Just another Journey

So as most of you who know me or of me I live and work in Utah in Lehi , I live minuets from the Provo River and local streams here in the valley , My latest journey took me to one of my Favorite creeks . . . I park my truck get my William Joseph Pack out put in my lunch and drinks and of course Gummy worms ( being a type 1 diabetic I carry them just in case ) hike and walk down to the creek side Hmm ....High water run-off this year has drastically changed it from last year , perplexed by this ...where is that deep hole gone ... and what the Hell , No tree to cross over ... the Rattlesnake sunning himself let me know he/she was there so I kinda walked around it still no tree across the creek to walk across ...where did this one go . . .I managed to survive the day with wet feet , and catch fish , lots , with lots of wild Rainbow trout , the Beaver dams that were there are slowly being rebuilt by the "Busy Beavers" the water is yet forming cold deep pools again , and the fish were holding in the usual places , behind the large rocks , and up next to the grassy banks , and behind the submerged trees , and Hungry ! the pattern I elected to use for this Journey was the Hopper that I tie with Turkey , Peacock ,Grizzly Hackle and Pheasant tail and a secret red ingredient in the leg and elsewhere , and a little something else placed here , we have floated lots of Hoppers to come up with this one pattern and yes its a deadly one as well as a coveted Family secret fly that me and my dad tie some day we may share but for now it is a Secret . . we will refer to it as " the Other Dave's Hopper ". . .with the Thick tree cover I used my SAGE 7'-6"  3 wt rod and a short 6' Leader with a foot or so of 7X tied in on my G.LOOMIS Venture 3 reel and Scientific Anglers Floating line I was gently placing the hopper in the riffs and keeping the line tight and following the hopper down the current it was to say the least a Great Journey ! fish taking it most every time I cant remember a time like this for a very long time . . . maybe it was due to the restructuring of the creek bed from the High water run-off or it was my choice of fly " the Other Dave's Hopper " I don't really know nor care to but it was one of the most epic Journeys in the past 5 yrs.I did take a picture of one then it was all over I took the fly out its mouth threw it in the creek and when  I was releasing it I had another take on my hopper I have never had that happen . . .so the picture taking was done for the day all of the fish I caught were released to be enjoyed another day for me or someone Else's Journey to the creek , I run up and down this creek when my dad would do stream gauging on the Provo River the gauging station is still here just as I remember it . . . I hope that this may inspire some of you tiers to come up with your version of " the Other Dave's Hopper " and maybe see how close to this deadly pattern you come ...if your close ... well we will see.... as always JOURNEY ON !!!

Top 12 flies to carry as a beginner ( in my Opinion )

My boy asked me the other day what flies should i carry I dont want or need a backpack full like you do so here were my recomendations to him based on my experiences :

1. #14-16 Adams

2. #14-16 Mosquito

3. #14-16 Light Cahill

4. #18-20 Blue Wing Olive
5. #4-10 Woolly Buggers

6. #4-10 Salmon Fly

7. #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis

8. #4-10 Grasshopper Fly

9. #16-18 Black Ant

10. #16-18 Pheasant Tail Nymph

11. #16-18 Prince Nymph

12. #16-18 Hare’s Ear Nymph

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The ADAMS








A fish is a fish

OBN wanted a post of the smallest fish . . . an UN WORTHY photo of framming so last October I went on a Journey to the infamous River X . . . Boasts big A$$ Browns well I did catch a few but they never made it to the net so big they broke my tippett and leader big indeed but I was not about to l leave with out a fish picture from that River because it was indeed a Journey . . .( I will leave it at that ) here is a pic of my most un worthy fish . . . It may pass for a 4 " fish but that truley is no fish story . .. proof is in the Picture " A FISH IS A FISH ! "

Clean and Cast 4/16/2011

What you ask is a  " Clean and Cast " well this is the second year I have been involved here is what it is :

You show up with your Fishing gear to the Beauty of the Provo River here in Utah , On April 16th at 8:00 a.m., Meet up at Vivian Park about 10 miles up Provo Canyon from I-15 on Hwy 189 towards Heber Utah , we pass out garbage can liners we will be picking up garbage , etc.  along the banks of the River ( CLEAN ) till about noonish then Fishing in the cleaned up area begins ( CAST ) sow bugs and BWO patterns should work .

OBN and GreenFish

 “This blog entry is my submission for the GreenFish and Outdoor Blogger Network Writing Prompt Giveaway” What does sustainable fishing mean to you? What fishing practices do you engage in that help fisheries? Any other thoughts you might have on this subject? as a third generation Fly Fisherman it is quite evident that my grandpa instilled the bug into his son ( My dad ) and my Dad has instilled the bug into his son ( me )  and I have done the same to my son . . . and we will continue to do the same . . . We all have practiced catch and release , we obey all the rules and regulations of each and every water body we fish , and we always carry something back out with us that we did not bring , being a member of the Utah Stream Access Coalition here and voicing my concerns on capitol hill I brought up the fact that the water is here for all of us to use it is our responsibility to use it wisely I have been part of River cleanup projects on the Provo River here in Utah , active in the Fly Fishing community and I try to leave a small carbon footprint . . . If we all take care of what we have now it will be able to be used by our future generations and I want to be the Grandpa who did make a difference ! May we all remember this . . ." A good fish is to good to be caught just once " Journey On ! ! ~dave

Why do you Fly fish ?

A question that I was asked recently , Why Do you Fly fish ? I had a quick answer : I like it ! that was about it . . . then thinking of the question again on the River that day I kept on thinking of the Whys : I came up with allot but these stand out to be at the top of the list : who wouldn't enjoy being surrounded by the beauty of the land that we have available , a recent trip to Las Vegas has reminded me of allot of things I appreciate , nothing against the people that enjoy the lifestyle of being waited on hand and foot , and being such a rude #### , that you don't understand NO ! and that you expect to be treated like a king or queen where ever you go , I am sorry , we all live here , and just because I don't know who you are , that it makes you any better than me . . .I don't expect you to know who I am ,You put on your clothes the same as I do ! when money does not mean anything and a $300.00 dinner isn't a big deal . . . I think of how many folks that go hungry and don't have any kind of shelter from the elements and then wonder . . .The question still at hand Why do you Fly fish ? I tie my own flies , because I enjoy it ! it's relaxing and a thrill to know that something I made was good enough to fool a fish into thinking it was real food to eat . fly fishing is not for everyone either another plus for me . I cannot tell you the names of the players on a football or basketball team , but I can tie up most any fly with a recipe , and can match the hatch most of the time , can spot a person on the riverbank being frustrated and lending a helping hand , wow can you believe that ! someone to lend a helping hand , I enjoy teaching and helping others , when you tote as many flies to the water as I do , its not hard to have what the fish are eating right then and there , the beauty of nature , trees , flowers , birds , and everything around , the sounds , just NATURE ! still the Question Why do you Fly fish ? I LIKE IT ! how about a comment on why you like it ? am I alone on this ?

The Journey of the Wool Patch



If you look hard I'm hiding in the front pocket !


The Journey of the Patch (me) started when I was attached to a young boy of 8. We traveled the rivers and streams of Utah back in the early 70's. His dad, a fly fisherman and fly tier of great talent, had really shown this kid a thing or two...I lay here on a fly tying bench and I don't think we could get another fly inside of me...I get attached to his shirt, and sometimes I get stuffed inside his pocket and we journey up and down the streams and rivers all around the state. You see, his dad was a Hydraulic Engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation working on the Central Utah Water Project (before the day of electronics). Rivers and Streams flows ( C.F.S. ) were done manually, so as his dad worked and so did I; I held them flies...all of them, never losing one as we journeyed.  We caught trees, we caught rocks, and even some Z Zzz's too!  But we did catch lots of fish too.  This kid was pretty darn good by my accounts.  His old Chuck Taylor's sometimes kinda got wet and other times he got to wear some rubber boots.  But most of the time, they just slowed him down.  Three or four casts to a hole and zoom!!...we were off to another hole.  Sometimes I have to kinda admit that I got dizzy at times...

If me and these shoes could talk, the waters we journeyed and the fish we let go... WOW!!  Okay, so I am just a bit camera shy, but this is a self taken picture of myself.

Hi...I'm the Wool Patch

Just as I said, I don't think you can get another fly inside me.  And I didn't like it when I was in the back pocket at times.  Weird noises and smells came about the fresh air!  This was disturbing, but it didn't last long.  I hear "Fish On " and we would move about and I hear splash and "NICE"!!   Throughout our days Journey and then later in the Journey, I would hear "David,....David, we have to go!"  And its like a 100 yard dash to the truck...he didn't want to be a burden to his Dad, so he was fast to do what he was told.  And then I get to hear an account of the Journey that we had just had.  Man, we had fun!!  His dad would ask questions and his responses were that of a well scholared man of fishing.  His knowledge was vast...It impressed me!! Then the Journey continues to this day . . .  JOURNEY ON ! !