Ultimate fly kit

Today i got another order for an Ultimate Fly kit from my Etsy store site.
Alpen Glow: on-line fly shop
With this order, flies come comp'd with a sweet, water proof C&F "design'ish style" fly box.
Most of the flies are of my own creation and/or with slight twist on old favorites.
Alpine Hoppers as well as Alpine Stimulators.
Some High Ridden Megan's.
Some really sweet spun deer hair Goddard Caddis in Tan and Black.
Yep Black, high in the alpine region caddis are often black.
Jet Black.
Plus in the kit are lots of secondary flies to drop of the leed fly.
One of my favorites is Spetanaz, a really cool CDC loop wing emerger that never fails to subdue the most finicky creekers.
Also a little Brown Sugar or lil JoJo to top it off.
Sweet!

Equipment check, part 1

Today I spent some time going over personal gear for the Sawtooths.
Its good to refresh oneself with gadgets that have been stored from last season.
Like my solar recharger.
Its more a bump charger really.
In the sun the 4 solar panels charge two AA batteries.
These batteries, housed in the solar kit, then bump charge the device.
I've been using it to charge my iPhone and Olympus camera for the past two years.
i set out the panel strip in the sun for about 4 hours.
I plugged it into my iPhone and then the camera and all seems to be working well
Good to go for the Idaho trip.

Casting across the Sawtooths...

I started this month prepping for the trip i'm leading to Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. My new Asst. Leader, Wendy is taken the responsibility to prep for half the meals so this trips food prep is about half as hard as usual. I can easily pull from past menus now with ease and go shopping and quickly find what i need for the dishes that will be made up over next next few weeks.
I got out the dehydrator, and began processing curry dishes and different condiments that will go in or be a side to lunches as well as dinners. This season i made a curry chick pea dish and found it dehydrated quite easily. The pickles for Salmon pita lunch, came out better this years since i drained away more of the vinegar compared to last.
For the 9 days in the back country, Wendy and I will be assembling roughly 162 meals for the whole trip not including appetizers and condiments that will be wrapped in ZipLoc storage bags then loaded at the trail head in animal proof canisters. all of which will be shipped to Stanley via USPS.




http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/brochure/11161a.aspx

Broke the Boo... Boo Hoo...

High water prevails on the Yuba.
Dips in the flow to 6000 cfs seem reasonable for fishing this season.
First day with the new Bamboo switch rod, "Switch Boo" was fruitful.
The water was a stable at bottom of the dip. Fish were tight from shore to 20 feet out.
Swinging down the bank was hooking good trout, But hard to hang on to directly below.
Landed a really nice 16inch rainbow on the hang of swing with a bruiser... nice and strong. end of the day.
Switch Boo is very delicate but handles nice with a 295 scandi.

Two week later, I'm back, flows are 6500. bottom of another dip.
I brought Switch Boo and the dry fly bamboo rod, "Dharma Boo", that Phil gave me some help with.
Back on favorite side alone with Bill. Arata and the caravan were on the public side.
At mid river at the second riffle, the river is extremely braided over the gravel bar.
Willows and shrubs are in the water. It seems higher than 6500.
Bill was in the nursery at the public crossing.
Swinging down the braids into the color change. then moving across.
Near a willow bunch sudden stop... then jolt. As i stripped line frantically it seemed as the fish toar up the fast water i has trying to walk back in the rushing water.
But like a pro a sudden stop and hold then the classic Yuba U-turn and i couldn't feed him line enough.
Whats the top section of the rod doing going into the water... shit! pop he's gone.
Luckily on the bottom fly so i was able to save the top section of bamboo.
Broken at the ferrule.
now the middle section is 2 inches short.
Must have hinged in the ferrule or a nick while planing?
Who knows, at least it was a really big Yuba Bow that broke the Boo!

The rest of the Day i dry fly fished with Dharma Boo.
Nice and delicate as well.
throwing Scottish style may flies, and top water caddis.
Many small fish rising but no bruiser to break me for the rest of the day.
Just academic Dharma for now.