Mon Ami 15Jun16

Unfortunately Kala crashed her bike and hurt her ribs/pecs pretty bad. I helped where I could and got us back to Silverthorne. I went out to work on the sailboat ultimately. I took her for a spin and tested the new Mack jib which is now on the roller furler. So, I tried various sizes of jib in various wind conditions. I'm not fully savvy with the rig yet but it works well (though a smidge hard to reel in). Mon Ami is now decked out in all red lines, red covers, and a jib with red Sunbrella to cover the new sail. We are the only apple red outfit in the marina, maybe even the lake. Mon Ami is cool.

NNMX Day 3 I Left 08Jun16

Given the fishing conditions, I called it off - I left for COS about 8:30am. Pretty disappointing I didn't bag a Rio Grande cutthroat native to the area. This also means no sandboarding. If I go again to NNMX it'll be later this year since I already have a non-rez license. My expectations are adjusted now as to size of water and size of fish - neither is too big. It may be hard to believe but once the Red River and the Rio Grande were top fisheries in the country. The molybdenum mine killed the insects and decimated the Red for at least 10 miles - supposedly some precautions are allowing a comeback but it is still operating. I caught a cool sunset with a duck near camp too.

NNMX Day 2 Total Bust On Rio Hondo & Rio Pueblo But A Ride 07Jun16

My plan is fatally flawed - most streams are in fully swollen runoff like at home. Though I did call on Taos Fly Shop where they said hit the Cimarron. I hit the Rio Hondo at the mouth with the Rio Grande and caught nothing but glimpses of rafters on the Grande. Wading was sketchy and casting wasn't. I left and headed for the Rio Pueblo. After a pretty long drive and a fee to BLM for the Rio Grande Gorge park I was at the mouth. It was similar. The views were great at least from the bottom of the gorge surrounded by towering black basalt cliffs. I found a trail from the bottom to the top so I cut my losses and saddled up the Broadaxe and set out on "The Slide." I soon found out the namesake as the trail was littered with slide rock from the cliffs above. A couple hike-a-bikes and I topped out at the rim after a simple short climb. More great views of New Mexico. After wending my way out of the park and lunch in Taos I headed to the Rio Pueblo headwaters 25 miles east in the Southern Sangres - I passed another ski resort named Sipapu (1 lift!) but found roiling stream and no joy on fish. Back to Taos for dining with Wilks at Orlando's after he summited Wheeler Pk.

NNMX Day 1 Cimarron & Red River Headwaters 06Jun16

My campsite on the Red River is stellar. Today I fished the Cimarron River (New Mexico's "best" fly fishing) in the AM. Meh - I caught a doz or so 10-12" rainbows and Browns on squirmy worm and dark BH gold ribbed hare's ear. Saw decent bug activity but this was barely a stream. I had to move far enough downstream that other creeks had built it up enough. The parking spot called Pallisades was spectacular. I fished the PM at the headwaters of the Red River and yes went through that kitschy ski town. The Red was way over its banks and the water was fast, cold and dirty. I did jack in the afternoon. Wilks arrives soon for dinner and tomorrow a climb up Wheeler, New Mexico's highest point.

Broadaxe Slashed Falcon Trail 25May16

Still in search of the right tune I took the Broadaxe through some paces on Falcon trail. I used to do it in much less time so despite some riding, I do have some extra weight and had a generally long time on the loop - I was only the 5th fastest person on the DAY. It was still a blast and compared to the Yeti I sped on ups and slowed on downs. I reduced shock pressure to 75-80# in the Reba, and slowed rebound, and put 24# in 2.4" Ardents and it behaved better but I think I could even do with less in both as I didn't bottom out and I did get some bounce on smallish stuff - though Falcon is not too radical. I forgot what more carefully picking lines was like but with a hardtail I was surely doing that and even with that I danced through the babyhead fields.

Cool Wind During Galvan Field Trial @ 11 Mile 23May16

Today I was on 11 Mile in mid-50° weather but with stiff cooler winds. I was out to fish of course and was testing the new Galvan Torque reel. The reel was nice and had a feature/aspect I appreciated right away... there is ~zero incremental startup inertia when on the reel and drag sets in. Most other reels I've used have an incremental force amount as to pull to initiate feeding line out with drag; the Galvan flows smoothly and instantly into proper drag - much less scary with big fish on. This was needed today as I did catch some bigger (for 11 Mile) rainbows of 16"-18". Nothing but rainbows today on my triple threat purple rig of black ice (weight), Dave's FoD and Jimi's Axe - the latter two doing the damage. I did fine but I still thought the fishing a little slow and pretty technical in the very low flows. It was pretty busy with fishermen too as I think this is one of the only non-ragin' fisheries around right now. I left early ~2pm when weather rolled overhead.

Galvan Torque Reel 17May16

I can't fix my GLoomis Syncrotech reel. They are discontinued and there are no used ones floating around and no parts suppliers. Bummer, it was light and I had an extra spool with sink tip (though I rarely used that since I now have a sink line 6 wt streamer weapon) and I really liked it. Only saving grace is that I got it from a guide sale for a great price. My research led me to the Galvan Torque. Reviews are stellar, weight is right, value is very good (price v quality & features)... I got the green to match the Z-Axis green.