Aloha..... or Sweets Goes Fishing

I realize this is supposed to be a fly fish/hunting/back packing/dog training blog, but when Sweets wins a free trip to Maui, how can you not post up the vacation fun. We were able to spend 5 days in Maui, Hawaii. We hiked in a rain forest, snorkeled with spinner dolphins, saw hump back whales and free range chickens, barfed over the side of a boat, and watched Sweets fight a 44 pound Mahi Mahi. For those who live in Hawaii, you live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Feel blessed. Sunsets from our balcony, bath water seas, and the bluest ocean I have ever seen. Driving through a snow storm to get on a plane and driving with the windows down, the sunroof open 8 hours later? Priceless. Annnnnnnd, soooooo gratifying.
Lessons learned on this outing?

1. In Maui, add 27% to the posted speed limit and drive it.

2. They have free range grizzly hackle all over the island

3. There is never a bad sunset in paradise

4. It rains every day in a rain forest (go figure)

5. Sweets can barf 4 times, land a fish, then go barf again

6. No matter the water, no mater the species, no matter the gear, Sweets will always out fish you. Get over it. (I am really getting tired of typing that statement…)

The USS Minnow.  After watching walls of water rock this boat all over the sea (there were 20ft swells), I have no idea how Gilligan managed to wreck the Minnow.  This is the "No Problem".  She got us there and back, no problem.  Although it was a white knuckle ride.  This is the side of the boat that I yacked over.

The gear.

The enticer.  Wow, let's see, a whole package of crystal flash, some dumb bell eyes, and two really really big hooks.  Tie it articulated, fish on.  They use these for Blue Marlin.  That's a 400# test leader.  I use that stuff to rig my duck and goose decoys.

Fish on.  At this point, I was trying to battle the swell, the fish, and dry heaves.  Didn't know if I should reel or barf.  I can't begin to explain how big the waves were in the morning.  We were the only boat brave (or dumb) enough to venture out to the tuna fishing areas that day, the others trolled for Marlin close to shore.

Sweets 43.8 pount Mahi Mahi.  She barfed 1 time for every 5 pounds of fish.  She did become famous, the crew of the boat were still talking about her fish the next day to some prospective fisherman. 

The group with the mornings bag.  You can see the size of Sweets' fish compared to the other fish.  Everyone pictured here barfed at least once that morning, except two; the dude in the visor and the guy climbing on the boat in the background- Captain Ahab.

.... but you can while you're puking up breakfast off the side of the boat....

We had the Captain fillet up one of our fish and we took it back to the Luau that night, the hotel chef grilled it for us.  The crew of the boat sold the other fish to the local restaurants.  They were sold the minute our boat slipped into the... slip.  Being the only boat out that day with tuna, our catch hit the most wanted list.

Catch of the day, Mahi Mahi.  It tasted as good as it looks.

It was so nice of the fire dancer to make an "S" for Sweets

Boys will do anything to impress the girls in bikini's.... even belly flop.  That one looks like it's going to hurt.

Sweets wanted a picture of this girls tattoo.  It means "Angel of Heaven"

Apparently anything you do at the beach will kill you (see sign)

Just in case you didn't know.....

Some may see a chicken.  I see about one hundred Parachute Adams' and a few hundred Griffiths Gnats.  Grizzly hackle on the loose.

Oooops....

This little piggy.... had a really bad day.....

See?  The blog is still about fishing and backpacking.  Fun place to explore.

Spinner Dolphins.  Sweets was able to snorkel to within 5 feet.

Even dogs in Maui surf

This male hump back whale breached 20ft from our boat.

Back to the Roots

It was time to put the blog back to its roots.  Sweets, Ricardo, and I made a quick weekend trip over to the Green in hopes the midge action would begin.  It did.

I let Deke tie a fly for us to use.  He used his favorite color, orange....

....it worked....

....quite well I might add.

Ricardo hoping the midge action will turn on....

.....just in case it didn't....

....but it did.

Deke's fly....again.  Shhh, don't tell him though, this fly already cost me a few scooby snacks

It was still cold

Colder than a.....

As you can see, it has been cold.  The inversion has taken hold of Cache Valley leaving a freezing frost that clings to anything.  This is the time of year when we head up the canyon just to warm up and breath some fresh air.  Our little valley has 100,000 people, but it has been rated the worst air in the nation for several days.... but we're not moving!  I ventured out to take some shots of the strangling frost.  Even Deke isn't lasting long outside.  We do have a few fish trips planned, so the fish porn will be back up soon....

Feliz Navidad del Rio Verde

Well, that's about it for my Spanish, but at least you know where we spent Christmas.  As some of you know, our little family has been blended, and every other year, Sweets and I find ourselves kidless on Christmas.  Not wanting to sit around the casa (look, more Spanish), and miss the crew, we headed over to the Green for some solitude.  Wow, I've never seen an empty river at Little Hole before.  It was awesome to be able choose where to fish knowing no other soul had fished the same section all day.  It was cold, really cold, but we managed a few hours a day in the water before heading back to the lodge.  We were able to catch a few fish, it was slow as well as cold, so reaching for the camera on every hook-up did not sound appealing. 

There's a few pics from a New Years hunt Ryno and I had and a Deke update. 

Here's to some tight lines and birdy skies in 2010!

Aaah, not a soul in sight

Did I mention it was cold? 

Sweets feeling small, very small in the canyon below the dam

Sweets feeling loopy...

Gentle Valley, Idaho

Ryno with some green of his own

 Next to dogs and elk, horses are the neatest animals to watch... one of those animals whose only purpose is to serve man and lift his spirits 

Deke was able to spend some time with his mama, Karma.  Mama was less than impressed, but patient nonetheless

How could mama not love that little face?