Still Here

If you would like to vote please click the picture and vote for Andrew & Lisa!
All proceeds raised go to the Children's Learning Center.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still very much alive!! I have been extremely busy this spring with have having a new baby around and participating in a local dance competition/fund raiser. I really haven't been on the water as much as I would like but after this coming weekend I'll be back at it. Salmon season is upon us so stay tuned for the upcoming trip to Riggins, Idaho.

Check out the Facebook page for dancing with the Subblette stars or visit the Children's Learning Center.

Till Next Time - Tight Lines

Traded Up

Last Saturday we decided to make a trip to the big city to go grocery shopping. On the way, my wife tells me that she has been looking at a White Chevrolet Traverse at one of the dealers there. We were in the market for a new car since our current vehicle's back seat wasn't big enough to fit 3 car seats. We pulled in and looked around the lot for the Traverse. Just as soon as we entered the lot out popped someone from the sales staff. We pretty much told her that we were just window shopping and we would come and find her if we needed any help. After driving around the lot we found the car that she had been looking at online. We peaked in the windows and drove off, had breakfast and went to the local mall to get some summer cloths for our girls. Once we had completed that little adventure, I pulled the car around to pick them up and while doing so my youngest fell asleep. So we decided to head back over to the dealer to check out that car again. My wife went inside to discuss what they would give her for trade on our current car while I drove around the lot trying to keep the little one asleep. I started stopping and looking inside some of the pickups they had with no intentions of buying one. They all looked great but really pricey.

The little one woke up and we headed into the building with my wife and other daughter. The sales team started dealing with me about a new pickup. I told them not interested. We settled on the Traverse and they let us take it to Wal-Mart to go grocery shopping. On the way to the store we agreed that I didn't need a new vehicle and I didn't want another payment quite yet. We returned to the dealer only to find they had been working on a ploy to get me to buy it. They knocked $11000 off the new pickup and were willing to give me $1000 over the KBB.com trade-in value of my current pickup. I still said not interested and added if you want to sell it to me, you'll have to sell it to my wife. I figured she would have said no but next thing I knew she was asking me if I liked it. I have never been in this situation before, me trying to talk my wife out of buying something. She's the one that always has to tell me no, but me telling her no.... WOW..... We ended up with two new vehicles that day. The cool thing was we got her car for free with the trade-in values of our two trades. We are very happy with the decision we made with no buyer remorse.

If your ever in Rock Springs Wyoming, stop in at First Choice Buick GMC and see how they can help! Great costumer service and a great sales staff.

Till Next Time - Tight Lines 

Kicked off the 2014 Fishing Season

Big News!!! I've kicked off my 2014 fishing season. I finally made it to the river Friday, March 14th with surprisingly little success being the ice just came off the water. I didn't spend very much time fishing, only about 2.5 hours, but loved every minute of it. I threw everything I had with me and not a single stop in the first hour or so. (Golden Stone's, Copper Johns, Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tail's and The Rainbow Warrior) The only thing that I pulled out of the water was a very nice 12-14 in Rainbow. I swear I smacked the fish right in the mouth to get it to take the rainbow warrior. The fish was very health and put up a fairly good fight for just coming out of a long winter. After this little trip I plan on spending a lot more time at the vise putting together another selection of flies to choose from for my next trip. Although fishing is pretty much the only thing on my mind, this upcoming weekend a friend is taking me flying in his Cessna T182. During the flight I would like to scout some sections of local rivers to see if anything else is open, as well as flight maneuvers, stalls and some touch and goes. After this hopefully I'll have some nice pictures to share from the flight. I plan on getting back on the water very soon possibly even this weekend.

In other news, I have decided not to go steelhead fishing this year. This will be two years in a row I won't be buying a steelhead license but it's for a good cause. 

Baby Update:

As you know by now we are pregnant with our third child and it's a boy. My wife is doing great and she is coming to the end of the pregnancy. She is due at the end of April and we can't be more excited! This is one of the big reasons I'm not going steelhead fishing this year.

Thanks for reading!!!

Till Next Time - Tight Lines

Heating Up like The Winter Soldier

Things around here are beginning to heat up like the upcoming blockbuster Captain America: The Winter Soldier! We are finally coming out of another ice age across Western Wyoming. The rivers are starting to break open and the song birds are returning. Plus, I think I may have actually seen a fly buzzing around yesterday afternoon. For most people when decides spring roll around it’s all about "Time to lose that winter flab!" or "Spring cleaning anyone?". However, there are a select few of us out there that's been stuck in our houses and haven't felt that ever so slight tug or waiting, casting and thinking "this cast, it'll happen this cast". How sad to think I actually believe it every time I make that new cast. Anyway... After another winter of tying flies to replenish last year’s stock and even attempting to tie a few new ones, it's time to put all that hard work back to the test. I can't wait till I have the opportunity to get on the water again. Plus there is a lot in store for me in 2014. However, I’m still contemplating whether or not I'm going Steelhead and Salmon fishing this year would even be worth it. I mean come on; last year's results weren't anything to shake a stick at. I'll keep you posted.

There's something big coming in a baby form in the very near future. The 30th of April is the due date for our little one. The doc says it’s a boy this time even though I have my doubts. Still excited and can’t wait to meet him/her.

If you would like an update on the last post No Trespassing Utah's HB37 click here.

Thanks for reading!

Till Next Time - Tight Lines

No Trespassing, Utah's HB37

Every angler has done it! You roll out of bed wanting to wet a line on a new stretch of water. As your driving down the road reading the river, creek, stream or lake looking for that special place you've never fished. Looking and looking and looking.... Wait! What! There it is! Isn't it beautiful? You park your car, grab your gear and sprint to the water only to find a NO TRESPASSING sign standing in your way! You went from being the happiest person on earth to wanting to snap your rod in half.

Picture Source:
Deseret News

While growing up fishing in Idaho I knew that there was a historical high water mark on all water ways. Idaho will allow fishermen to fish all navigable waterways as long are you remain below the historical high water mark. By doing so, land owners couldn't run you off. To me, this was amazing. The only thing on my mind was don't abuse it. Don't be the person that messes it up for everyone. Pack out what you pack in. When I moved to Wyoming I thought the same rules applied. I learned very quickly that I couldn't have been more wrong. Who knows how many times I was trespassing on someones land before I knew what I was doing. I started to hear things about the land owners running fishermen off with shotguns or calling the Game and Fish Dept on trespassers. Once hearing about that I was very cautious where I was at all times while on the water.

I have recently read that Utah has introduced a bill (HB37) in the house that would allow fishermen to access waterway as long as they stay below the high water mark of the stream. What a grand idea. This has been working in Idaho for about 40 years. I hope that it passes and the Utah outdoors-man/fisherman community has new access to all of the currently private property they want. After all, everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy access to all the river, creeks, stream and lakes across the U.S. I will say however, don't be the person that messes it up for everyone! Respect all aspects of the new found enjoyment. If you pack it in, you better pack it out!

Wyoming, are you next? Are you going to give your water ways back to your people?

Till Next Time - Tight Lines

Announcing........

Something that's been stewing in my brain for sometime now is rather or not to start holding giveaways for my loyal followers here and on Twitter. After putting a lot of thought into it I'm pleased to announce the first GIVEAWAY from TheWyoAngler! I'll start out with something small like a dozen flies, a hat or something of the sort. But who knows, if it turns out to be a great success I may start giving away things like rods, reels or waders. Shortly you will find a giveaways page in the menu bar, check it on a regular basis and you could be one of the lucky WINNER! All the information you will need like: ways to enter, rules, contest dates, etc can be found under the giveaways tab. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see under the giveaways tab follow and message me on twitter @thewyoangler. Good Luck!

Till Next Time - Tight Lines

Oh, The Past

Sitting here thinking about the past year and looking forward into 2014, I find myself pondering: "What did I accomplish in 2013?" I didn't make a Steelhead trip, I didn't tie as many flies as planned and I didn't fish as much as I wanted. I did however get to watch my girls grow and grow closer as a family. Actually, now that I really think about it, they both grew quite a bit. We made two trips to Disney, a trip to Anaheim and a trip to Orlando. While in Orlando, my youngest (1 yo at the time) learned a new word..... Mickey! Now it's her go to word. Any time we're at home and just sitting around not doing anything it's always Mickey, Mickey, Mickey. My oldest (3 yo) is quite a little helper. She loves to help dad make breakfast, do the laundry, dust the house and feed the animals. They both are growing up so fast and I don't like it. Plus we are expecting our 3 child in late April and its going to be a little boy!

(Rossie)

 Also last year we found and adopted a Bernese Mountain Dog. She is an amazing dog and I look forward to have the opportunity to take her out fishing with me. Over all 2013 turned out to be quite a fun year. I wound up accomplishing quite a bit! But the best thing about the past year is I grew closer to my sweetheart of 6 years! Without her I wouldn't be where I am today.

I know I promised some tutorials in 2013 but I got swamped with getting things started for The Wyo Angler. Things like updating the blog, creating a Twitter account, creating a Youtube channel and creating a Vimeo account. In 2014 I'll be putting together some tying tutorials and "tips and tricks" for around the vise and on the water. I am looking forward to a great 2014 and hope that you have a Happy New Year!!

Till Next Time - Tight Lines