View Full Version : Tormenting Trout in Colorado or John Wayne tour?
Don't know whether to call this my "Tormenting Mentally-Challenged Trout in Colorado" or my "John Wayne" tour. I'm north of Pagosa Springs in a campground that advertises where much of the movie "Cowboys" was filmed, and will be heading to Ridgway for a day trip later this week, where "True Grit" was filmed. I think it was True Grit.
Anyway, left NE Texas Saturday morning at 4:00am to avoid the heat and drove through 2.5 hours of rain. Did avoid the heat but almost ran into rain again as I got close to Santa Fe, NM.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip.jpg
It was a long day! This photo is south of Santa Fe, where I stopped to put my rain gear back on, which of course caused the rain to hold off.
Left this morning to some beautiful scenery
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip003.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip001.jpg
and a bite to eat in Chama
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip004.jpg
This Kawasaki Vulcan 900 seems to be running down more and more dirt/gravel roads these days...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip012.jpg
as the last 12 miles to the campground is gravel. I've been wanting to stay at this campground for a while, lots of ammenities, close to the Piedra River. I'll post a campground report later, but if you really baby your bike, this might be a dual sport campground....or for us crusiers that just can't turn around when it looks dirty :D
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip014.jpg
made it to the campground and got set up. It was 75* here. Better half said it was 103 in Texas. Glad to be here. Hopefully I'll post a couple of picture of some fish, but I'll include some scenery like we don't get back home.
lytle1gw
08-14-2011, 10:42 PM
Very nice pics, keepum coming.P^
nice pic's and thats a good lill bike you have there; have a friend who has one he changed the sprockets to bump up the gear a bit WOW what a diffrants that made; I put an electronic cruise control on it for him and now you cant keep him off it
Keep the pic's coming
Dray
kayakinbiker
08-15-2011, 08:08 AM
Great pix! Thanx! I camped at Recompence c/g quite awhile ago and wondered if it still has a dirt road access to it currently... it was an awesome place right near the ocean in Maine near Casco bay area...I had my car and wish to go back there via bike some other year...LOVE the east coast!!Maybe Trapperdick knows about this..
Trailace
08-15-2011, 08:15 AM
I'll post a campground report later, but if you really baby your bike, this might be a dual sport campground....or for us crusiers that just can't turn around when it looks dirty
Ill be looking for this report. Thanks for the pics.
After setting up camp yesterday afternoon, I decided to go see Piedra Falls. About 4 or 5 guys were sitting around the General Store here at the campground, and told me it was about 10 miles away, down some more gravel roads. Off I go....
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip020.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip016.jpg
At the end of the road, after about a 1/2 mile hike, I found the falls. Other Texans were there, so I didn't get closer, was just nice being there.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip018.jpg
You guys have me looking for bears, so while I was coming back I was watching for bears while I found these two watching for people...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip023.jpg
No bears the first night, but the neighbor's horses did get out about 3:15 and make quite a racket.
Last photo before I hit the river...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip021.jpg
What am I doing wrong? I resized all of these the same way in photobucket, some came back smaller, others didn't.:confused:
BeemMeUp
08-15-2011, 12:57 PM
Beautiful Pics!
Monday, Aug. 15
Interesting night last night. Every sound I hear I'm slightly convinced it's bears, and they're hungry for some scared Texan! Finally, about 1:00 I realize there are too many dogs in this campground for any bear to brave attacking me, though I may be the only tent here right now. Then at 3:15...CRASH! Something to the west of me just got knocked over! For a second, I grabbed my bear repellant, and the extra magazine! Then I hear an all too familiar sound of horse hooves clopping down the gravel road. Someone's horses are out. I heard them two or three times more throughout the night, then I helped another guest put them back into the pen they escaped from shortly after daylight. NO, I didn't get up at 3:15 and put them up, I don't know how the owners would have reacted to seeing someone else handling their horses before daylight, and besides, they'd make and easier target for bears than getting by all the dogs to get meP^
Now for the reason I'm here. My goal every time I fish is to catch that second fish...that means the first one wasn't a fluke! Here's the catch of the day..
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip035.jpg
This is a catch and release area, and even though he's on the mud, he did make a nice recovery and return to recieve torment from the next angler.
I caught three more, but he was the biggest.
I hiked in almost 5 miles to this wooden bridge, then rigged up and started fishing my way back out. Folks, these photos don't do this place justice!
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip033.jpg
This was on the way in...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip027.jpg
I grew up reading Luis Lamour books and just imagining what it really looked like when he wrote about it. Now I think I can say I've seen it!
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip028.jpg
Now for the not so pretty. To save space, I just brought my chukkas to wear, wolverine steel toed boots. These are not made for hiking! Felt bottom wading shoes are not made for hiking, either. So why am I going back to that bridge in the morning, with sore feet? Because when I got there, took off my backpack and changed into waders and rigged my line, I switched from my regular glasses to my polarized sun glasses, both perscription. When I got back to my bike, I can't find my regular glasses. I'll be going back in the morning to find them!
Now, if that wasn't bad enough, while hiking back up the river a little, yes in my waders and felt wading shoes, I came around some bushes and saw these guys, keep in mind, when I first saw them, their heads were down, all I could see was huge brown hairy bodies in the middle of the river, a National Geograpic Yellowstone moment if I ever saw one.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip038.jpg
Almost relieved myself, inside my waders, until they raised their heads and they didn't look like the monsters I've only seen in zoos and TV. Still haven't seen the real beast, hope I don't!
By the way, if you can't see them, these turned out to be a couple of young bull Elks. After they got up on the other bank and turned to check me out, I saw one has little spikes.
Today was a little un-eventful. I ended up running into Pagosa Springs and picked up a pair of comfortable shoes, ran by the grocery store, chatted a little while at the Fly Shop, then returned for lunch. After lunch, new shoes attached, headed to look for my glasses. Lots of people on the trail today. Chatted with about every other group, some from Austin, some from Michigan, some from Arizona. Made it to the spot where I switched glasses yesterday and spent about an hour searching there and up the stream, never found them. On a positive note, if ever I had to hike the same trail two days in a row, this is THE ONE! By the time I got back to camp, reloaded with H2O, it was getting a little late for fishing, so I hopped on my dual sport Vulcan ;) and headed toward the end of FR 631. I saw country I don't think Bigfoot has seen! A person could get lost up in here and be happy! Never made it to the end, turned around after about 18 miles or so, then started looking for wildlife on the way out.
First, sunset last night...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip042.jpg
not as pretty as Butte, Montana, but still breath-taking
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip043.jpg
Another beautiful picture of Wimenuche Valley
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip046.jpg
Saw two coveys of these Grouse, about 4 or 5 each.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip048.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip050.jpg
On the way back these ran across the road, so I had to stop and take a picture.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip053.jpg
Tomorrow, it's back to fishing. Thursday, I'm riding!
Tx White Knight
08-17-2011, 06:10 AM
Great pictures, thanks for sharing P^
Wednesday...not much today. Some guys at the General Store told me of some pretty water to fish, and I could park my bike on the side of the road and hike about a mile in. They left out one thing....
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip054.jpg
this was the beginning. The white dot you see just above the center of the photo is a horse trailer, my motorcycle is on the other side of it. This isn't an important photo, except that I desperately needed to stop for a minute to catch my breath. This wasn't the top, more climbing to do, but I finally made it, after about an hour hike.
Catch of the day
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip056.jpg
Captain Ahab I'm not. Only caught two in a short time, then thunder started rumbling pretty bad directly overhead. Never saw any lightning, but after listening to that and watching the clouds build up, I decided to head in. No sooner than I did, it started sleeting. The climb back up Mt. Everest was worse in the sleet/rain/mud....but wouldn't you know it, as soon as I hit the summit, it stopped raining. Headed back to camp to do some laundry. Found out a little bit about the movie Cowboys that was filmed here many years ago. Just down the road from this campground is a place where they filmed a river/creek crossing for the cattle drive in the movie. Closer to Pagosa Springs is another place where they filmed a lot of the cattle drive on flat ground. Also, just outside of town, the place where they buried the Duke, you remember, and went back and couldn't find the place, but put a tombstone there anyway. That's all on private land now, and supposedly the tombstone is still there. A plaque is placed on the other area, outside of town where they filmed the cattle drive, but I was advised since it rained today I probably shouldn't take my bike there.
By the way, the area where they filmed the cattle crossing the river, today it's known as one of the few places around you can get a cell phone signal, other than here in the campground. Cars pulled overe there every time I pass, talking on the phone; but I'm not criticizing, I'm here on the internet!:D
Black and Blue
08-19-2011, 04:26 PM
Great Pics!P^...:Popcorn or maybe this :couch1:
lytle1gw
08-19-2011, 05:22 PM
Super duperP^
Indianscout
08-19-2011, 07:16 PM
I'm enjoying this. Some great looking fish you've managed to catch. Looking forward to more!
sorry I haven't posted yet, was out late yesterday riding; over to Cortez, up to Ridgway, then back down to Durango and East to Pagosa Springs. Got back here and found I had some tent neighbors. Been visiting with them some last night and fishing today. Now I'm loading my pictures, but it's taking a while. Had to weed out the ones with fingers in them and of the gas tank, etc. (taking photos with one hand, steering with the other, ya know...) And wait 'til you see the big ol' Cutbow I caught today! Made my trip. I'll be packing up in the morning and heading back to Texas (hell....I mean hot). I'll get a room somewhere tomorrow when it gets dark and try to post some pictures. Have to stop at dark since I lost my glasses and only have my perscription sunglasses til I get home.
Thursday...
Leaving Pagosa Springs, heading west is this rock. It's a landmark I believe the Piedra River is named after.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip065.jpg
On to Cortez to find a coffee cup we've been missing for the last 3 times to this town. We started collecting them from towns we like, the 2-cup thick ceramic coffee cup that has the name of the town and usually an animal on it. Couldn't find one this time, and convinced Cortez doesn't have them. I tried to find one though, and asked everyone I met if they knew where one was, they all knew what I was looking for, but didn't know where to find one
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip073.jpg
After a bite to eat, up Hwy 145 toward Ridgway. Beautiful scenery
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip080.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip082.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip066.jpg
If at all possible, I believe the area around Telluride was even more wild and rustic looking
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip098.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip100.jpg
Then on to Ridgway. Read about the True Grit Cafe in an article in a Motorcycle Magazine a few months ago...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip110.jpg
inside...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip111.jpg
After eating at the True Grit Cafe, I had to book it in order to make it back to Pagosa Springs before dark.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip124.jpg
Now this is a road I want to come back and ride when I'm not in a hurry. Any road that has signs like this deserves to be ridden twice (sorry it's blurry)
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip137-1.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip131.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip135.jpg
had to blow by Silverton
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip148.jpg
And I went by 3 passes, this was the only one I was able to get the camera turned on and pointed at when I went by
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip150.jpg
lytle1gw
08-21-2011, 01:45 AM
Very nice eye candy, lifts my spirits to see such wonderful country.P^
Friday...
Spent this day fishing and browsing around Pagosa Springs for some gifts for my wife and daughter. Started out fishing early, and it was fast and furious. Tried what the owner of the campground suggested, a "hopper with a dropper" or a grasshopper floating fly with a pheasant tail nymph tied to the hook of the hopper. Worked like a charm. Catching fish left and right. Oh, the furious.....when the line gets in nots! When I'm not casting/pulling fish in, I'm untangling knots. That's another reason I'd prefer dry flys, not nymphs. I took a break in the middle of the day, then came back a couple of hours before dark and caught this...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip167-1.jpg
I'm guessing 14 inches? Cutbow? I've never caught one before, some fishermen at camp called it a Cutbow because it doesn't have the white stripe along the front of the fins like a brook, has red gills like a Cutthroat, and red stripe on side like a Rainbow. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, either way, a beautiful fish that made the trip! This is also the only one I caught on the grasshopper, everything else was on the nymph. Next cast was to a rising fish, turned out to be a large Rainbow about 15 ft upstream from where I caught this one, it broke my line, so I called it a vacation for fishing. Stopped on a good note. All in all, probably caught a dozen this day, with a break in the middle to shop around Pagosa Springs.
Friday...
Spent this day fishing and browsing around Pagosa Springs for some gifts for my wife and daughter. Started out fishing early, and it was fast and furious. Tried what the owner of the campground suggested, a "hopper with a dropper" or a grasshopper floating fly with a pheasant tail nymph tied to the hook of the hopper. Worked like a charm. Catching fish left and right. Oh, the furious.....when the line gets in nots! When I'm not casting/pulling fish in, I'm untangling knots. That's another reason I'd prefer dry flys, not nymphs. I took a break in the middle of the day, then came back a couple of hours before dark and caught this...
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip167-1.jpg
I'm guessing 14 inches? Cutbow? I've never caught one before, some fishermen at camp called it a Cutbow because it doesn't have the white stripe along the front of the fins like a brook, has red gills like a Cutthroat, and red stripe on side like a Rainbow. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, either way, a beautiful fish that made the trip! This is also the only one I caught on the grasshopper, everything else was on the nymph. Next cast was to a rising fish, turned out to be a large Rainbow about 15 ft upstream from where I caught this one, it broke my line, so I called it a vacation for fishing. Stopped on a good note. All in all, probably caught a dozen this day, with a break in the middle to shop around Pagosa Springs.
now that right there is what its all about sure puts the smile on the day
Peacekeeper
08-21-2011, 08:07 PM
Great pics! Thanks for posting.
Saturday was "D" day....D as in departure. Sad day. Got up early, started rolling things up and packing. Said good bye to my neighbors, and headed to town to fuel up. Headed out of Pagosa Springs toward Chama, New Mexico. Road work on a Saturday had the traffic at a stand still for about 10 minutes. That's when I decided as sad a day as it was, I don't know of many people who take pictures on their drive home. I dig out my camera and take a few. Just trying to prolong my vacation as long as I can.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip168-1.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip171.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip173.jpg
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip176.jpg
Got into Santa Fe about 1:00 CDT. There has to be an easier way through town, but I haven't found it. Managed to hit every red light, then got to I-25 just to find out I have to travel north for 5-8 miles. Reconnect with 285 South, stop to top off fuel and grab a bite to eat at the Blue Moon Cafe. Nice place, good food....but a little art-sie for a southern boy like me. I headed south toward Clines Corner where I could hook up with I-40. Went through a little shower that was COLD but only lasted for about a mile. When I got to Clines Corner, I'm glad I didn't have to go any farther south
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip177.jpg
It doesn't look that bad in this photo, but I'd been watching lightning flashes for a while, hoping it was south of Clines Corner. I didn't waste much time heading East.
Now is when the depression is starting to sit in
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip178.jpg
As you're getting back into your home state, there's no denying the fun times are coming to an end.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/mitch_ziegler/ColoradoTrip179.jpg
Texas is a big place, and I still have a long way to go, but I've seen this part before as we've traveled these roads a lot.
I make it into Childress, Texas just after sunset. I've been dodging rain storms all day, and the only time I got wet was between Santa Fe and Clines Corner. Cloud cover kept me cooler than expected even through the hot panhandle. I grab a bite to eat and call it a night, with a 5:30 wake-up for Sunday morning.
Sunday
The wake-up call comes earlier than expected. I start the ritual of re-packing the gear on my bike and strapping it down. I head out of Childress just before sun-up headed south. About an hour later, I decide to stop in Vernon to re-fuel and grab some quick breakfast. That's when I realized one of the saddlebags had come open somewhere along the way and my brand new souvenir ball cap had been pushed out by my old faithful ball cap. I'm not going back to look for it, as my goal is to beat the heat and get home early. That just means I'll have an excuse to go back, like going to Cortez for a souvenir that didn't exist. Leaving Vernon, I don't stop until I get to the east side of Henrietta on Hwy 82. Here I just stop to grab a bottle of water, as the sun is already at work. Slap on some sunscreen and head East. No more pictures, as I make it home about 1:00pm. High cloud cover kept the sun at bay from about Gainesville to past Sulphur Springs, where I'm within an hour of the house. The trip is over. Thank you all for coming along with me. I hope to do this again, and I hope you'll all come along again.
It was a great time, six nights sleeping in cool temperatures with the smell of the pines and fresh mountain air is the best thing a person can do to recharge their soul, in my opinion. The fishing wasn't bad either.
lytle1gw
08-23-2011, 05:24 AM
Super loved the report and pics, now I really want the knee to get better quicker. Looks like ya had a great time.P^P^
Trailace
08-23-2011, 08:06 AM
Great report while on our GDR ride Cameron and I saw hundreds for you guys fishing and talked about trying to bring rods next time.
Maybe you can give me a few pointers on what fishing gear to bring.
I enjoyed the report. P^
Ironheadziggy76
08-24-2011, 12:32 AM
Great pics and ride report zig! P^
Great report while on our GDR ride Cameron and I saw hundreds for you guys fishing and talked about trying to bring rods next time.
Maybe you can give me a few pointers on what fishing gear to bring.
I enjoyed the report. P^
Thanks Rick. You know, running nymphs with a fly rod is a lot like using old fashion cane poles, only it would be in fast moving waters. I don't like it much because it's hard to tell when a fish is on your line; fast moving water moves your line alot making you think something is on it when it's not. HOWEVER, I'll be the first to admit you can catch a lot more fish running nymphs than dry flies. It is a lot of fun. Fly rods can pack down pretty small; easier to carry.
Great pics and ride report zig! P^
Thanks, I'm enjoying yours and Ricks also.
Okie34
08-26-2011, 02:31 PM
Sweeeeet! My favorite combo! Rather than Colorado, I tend to get over to Arkansas and Missouri. A bit closer to home.
The Cutbow. Interesting fish. I don't remember these guys from when I was stationed in Colorado. However, I looked them up. It's a hybrid form of trout combining Cut Throat and Rainbow (hence the name). They present themselves in a variety of colors and patterns, but can most often be identified by the red/orange has on it's throat. This is the Cut Throat gene coming through.
Looks to me like you have a couple of streams well picked! Keep slinging those flies! It's an art that is slowly vanishing.
-- JD
Hey JD, I try to make it up into Arkansas quite a bit also. I'll let you know when I'm going to be planning a trip to do some fly fishing. Have you ever been to Roaring River State Park outside of Cassville, Missouri?
Okie34
09-04-2011, 01:17 PM
Zig,
It's been many a year since I've been to Roaring River. I tried to go a couple of years ago, but was diverted by work. I've also heard from other friends who fish that is almost elbow room only on most days. Very popular place.
I generally make it to Beaver Dam down by Eureka Springs, or if I have a decent few days, The Little Red River below Greers Ferry. I have an uncle who owns a cabin on the river at Pangburn. Nice wading when they're not generating.
If you're feeling the need, give a shout and I bet we might be able to plan something.
-- JD
I actually went to Beavers Dam a few years ago, it was flooding at the time, so the locals said if we wanted to fly fish to go to Roaring River. That was the first time for us, and your friends are correct, elbow room only, especially on the weekends. We were there for a week, so during the week it wasn't that bad. Haven't been back to Beavers Dam. Closest to here is Beavers Bend in your state, but the dang Texans crowd that place, elbow to elbow. I've been to Murfreesboro, Little Missouri tailwaters and it's pretty nice, so far I don't know if the crowds have discovered it yet, because it hasn't seemed too crowded the couple of times I've been. I've heard a lot of Heber Springs area, but haven't ventured that far north and east yet. As far as planning something, that sounds great. We'll have to work on that. I've got to get my deer plots going right now, that's my "spare-time priority" for the time being.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.