns and bows is very tough to beat.
Brown Trout ColorsArizona Fly FishingRainbow TroutRainbow TroutArizona WanderingsFly Fishing Arizona
Rambling Review – Cortland 444 Classic Clear Creek Fly line
Cortland 444 Classic – Clear Creek Fly Line
Why:
In Arizona, most of the fishing that I enjoy is small streams. Many of the waters that flow from the mountains are step-across creeks, which require stealth and accuracy when casting. Having a fly line that can stand up to the abuses of a gnarly little stream as well as delivering pinpoint casts to pie plate sized pocket water is critical. I have been fishing the Cortland 444 Classic Clear Creekfly line on my 3 weight for the past 6 months and have come to appreciate the versatility of this fly line.
Cortland 444 Classic – Clear Creek Fly Line
First impressions:
The dimensions – The 444 Classic fly line is a product that has stood the test of time. The Clear Creek line has a 4 foot long tip in front of the taper which Cortland states “helps put the body of the line further from the target, resulting in a softer, more precise delivery of the fly.”
The color – Mute Olive (love this color for small stream fishing)
No welded loop – The no welded loop was a bit of a bummer for me. I am the ultimate consumer and want it all done for me. It’s a very simple fix to rig up your own loop, but personally I would have liked it already built in. (Note: Since obtaining this line, all Cortland 444 line will have dual super-fused loops)
Cortland 444 Classic – Clear Creek Fly Line
Field Use:
I spread the love of the Cortland Clear Creek line to two different rods over the past several months. The bulk of the action was seen on my TFO Finesse 3 weight which has a medium-medium/fast action. Coupled with the Finesse, the Cortland 444 line was a dream. Short distances to mid range casts were not a problem and on the rare occasions where I can lay out 45 feet of line while fishing a glassy pool on an Arizona creek, the Cortland 444 Clear Creek lays very soft.
I also tried the Cortland 444 on my 2/3 weight fiberglass pack rod while fishing the Andelle and Heronchelle in Normandy, France. I felt like this line really did the trick on these slower chalkstreams, and I was grateful for the opportunity to fish this line on such a different type of water. The Cortland 444 Classic Clear Creek line turned a long 12 foot leader over with ease.
Cortland 444 Classic – Clear Creek Fly Line
Bottom line – I am rough on fly line. Small stream fishing means that I am casting into tight spots, stepping on line, casting over rocks. Fly line is a critical piece of gear that is often the last thing that I think about and care for in the field, but this Cortland line looks rock solid after a hard summer of fishing. I like the way it casts, and in my opinion, at $60, this is a great fly line.
Pros:
Time-tested 444 Classic design
Mute Olive Color
Responsive castability
Durability
Moderate price tag
Cons:
No welded loop
Cortland 444 Classic – Clear Creek Fly Line
Prognosis: Choosing fly line can be a daunting task. Choose a time tested fly line and check out the Cortland 444 Classic Clear Creek.
* Disclaimer:
The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. The Cortland 444 Classic Clear Creek Fly Line was provided by Cortland for the purpose of this review. My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.
It still is difficult for friends, and especially my wife, to fully grasp the reasons that I get up so early on Saturday mornings to hike my way back into some creek on the off chance I will have a shot at a nice fish. Luckily, I have fishing friends who have the same compulsions that I do. So my buddy Zach and I found ourselves on the brink of a canyon at daybreak, rigging up our fly rods for just such a chance at a couple of good fish.
Rainbow Trout
The water was a bit on the cloudy side, but we found a few wild rainbows who were willing to play. I was more than happy to find the healthy rainbow above on the end of my line, and had resigned myself to the thought that it would be my good fish of the day. We continued to work to the top of the creek and each pulled several 6-8 inch spunky rainbows out of the creek.
Box of beadheads
While working our way back down the creek to the hike out, I worked a streamer through a deep pool. On my second retrieve through the pool, the line went taut and the surface of the water exploded with a red streak. After a short fight, Zach was able to put a net under him, and I gazed down at the beautiful fish.
Arizona Rainbow Trout
The healthy rainbow had taken the big gray streamer that I had tied up the previous weekend. It looks like I’ll be needing a name for this ugly fly. Fly fishing in Arizona never ceases to amaze me.
