So I had the absolute pleasure of partaking in a float trip with my long time fishing buddy Steve. For those of you that have read the blog you’ll remember him from the steel-heading and just as a quick refresher he is one fishy dude. When trying to iron out details on my Journey from New York to LA he mentioned I should head out to Colorado and we could do a float trip. In the beginning it didn’t look like it was going to happen but a couple things changed and I found myself driving the two hours out to Vail, CO. We chatted the night before about meet up time and he said 7:30am would work but I found myself wide awake at 3:00am that morning. I said screw it, I’m just going to send it. So I got up and headed his way. I sent him a series of texts expecting him not to be awake but got a response almost immediately.
It’s funny, you can go months without seeing certain people and when you see them next its like nothing has ever changed. It seemed like just the other day we were hopping in the truck to go chase steelhead on what was deemed to be a bad weekend. Needless to say we proved them wrong and the day coming up would be much of the same.
As I rolled into Steve’s complex I couldn’t miss the big guy out there with the neon green boat and big smile. I parked and we started bullshiting , mostly about our buddy Dehmer who wimped out, then headed out. Steve asked if I had ever done a float before and I told him I’d only been out on a skiff. He said floating was a bit different and he was right. We got to the river after taking some dirt roads and much to my surprise it looked like a small city at the launch. There were tons of people! Several drift boats but the majority was blow up kayaks. I was a bit nervous upon the sight of this but Steve assured me we would be fine and I trusted him.
We dropped the boat in and started to make our way down the river. Within 2 minutes I had completely tangled my line, this would become a theme throughout the float. I have to say it was pretty difficult getting the casting dynamic down when the boat is in motion and Steve steering the nose into the best fishing spots. Within 10 minutes I had landed my fist CO brown, close to a personal best for me. I was psyched and so was he! It wasn’t long after and I was onto a nicer fish, one which WAS a personal best, this happened 3 more times that day.
I found myself in that zone, the one where all outside noise and worry is muted. It was Steve and I just crushing the fishing game. The scenery was serene and I was impressed with Steve’s abilities. He was calm and told me to cast into just the right spots. Along with critiquing he was also teaching. He was explaining why I should cast here or there stuff that I will definitely put to use in New Zealand. As the day was closing we were in a race to beat some bad weather. We ended up running straight into it. For a solid 10 minutes it the wind was blowing so hard it was blowing us upstream. To accompany these hurricane winds rain was absolutely crushing us. Steve was rowing hard but I could hear him yelling get your line back in the water, I was like “yeah whatever dude” but did it just to appease him. Sure enough I had what felt like a rock on the end of my line. A five-minute battle ensued and I pulled in what ended up being some native fish that I’d never heard of. I was a bit bummed to be honest but it was something new nonetheless. Steve saw the slight disappointment in my eye and said there’s another take out right around the bend let’s fish to that bend instead of pulling the boat out here. Again, I was like yeah whatever dude and sure enough again I hook into a monster! This time I can feel the headshakes and immediately know it’s a brown, a big brown! My heart starts racing, Steve drops the anchor and hops out with the net. After a decent battle he nets what is surely the biggest brown I’ve ever caught. We pop the hook out and hold her in the water. He grabs the camera and as I lift the fish out of the water it squirms and I drop it. He snapped a quick picture of it but it honestly doesn’t do it justice, I know I know that’s what the all say but I’m serious this was a really nice brown.
We take the boat out right after that and we ride the high all the way back to his apartment. He asked if I had a good time and I truly did. He is an amazing guide and an even better dude. I told him needs to make his way to NZ so I can play guide, he laughs and says “ I gotta make it happen dude” I nod and say “ Yes you do”. After a celebratory beer we part ways and I drive the two hours back home with a big grin on my face. I text him when I get back already planning out the next trip. It was the perfect start to my year long fishing journey and I am grateful and apperceive of him taking the time out of his schedule to show me the ropes.
GoodWillFishin 