Greg Madrigal
05-04-2014, 01:21 PM
I just returned from an epic week visiting Zion & my wife's Family in the SLC area.
Zion was truly amazing. We hiked 3 miles up "The Narrows". This is a hike thru 50 degree Virgin River water. It seemed like just another day on the river for me, minus a rod, but the wife got her butt kicked. I did a little too, TBH. It was simply amazing with 400 foot towering cliffs rising straight up from 20 foot wide slot canyons.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/RSCN2551_zpsafacf29f.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/RSCN2551_zpsafacf29f.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2478copy_zps3f54198a.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2478copy_zps3f54198a.jpg.html)
Make sure to look for my wife in these pics for perspective.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2475copy_zpsd24ed13b.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2475copy_zpsd24ed13b.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2481copy_zps6f62c178.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2481copy_zps6f62c178.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN24842_zpsecaeb468.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN24842_zpsecaeb468.jpg.html)
We stayed in a little town just outside the park and took shuttles in. On the morning we bugged out to Salt Lake City, we did a hike called Canyon Overlook. It puts you on a 3-4 hundred foot cliff overlooking the main part of the Canyon. Awesome!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2509_zps8e285e57.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2509_zps8e285e57.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2511_zps024a3fe3.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2511_zps024a3fe3.jpg.html)
I'd sure like to go back and do more of the hikes.
We then headed to Draper, near SLC, to stay with her cousin in a 6600s.f. house with a great view of the valley. I was able to steal away to the Lower Provo on the second day. This was a great day to be there.
Snow from the night b4.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo20142_zps656da7ea.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo20142_zps656da7ea.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo2014_zps39ab1818.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo2014_zps39ab1818.jpg.html)
it was flowing at about a perfect 100cfs.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201425_zpsb00edb7e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201425_zpsb00edb7e.jpg.html)
The hike into spot # 2.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201424_zps06fece69.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201424_zps06fece69.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201423_zpsa48cbe88.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201423_zpsa48cbe88.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201420_zpsc901a9fb.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201420_zpsc901a9fb.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201412_zps139cc3f0.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201412_zps139cc3f0.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo201411_zpsd74788f2.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo201411_zpsd74788f2.jpg.html)
Morning temps were in the 50's which rose to about 65 in the afternoon. I did OK catching several fish on sowbugs and nymphs.
my smallest fish of the trip.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo201410_zpsc9253818.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo201410_zpsc9253818.jpg.html)
Nothing on dries, and nothing was really rishing so I switched to a wooly bugger in the afternoon for no love. I did however witness a fish that would tape OVER 25" break the surface in a run just 20 foot across the river. I am being conservative but think this fish would have weighed over 10lbs. He was a PIG! One throw of the bugger, and he disappeared, but I am honored just to have seen him!
The sowbug was the ticket, as suggested by a few fly shops.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver70_zps5534e94f.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver70_zps5534e94f.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver69_zps14aa9976.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver69_zps14aa9976.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo20148_zpsc4fbfe8e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo20148_zpsc4fbfe8e.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo20146_zps28405e1b.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo20146_zps28405e1b.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo20142_zps656da7ea.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo20142_zps656da7ea.jpg.html)
I somehow managed to get a few hours to myself on the second to the last day. I dropped my wife & her cousin off in downtown Park city, to shop their brains out, and I got a reprieve to fish the Weber River about 20 minutes away.
I arrived using a map the uncle printed for me. I remembered reading about Utah's stream access issues, and that was fortified by the lengthy fenced-off stretches of the river. I also remember reading that the landowners are usually pretty nice if you just ask. I drove onto a farm and asked a nice lady, who was outside burning trash, if she knew where I could fish. She said her property is the best area for fishing, and that as long as I was a "good guy" I could fish. She also hinted at something tantalizingly vague when she said, "We have "professionals" who fish here a lot." Hmmmmmm, this could be really good, I thought! Guides use her property for taking their clients. I told her I would only be there for about three hours. She said I would have to "make frineds with" her large white dog. Luckily, Bella stayed at a distance.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver26_zps2564b6db.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver26_zps2564b6db.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver67_zpsbfa17a2d.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver67_zpsbfa17a2d.jpg.html)
Note the Osprey in the treetop center screen.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver24_zps6dc79ddd.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver24_zps6dc79ddd.jpg.html)
I got some good net pics using one of my Client's nets made of Quilted Maple, Curly Maple & Wenge.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver19_zps604ec064.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver19_zps604ec064.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver12_zps4ac4f05a.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver12_zps4ac4f05a.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver14_zps86726c6e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver14_zps86726c6e.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver6_zpscfe4ca3b.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver6_zpscfe4ca3b.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver5_zpsfee9d83d.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver5_zpsfee9d83d.jpg.html)
Today I used Pete's Bamboo Rod (RenaissanceRods.com) and what a great choice! The 5 wt. rod performed beautifully for me, especially since I went down to 6X tippet. I know for a fact that the slow action helped me NOT pop some of the fish I caught this day.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver66copy_zpsc076bd2e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver66copy_zpsc076bd2e.jpg.ht ml)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver71_zps6663076e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver71_zps6663076e.jpg.html)
My Galvan reel also helped me, with its super smooth and highly adjustable drag, fight my larger fish down some riffles.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver68_zpsd1e45e1c.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver68_zpsd1e45e1c.jpg.html)
The flow was great and there was more features than the Provo. I was greeted by a huge osprey in a tree down stream.
I fished a sowbug and sz. 20 copper john and got fish on both. But I saw a splash or two around 3:00 and switched to an EHC sz. 18. Nothing seemed to want it. I moved up the river.
I saw a fish feeding underwater just about 6-7' in front of me. He kept sweeping downstream towards me, then would turn around and take up position to do it again. From this behavior, and the few caddis flies appearing, I deduced that he was eating caddis larvae that were rising up to the surface. So i decided to add a 4" dropper with a #20 midge pattern. I swore I would pump the stomach of the next fish I caught to see what they were eating. Well, it wasn't easy, but after about 40 drifts I caught the aforementioned feeding brown.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver14_zps86726c6e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver14_zps86726c6e.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver12_zps4ac4f05a.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver12_zps4ac4f05a.jpg.html)
Here's what he was gorging on
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver23_zps3a7e2b45.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver23_zps3a7e2b45.jpg.html)
My midge pattern was the exact match so I kept fishing it and catching fish.
I moved up into a nice dual waterfall pool that was epic. It was 4pm, and I needed to be back in Park City to p/u the wifey. Wouldn't you know, the caddis were in full swing, and the surface bite started full-on! My first fish rose up and smashed my EHC, and I about crapped my drawers! It was my personal best brown, and here he is after a great fight that took me into the next pool down.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver48_zpsf6bf0f91.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver48_zpsf6bf0f91.jpg.html)
Pete, this one's for you. THANK YOU for a beautiful rod to do my thang with!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver43_zpsef4ce8f4.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver43_zpsef4ce8f4.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver41_zps3f6f21ab.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver41_zps3f6f21ab.jpg.html)
Big ole head on this guy.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver37_zps5221eb07.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver37_zps5221eb07.jpg.html)
The net opening is about 16.25"
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver36_zpsa39d9c77.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver36_zpsa39d9c77.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver34_zps410a79c3.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver34_zps410a79c3.jpg.html)
The next fish to rise to my EHC was a 16" brown. This was getting epic, & I had to go! Nooooooooooo!!!!!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver50_zps2616ad94.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver50_zps2616ad94.jpg.html)
The day was perfect, the fishing was outstanding, and my wife was only a little mad that I was 10 minutes late.
I'll be back Weber River!
Zion was truly amazing. We hiked 3 miles up "The Narrows". This is a hike thru 50 degree Virgin River water. It seemed like just another day on the river for me, minus a rod, but the wife got her butt kicked. I did a little too, TBH. It was simply amazing with 400 foot towering cliffs rising straight up from 20 foot wide slot canyons.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/RSCN2551_zpsafacf29f.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/RSCN2551_zpsafacf29f.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2478copy_zps3f54198a.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2478copy_zps3f54198a.jpg.html)
Make sure to look for my wife in these pics for perspective.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2475copy_zpsd24ed13b.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2475copy_zpsd24ed13b.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2481copy_zps6f62c178.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2481copy_zps6f62c178.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN24842_zpsecaeb468.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN24842_zpsecaeb468.jpg.html)
We stayed in a little town just outside the park and took shuttles in. On the morning we bugged out to Salt Lake City, we did a hike called Canyon Overlook. It puts you on a 3-4 hundred foot cliff overlooking the main part of the Canyon. Awesome!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2509_zps8e285e57.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2509_zps8e285e57.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2511_zps024a3fe3.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/DSCN2511_zps024a3fe3.jpg.html)
I'd sure like to go back and do more of the hikes.
We then headed to Draper, near SLC, to stay with her cousin in a 6600s.f. house with a great view of the valley. I was able to steal away to the Lower Provo on the second day. This was a great day to be there.
Snow from the night b4.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo20142_zps656da7ea.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo20142_zps656da7ea.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo2014_zps39ab1818.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo2014_zps39ab1818.jpg.html)
it was flowing at about a perfect 100cfs.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201425_zpsb00edb7e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201425_zpsb00edb7e.jpg.html)
The hike into spot # 2.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201424_zps06fece69.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201424_zps06fece69.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201423_zpsa48cbe88.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201423_zpsa48cbe88.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201420_zpsc901a9fb.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201420_zpsc901a9fb.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201412_zps139cc3f0.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo201412_zps139cc3f0.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo201411_zpsd74788f2.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo201411_zpsd74788f2.jpg.html)
Morning temps were in the 50's which rose to about 65 in the afternoon. I did OK catching several fish on sowbugs and nymphs.
my smallest fish of the trip.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo201410_zpsc9253818.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo201410_zpsc9253818.jpg.html)
Nothing on dries, and nothing was really rishing so I switched to a wooly bugger in the afternoon for no love. I did however witness a fish that would tape OVER 25" break the surface in a run just 20 foot across the river. I am being conservative but think this fish would have weighed over 10lbs. He was a PIG! One throw of the bugger, and he disappeared, but I am honored just to have seen him!
The sowbug was the ticket, as suggested by a few fly shops.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver70_zps5534e94f.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver70_zps5534e94f.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver69_zps14aa9976.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver69_zps14aa9976.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo20148_zpsc4fbfe8e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo20148_zpsc4fbfe8e.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo20146_zps28405e1b.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsonTheProvo20146_zps28405e1b.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo20142_zps656da7ea.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/TheProvo20142_zps656da7ea.jpg.html)
I somehow managed to get a few hours to myself on the second to the last day. I dropped my wife & her cousin off in downtown Park city, to shop their brains out, and I got a reprieve to fish the Weber River about 20 minutes away.
I arrived using a map the uncle printed for me. I remembered reading about Utah's stream access issues, and that was fortified by the lengthy fenced-off stretches of the river. I also remember reading that the landowners are usually pretty nice if you just ask. I drove onto a farm and asked a nice lady, who was outside burning trash, if she knew where I could fish. She said her property is the best area for fishing, and that as long as I was a "good guy" I could fish. She also hinted at something tantalizingly vague when she said, "We have "professionals" who fish here a lot." Hmmmmmm, this could be really good, I thought! Guides use her property for taking their clients. I told her I would only be there for about three hours. She said I would have to "make frineds with" her large white dog. Luckily, Bella stayed at a distance.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver26_zps2564b6db.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver26_zps2564b6db.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver67_zpsbfa17a2d.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver67_zpsbfa17a2d.jpg.html)
Note the Osprey in the treetop center screen.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver24_zps6dc79ddd.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver24_zps6dc79ddd.jpg.html)
I got some good net pics using one of my Client's nets made of Quilted Maple, Curly Maple & Wenge.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver19_zps604ec064.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver19_zps604ec064.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver12_zps4ac4f05a.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver12_zps4ac4f05a.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver14_zps86726c6e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver14_zps86726c6e.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver6_zpscfe4ca3b.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver6_zpscfe4ca3b.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver5_zpsfee9d83d.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver5_zpsfee9d83d.jpg.html)
Today I used Pete's Bamboo Rod (RenaissanceRods.com) and what a great choice! The 5 wt. rod performed beautifully for me, especially since I went down to 6X tippet. I know for a fact that the slow action helped me NOT pop some of the fish I caught this day.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver66copy_zpsc076bd2e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver66copy_zpsc076bd2e.jpg.ht ml)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver71_zps6663076e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver71_zps6663076e.jpg.html)
My Galvan reel also helped me, with its super smooth and highly adjustable drag, fight my larger fish down some riffles.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver68_zpsd1e45e1c.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver68_zpsd1e45e1c.jpg.html)
The flow was great and there was more features than the Provo. I was greeted by a huge osprey in a tree down stream.
I fished a sowbug and sz. 20 copper john and got fish on both. But I saw a splash or two around 3:00 and switched to an EHC sz. 18. Nothing seemed to want it. I moved up the river.
I saw a fish feeding underwater just about 6-7' in front of me. He kept sweeping downstream towards me, then would turn around and take up position to do it again. From this behavior, and the few caddis flies appearing, I deduced that he was eating caddis larvae that were rising up to the surface. So i decided to add a 4" dropper with a #20 midge pattern. I swore I would pump the stomach of the next fish I caught to see what they were eating. Well, it wasn't easy, but after about 40 drifts I caught the aforementioned feeding brown.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver14_zps86726c6e.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver14_zps86726c6e.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver12_zps4ac4f05a.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver12_zps4ac4f05a.jpg.html)
Here's what he was gorging on
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver23_zps3a7e2b45.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver23_zps3a7e2b45.jpg.html)
My midge pattern was the exact match so I kept fishing it and catching fish.
I moved up into a nice dual waterfall pool that was epic. It was 4pm, and I needed to be back in Park City to p/u the wifey. Wouldn't you know, the caddis were in full swing, and the surface bite started full-on! My first fish rose up and smashed my EHC, and I about crapped my drawers! It was my personal best brown, and here he is after a great fight that took me into the next pool down.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver48_zpsf6bf0f91.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver48_zpsf6bf0f91.jpg.html)
Pete, this one's for you. THANK YOU for a beautiful rod to do my thang with!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver43_zpsef4ce8f4.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver43_zpsef4ce8f4.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver41_zps3f6f21ab.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver41_zps3f6f21ab.jpg.html)
Big ole head on this guy.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver37_zps5221eb07.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver37_zps5221eb07.jpg.html)
The net opening is about 16.25"
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver36_zpsa39d9c77.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver36_zpsa39d9c77.jpg.html)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver34_zps410a79c3.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver34_zps410a79c3.jpg.html)
The next fish to rise to my EHC was a 16" brown. This was getting epic, & I had to go! Nooooooooooo!!!!!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver50_zps2616ad94.jpg (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/gregmadrigal/media/Utah%20Zion%202014/SierraNetsontheWeberRiver50_zps2616ad94.jpg.html)
The day was perfect, the fishing was outstanding, and my wife was only a little mad that I was 10 minutes late.
I'll be back Weber River!