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> > Fishing with my Nephew: Third Annual Trip
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West Fork of the Black River. After a 3 mile hike in, some of which was vertical, we arrived at this small beautiful stream. It was full of wild brown trout.
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After spending the day fishing about two miles of the West Fork, we stopped for a photo, and then started the three mile hike out of the canyon. To say the hike back wasn't easy would be a bit of understatement. At the elevation it was hard to catch our breath at times. Then we had to cook dinner back at camp and crawl into our sleeping bags in 42 degree weather with the wind howling. I won't forget that day anytime soon, not would I trade it for anything. We slept pretty well, except for a few times waking up gasping for oxygen in the thinner air, or pulling the sleeping bag over our heads to warm back up.
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Then the lap of luxury. An old desert motel, with a real bed! And a shower.
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Our final fishing, up the the dam above Lee's Ferry, with guide Jeff English. If you go there, go with Jeff, get to the landing at 6:45, and fish on Sunday. The Lee's Ferry Anglers website will give you a sense of why to do this. Jeff is a superb guide, a bit of a curmudgeon, who really knows his stuff. If anyone can put you onto big fish there, Jeff can.
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Jeff estimated this one at 19"; I had another take me downriver fast. After I followed it as far down as the shore would let me, it popped the 6X like thread.
Report at a Glance
| General Region | Arizona |
| Specific Location | All Over |
| Time of Day | Sunrise to Sundown |
| Fish Caught | Largemouth, Smallmouth, Bluegill, Apache Trout, Browns, and Rainbows |
| Conditions & Hatches | The temps varied from the low 40's to the upper 80's depending on elevation. We camped at 9,000 feet on Big Lake and it was chilly. No hatched besides midges at Lee's Ferry. |
Details and Discussion
| Martinlf | May 26th, 2016, 11:34 am | |
 Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | This great trip was planned by my nephew Marvin Forte, who some will recall, fished in Pennsylvania last year. He had planned on spending a good bit of time at the San Juan, but it was blown out due to snowmelt, which came early this year. But we saw all kinds of geography, and fished many different kinds of waters, and the photos will show why I have no complaints. What a beautiful state! | |
| "He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
| Marvinforte | May 26th, 2016, 1:24 pm | |
 Posts: 4 | A fine report on an epic trip. So great fishing with (and being outfished by) my Uncle on my home waters. | |
| Martinlf | May 26th, 2016, 2:18 pm | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | I seem to recall on the Pennsylvania trip you had the biggest fish, the 26" walleye and 18" brown trout. But in truth, you were just too busy taking great photos to fully focus on the fish this time. And we had a great, great trip. Here's to 2017. | |
| "He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
| Jmd123 | May 26th, 2016, 5:01 pm | |
 Posts: 2611 | "Here we are before the trip at the botanical garden in Phoenix." BEEN THERE!! Cool place isn't it? Good for both of you guys!! What a beautiful and invigorating trip, and your photos show it very well. Nice fish!!! You guys got to do the fishing I wanted to but didn't when I was in Phoenix in 2006. Oak Creek Canyon was closed due to fire danger! That year half of Arizona was on fire...did make it up to the Canyon though, even hiked down from the rim about 1200 feet or so...absolutely mind blowing! And watch your step, don't be backing up for selfies!!! Did you see any California Condors while you were there? They were flying right at eye level when I was there, not hard to see them at all. Fabulous Louis, and great that you got to share with family. Jonathon | |
| No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere... | ||
| Marvinforte | May 26th, 2016, 5:44 pm | |
Posts: 4 | Jonathan, Thanks for the comments. I actually thought about taking us to Oak Creek Canyon. Next time we will. We didn't see any condors because we arrived at sundown. I have seen them though, stunning. Marvin | |
| Lastchance | May 26th, 2016, 6:55 pm | |
| Portage, PA Posts: 437 | Good for you guys. Looks like you had a great, memorable time together. Thanks for posting the photos. I'd sure like to see more of them. | |
| Partsman | May 26th, 2016, 8:23 pm | |
 Posts: 420 | Beautiful trip, my mom and dad live in cottonwood and I have to some of the places you went to. I have been to oak creek canyon, its beautiful! That whole area, Sedona and Jerome are just plain cool. The Grand Canyon should be on everyones to list. We are going out there next month, no fishing for me just catching up with mom and dad and sisters and brother. Thanks for the cool pics. Mike. | |
| Martinlf | May 29th, 2016, 4:40 pm | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Thanks for the comments, guys. Bruce, I'll try to put up a few more photos, if I can find anything else of note. Hope all is well with you and that you've had a good season so far. | |
| "He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
| Steps25 | May 30th, 2016, 1:53 pm | |
 Posts: 31 | Gorgeous | |
| https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9EYyyN9n2CwQr-XZClT4bg/ Subscribe, Like, Share, Comments & Feedback Welcome http://farmingtonriverrodcompany.com/ | ||
| Oldredbarn | May 31st, 2016, 6:07 pm | |
 Posts: 2608 | Nice Louis! Someone finally got you out of PA for a moment. :) I too have been to the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. My sister-in-law lives there. Got my first Gambel's Quail there on my birthday in Jan 2003. We also visited Sedona on that trip... Beautiful pictures fellas and thanks for sharing. Still need to see that Grand Canyon some day...My grandmother, who grew up near Oakland Maryland, use to call it, "That big ditch out west." :) Spence | |
| "Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively "Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood | ||
| Martinlf | June 1st, 2016, 5:33 pm | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Spence, it took my nephew to get me out; he's a pretty strong draw. I was thinking of you as we identified birds I'd never seen before. We saw a Gambel's quail, western tanager, inca doves, collared doves, Nashville warbler (don't know what he was doing in AZ!),gila woodpecker, Stellar's jay, acorn woodpecker, western bluebird, mountain bluebird, scrub jay, and heard a hermit thrush on our long hike out of the Black River canyon. | |
| "He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
| Jmd123 | June 1st, 2016, 5:35 pm | |
Posts: 2611 | Louis, with a list like that Spence is probably now contemplating his next trip out west... Jonathon | |
| No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere... | ||
| Oldredbarn | June 3rd, 2016, 11:01 pm | |
Posts: 2608 | Yes Louis...Pretty impressive. Do you keep a life list? There's some nice additions there...My wife and I were out a couple years back for the holidays. Visited her sister in Phoenix and her brother over in the high desert above Joshua Tree in CA. Every time I raised my binocs I was amazed, looking at something new almost every time! A couple of your birds I'm still trying to find. At her brother's place he has a road runner that comes up to the sliding door in the morning and taps on the glass for some raw burger! :) Across the street a friend of his has a Barn Owl, but we never could get together so I could see it. Have seen them here as a youngster, but they claim they are no longer nesting here in Michigan. Spence PS...I'd really love to go to Costa Rica! A friend went down there and doubled his life list on that one visit! | |
| "Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively "Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood | ||
| Jmd123 | June 3rd, 2016, 11:14 pm | |
Posts: 2611 | Spence...TEXAS. I saw stuff I couldn't believe down there. Ever seen a black-bellied whistling duck? And I'll never forget the parrot that was mixed in with the flock of boat-tailed grackles in Austin. Good place for reptiles, too! My daughter would like that. Jonathon | |
| No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere... | ||
| Martinlf | June 4th, 2016, 11:01 am | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Do you keep a life list? Only in my head, which at my age is dangerous. I'm just an amateur birder, but I do enjoy seeing new species and identifying those I'm not familiar with. My nephew has an app on his cell phone that makes this easy, even down to bird songs. | |
| "He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
| Oldredbarn | June 5th, 2016, 10:25 am | |
Posts: 2608 | Listing can be an obsession. Might be better to just enjoy them when you see them. Spence Floated the lower Manistee yesterday. My buddy boated a 16 & a 19. Had gray drakes, Iso's, Cahills. I missed two really nice trout. | |
| "Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively "Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood | ||
| Martinlf | June 5th, 2016, 11:19 am | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Might be better to just enjoy them when you see them. I guess. ? Landed a 17 and 18 on your storm stream, Spence. That's where the bigger fish wrapped me (See Isonychia thread below). Off to the Little Juniata to spend a few days with my buddy John this afternoon. Will be looking for Darth Vadar. May hit Big Fishing Creek on the way. No nephew, no photos, though. | |
| "He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
| Oldredbarn | June 6th, 2016, 11:28 pm | |
Posts: 2608 | Landed a 17 and 18 on your storm stream, Spence. That's where the bigger fish wrapped me (See Isonychia thread below). Off to the Little Juniata to spend a few days with my buddy John this afternoon. Will be looking for Darth Vadar. May hit Big Fishing Creek on the way. No nephew, no photos, though. Good luck, sir! Spence | |
| "Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively "Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood | ||
| Martinlf | September 20th, 2016, 9:30 pm | |
Moderator Palmyra PAPosts: 3233 | Spence, see the last few photos. We ate at the restaurant at the Lee's Ferry Fly shop. It was amazing. And booked our guide, who knew his stuff, there as well. | |
| "He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'" --Fred Chappell | ||
| Jmd123 | September 20th, 2016, 11:44 pm | |
Posts: 2611 | Just looked over this post again, Louis. Man, I need to go out west sometime again, to either parts familiar (Oregon, parts of Arizona) or not (the rest - there's lots of the rest). Last trip with this much scenery for me was Isle Royale in 2012, and I didn't catch any fish... Jonahton | |
| No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere... | ||
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