Opening Day 2014

Woke up way too early and headed out into the marsh yesterday with Todd and my uncle Steve. With the early start for the opener we had high hopes of lots of birds. The day didn't disappoint and our 2 mile hike was well worth it. We had our limits by 9:30. 10 mallards, 10 teal, and a wigeon. So excited for the season to finally be open. 

Youth Hunt

I had the opportunity to take 3 kids out on the youth hunt again this year. Only one of the boys had ever shot ducks before. 2 of the 3 shot limits and the other was able to get some also. The bag was mostly teal and a couple mallards. As always, the youth hunt was a blast and a great way to start the season. 

Catching Up

I haven't posted to the blog for quite a while. Life has been busy, and other things have taken priority. I just wanted to throw up some pictures from the last couple of months of fishing. I have still spent more than my fair share of time fishing and I still am addicted to it (when it isn't waterfowl season).

A Little Green

I had the opportunity a while ago to head up north and hunt with my friend Jordan, who lives in Idaho, and kill some mallards in the corn.  He had invited his wife's cousin Steven from Enterprise to hunt with us.  I picked him up early in Hooper and we drove north.  We were just a little late getting set up and the ducks were flying like crazy.  We saw lots of ducks and killed just a few but it was a blast.  Steven was able to shoot his first duck and hopefully he'll be hooked now.  

Cold Morning Geese

Ryan Stratford called me on Wednesday night and said he had found a few geese in a field and had secured permission to hunt it the next day.  The weather was kind of crappy and it threw the geese off a bit.  We had a few flocks fly by the field but nothing really gave us a good look.  We finally had one flock that was shootable.  We managed 2.  Fun morning but can't wait to get a few more.

Pheasant Hunt 2013

This was the by far the hardest pheasant I have had since I started.  Birds were harder to come by and I couldn't seem to hit the ones I found.  I finally ended with 2 the last week.  I had to quit a little early because Chase's scrotum was messed up from running through the phrag.  Once it heals up I'll have to finally get him neutered.  

Windy Day

The weather forecast was calling for wind with a chance of rain.  My dad and I made a plan to hunt it.  We hiked just over 2 miles out into the marsh and got all setup.  The wind blew and we waited and waited.  It wasn't until it got really nasty that the ducks started flying; but all we saw were teal and shovelers.  I was really hoping for a mallard shoot.  Guess I'll have to keep searching for them.  I can't seem to find them this year.

Make sure to watch the video in HD.

Snapshots

So I have entered a couple photos on the KSL Outdoors Snapshot segment.  So far the 2 that I have entered have made it onto the show and the first one actually won.  Here are the videos.

Goose Down!

I was able to find a few geese in a field right before it closed for the split.  I text my dad and he said he could make it the next morning so that was the plan.  Arrived at the field, set out my dozen GHG FFD Lessers and got hid under burlap. 

Not too long later, here came the geese.  We were patient and let them circle a few times.  They finally came in wide and started landing about 60 yards out.  I grabbed the flag and started flapping it like crazy.  It kept about half the flock from landing and they circled right back to us and gave us a great shot.  I missed my first but hit my other two shots.  Todd hit his first and connected.  Three out of one flock is pretty good for us.  Can't wait to do it again.

Whitefish Central

I went fishing with Clayton Green up on the Weber.  We didn't really have much luck on trout but did we find the whitefish.  We caught a whole mess of them.  Just had to share a video.

Opening Day

Opening day turned out to be kind of a bust.  Todd, Darin, Steve, and I headed out to the marsh at 4 a.m.  We were just finishing setting up when the shooting started... 40 minutes early!  We would have shot a few more had shooting started closer to legal hours but I'm not going to let early shooters ruin my season; there's still another 106 days to hunt.  Ended up with 3, can't wait for some birds to show up.

Youth Hunt 2013

Mitch Herzog and I took out Tyler Farr's nephew for the youth hunt.  It was a blast.  He shot 3 boxes and was able to get his 7 ducks and 1 goose.  I enjoy taking kids out on the youth hunt.  Its always a good time.

Fall Fishing

This fall I have been lucky enough to find a new, very close to home, fly fishing spot.  I've never caught many warm water species on my fly rod but I have added Small and Large Mouth Bass the last few weeks.  Pretty cool to catch these on a fly rod.

September Doves

I have made it out dove hunting twice so far this month.  The first hunt was Labor day with Todd.  We shot 9 that evening.  We went back a few days ago and shot two.  The storms have definitely moved a few birds out.  Its good to be back hunting again.

Young Men Browne Lake 2013

I got to take the teachers and priests from our ward on high adventure this year.  We ended up camping at Browne Lake.  We spent most of our time fishing the lake and the creeks.  I did take a group to the Green River on Thursday.  3 of the 4 were able to catch fish which I was very happy with.  Everyone that came caught fish at the lake though.  

Tried the Weeb

Decided to give the Weber a shot.  I have been eyeing a spot I though might produce some fish.  Turns out my hunch was right.  Todd and I took Braden and Bridger Stratford with us.  We caught at least 20 between us.  We quit keeping track of numbers.  We only fished for for a few hours in just a small stretch.  It was a blast.

Green River 4/29/13

Got to go back to the Green this weekend with Clayton.  We left Sunday afternoon and stayed the night at Trout Creek Flies.  We fished most of the day Monday.  We caught 20 between us; mostly on nymphs.  I caught 6 on dries (Beefus Emergers).  The fish were big and fat.