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Bob’s Day

November 3, 2013 admin

The first of my two tags on the Cage Ranch was filled on October 5^th. It was a spectacular morning, filled with complex emotions. The initial anxiety resulted in overwhelming elation. My pronghorn hunt was a unique life experience forever etched in my memories.

October 26^th was opening day of deer rifle season, and I had been preparing for months. Bob and I had done some scouting during September and early October. The north part of the ranch has a dry creek meandering from west to east. There are cottonwoods and tall grass that provide dense cover for the animals that roam its sandy bottom. Along with seeing multiple photographs of deer on our game cameras, we had witnessed a variety of does and bucks as we glassed the area from afar. Bob had set up two tree stands on the west and east end of the riverbed, which provided 270 degrees access to all animals that patrolled the vicinity.

A 4:30 am alarm was set on my iPhone, but I was already up at 4:15 am, and getting prepared for a successful day. A coffee and a METRX protein bar would be my fuel for the hunt. Bob’s nephew Paul and I left headquarters in the pitch black and slowly made our way to our pasture. We parked about a mile from the west stand, and utilized my Garmin GPS to guide us to the specific tree. As 5:15 am approached we climbed the ladder, and situated ourselves in the elevated position. Paul would scan to our left, and I would focus to the rear and right. It was 26 degrees and there was a cold northwesterly wind blowing at 15mph. It didn’t take long for my hands to become numb as I had foolishly left my gloves in the truck. At about 6 am, the sun offered enough light where we could start to glass for movement. As I turned to the rear, I spotted five does making their way west. As if they marked my position, the deer suddenly bolted to the south, and were out of view in seconds. I questioned whether they picked up my scent, and if I was unintentionally giving away my location. The visibility was improving at 6:30 am, so my glassing become more frequent. I picked up movement in the trees to my right. When I trained my binoculars on the image, I witnessed a big bodied deer making its way along the creek. There was no question it was a buck; I just needed to determine if it was a shooter. As he made his way across the creek, I could see that his antlers were outside his ears. He was a very respectable 5×5, and I decided that I would take this animal. For the next 10 minutes, the buck refused to provide me a shot. Patience paid off when he turned to his right, exposing his vitals to me. I chambered a round and clicked the safety to the off position. My crosshairs were situated on is left shoulder, and I slowly pulled the trigger. The buck dropped in his tracks at ninety eight yards. My first deer was down, and I was ecstatic.

At 10:30 am, we reconvened at headquarters. The celebration included a big breakfast, and exchanging stories of the morning events. We relaxed around the house and prepared for the afternoon hunt.

Brent, Bob’s brother-in-law, would take his daughter back to the east stand, and Paul would man the west platform. Bob and I had a different plan. We decided to employ a spot and stalk strategy and quickly cover ground. After walking Paul to the west stand, we made our way south to see if we could locate a buck in the plains.

Bob does a great job describing the afternoon events.

The interesting thing is that I’ve spent my entire life on this ranch guiding pronghorn hunts, and have never bothered to get a license for myself for any big game animals. I decided that I would this year, and only try to fill the tag if Ross got his deer. Ross ultimately shot his deer at first light on the opening morning. His is a beautiful, very symmetrical 5×5. A trophy for sure.

I glassed the initial buck from about a mile away as he departed a cattle stock tank. While were putting the sneak on him, we inadvertently walked by a doe about 120 yards to our left. She didn’t run so I didn’t think we were busted. We never had a clear line of site on the buck due to tall grass and rolling hills. In fact, we could only see his rack, and we agreed he was a shooter. Unfortunately we bumped him and he bolted with his doe to the east. We waited for him to crest over an adjacent ridge, and then we sprinted 500 yards with the hope he wouldn’t move out of range. Unfortunately his speed put him about a mile away by the time we reached our spot. We sat in that position and glassed the entire landscape until deciding to run back to the truck in order to continue the pursuit. Our plan would be to drive around to the far side of the pasture and cut him off. While contemplating our next move, I saw a coyote at about 100 yards. I decided not to shoot him as I didn’t want that report to echo across the pasture. This decision was fortuitous, and led to our ultimate success. On the way back, I felt the vibration of my phone signal that I had a voice message. I decided to return the call en route to the truck. While walking back, I was quickly yanked to the ground by Ross. Remember the doe that was gazing at us when we started our stalk? Well, she didn’t leave and she had a suitor. He saw us but seemed indifferent as he purposely quartered away from us. I put the phone on speaker, and dropped it in the sand, while shouldering Ross’ rifle (yes, I forgot the ammo to my gun). I whispered to the friend on the other end of the line to, “shut up and don’t say a word!” Ross just about came unglued when he put his binoculars on the deer, and saw that this was a lifetime buck. I quickly put the barrel in the BIPOD shooting sticks and shot him in the right shoulder. The deer staggered to the right; he was obviously sick. I placed the crosshairs on his quartering away shoulder and squeezed off another round. This bullet entered his right hind quarter and must have found its way to the vitals. He dropped like a sack of hammers.

I’ve traveled all over North America hunting; white tail and quail in South Texas, bear in the boundary waters of Minnesota, deer and elk in New Mexico and Arizona and even moose in The Yukon. Not once have I turned in a landowner voucher for myself on my own property. I’d much rather donate these vouchers to friends, soldiers, Wounded Warriors and youths. I’m so happy that it worked out the way it did. Having Ross spot that deer, and be there for the harvest after his success early in the day, is truly a memory that will never be forgotten.

Bob Cage is a good man. He donates his land, money, expertise and time to people who might never get an opportunity to experience the outdoors. His success provided me a tremendous amount of excitement and personal satisfaction. I am proud to say that I was with Bob when he harvested his first big game animal on his own ranch.

Gear in the Field

Product	Review
Tikka T3 Lite chambered in a 30-06 caliber	Three shots, three kills. The gun’s average is better than David Ortiz in the 2013 World Series.
Limbsaver Recoil Pad	Darn good, low-cost investment. I shot a lot of rounds when sighting my rifle in prior to my hunt. Once I installed the Limbsaver Recoil Pad, I stopped flinching.
Bushnell Elite Scope (3 x 10 x 40)	I made a scope change 10 days before my pronghorn hunt. That shot was very challenging (270 yards in high winds) and ultimately successful. My deer was shot at 98 yards, and I had plenty of time to wait for the right shot. In low-light conditions, the scope worked very well.
Barnes VOR-TX 168 grain bullet	Devastating round. At 98 yards, I hit the animal on my mark, and he was dead within 10 seconds.
Under Armour ·ColdGear Infrared Ridge Reaper Softshell Jacket ·Ridge Reaper Shell Camo Hunting Bib ·ColdGear Evo Scent Control Fitted ½ Zip ·UA Speed Freek Chaos Hunting Boots ·UA Camo Crew Socks ·UA Base 3.0 Crew and Leggings ·UA Hat	This was the second time I employed an entire Under Armour outfit. Saturday morning was really cold (26 degrees) and very windy. My body and feet remained warm even though we were stationary in the stand for over 2 hours. I wish that I had not forgotten my UA gloves in the truck as my hands were frozen. The Speed Freek boots remain extremely comfortable and warm. No blisters to date. When Bob and I put the stalk on his deer in the afternoon, the day had warmed and the wind had calmed. We did a lot of running during the pursuit, and the UA fabric kept the sweat away from my body. I never felt chilled when the sun finally set. The UA fabric is very flexible and seems durable. I want to wear this clothing on a future elk hunt in the mountains of Colorado.
Vortex Diamondback Binoculars (10 x [RF1] 42)	These are a great set of binoculars at an ideal price point. The early morning was dark, and I could still pick up the deer in low light conditions. It was easy to distinguish the specifics of the rack at 100 yards+. I am going to eventually step up and purchase the Viper HD binoculars. Two of my buddies have the 15x50s, and they are remarkable.
Outdoor Edge SwingBlaze	Great concept. That said, the knife was not sharp out of the box. I should have put an edge on it prior to the hunt. I wish the knife was manufactured in the United States. My deer was gutted in less than 20 minutes.
Badlands Recon Pack	Versatile and light pack. Badlands makes great products, and the Recon is no exception.
Leupold RX1000i TBR with DNA Rangefinder	I quickly ascertained the distances of my deer and Bob’s deer. This is a great product and was worth the investment.
Garmin 450t GPS Hunting GPS Maps	Awesome unit – so much functionality and it is pretty intuitive. I added the Hunting GPS Maps for Colorado and Kansas. Great investment.
BIPOD Shooting Sticks	Very functional shooting sticks. Light, easily accessed and quickly deployed. I need more experience with them in order to provide a comprehensive review. So far so good.
2011 Ram 1500	Still running strong after almost 2 years. About to install an ARE camper shell.

[RF1]

Hunting

HEVI-Metal Morning

October 19, 2013 admin

The call came from Chad Cadwell on Tuesday afternoon; “what are you doing at 4 am tomorrow”. I didn’t have to open Outlook, as I knew I had just moved both my 7 am and 9 am conference calls. My wife and kids were out of town, so my early morning obligations were limited. “Pick me up at 4:45 and let’s go duck hunting”, Chad said. Cadwell has a share in a prolific lease in Weld County; about 1 hour from our homes. Reports from the field were outstanding; opening day had his blind-mates limiting out on green and blue teal in less than one hour. If we could execute a straightforward game plan, Chad and I could be back at work before 9:30 am.

Anticipation of any hunt I take part in results in a poor night sleep; October 16^th was not anomalous. I tossed and turned until about 3:50 when I finally decided it was time to get the day going. Punctual as I always am, I backed the Ram 1500 into Chad’s driveway, and we loaded up. A ride with my friend Cadwell is always informative. We talk work and business strategy until we get close to our destination. When the road goes to gravel, we turn our attention to the task at hand.

Responsibilities were immediately split; Chad would move the blind to an advantaged position, and I would lug the decoy sleds into the water. The approach had me setting out 10 decoys to the left and right of the blind, with a mallard MOJO fluttering in the center. It did not take long before I noticed ducks flying from all different directions. Shots around the reservoir started to ring out as other hunters were already engaged. Chad, Angus and I moved quickly into the blind then loaded our Beretta shotguns with HEVI-Shot Duck. Unadulterated excitement caused a simultaneous adrenaline rush, that lead to temporary blindness. Chad and I were missing a lot of ducks at close range. Once we regained our composure, the fast-moving teal started hitting the water. It took less than one hour to limit-out. We took some time to take some pictures before packing the truck, and heading to our respective offices. What a way to break up the work-week.

The Videos
- Chad and Angus Executing
- One Shot, Two Teal

Product	Review
HEVI-Metal® Duck	Put the barrel on your target, and the duck goes down. These shot-shells are extremely effective, and worth the investment.
Beretta A400 XTREME UNICO KO, Synthetic Black, 12GA, 3.5″	This is my fourth Beretta semi-automatic shotgun. 487 years equates to high quality and reliability.

Family, Hunting

Make It Happen

October 10, 2013 admin

I grew up watching Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker, Roland Martin and Bill Dance. These television personalities became my mentors as my family and friends did not fish or hunt. It was relatively easy to learn to fish. My hometown of Swampscott, Massachusetts had half-dozen ponds that were untouched and loaded with bass. I could walk the water with a variety of lures and catch fish. The ocean was in close proximity, so surf-fishing became a regular activity as I got older. Thanks to Mr. Tom Mann, I was able to participate in a few tournaments down south. While I did not have success in these events, it certainly fueled my passion for continued involvement in the outdoors.

Learning to hunt was not effortless as extensive firearm training is vital before you can enter the field. Unfortunately, that guidance was not readily available in the suburbs of Boston, so I had to suppress my desire to participate in the sport for another fifteen years.

In my late twenties, my good friend Scott Tynan and his pals in Michigan introduced me to rabbit hunting. The training was brief and clear; keep the shotgun barrel pointed away from your fellow hunters, and don’t shoot the dogs. Scott’s friends taught me how to clean my rabbits, and an old cookbook provided the recipe for my first stew. This introduction was only a teaser as there seemed to be an invisible barrier prohibiting my continued involvement.

A job took my family to Colorado in the winter of 2008. Soon after my arrival, my buddy Bob Coyle, offered to help me purchase my first shotgun. The Google search engine is an important tool when seeking out what to do next. I was thrilled to discover that there is a local upland preserve & sporting clays range less than thirty minutes from my house. I bought a membership, obtained some tutelage from a local professional and started practicing.

In the summer of 2010 I completed my hunter safety course, and later that year, adopted my gundog Pride. Over the last three years, we have regularly hunted pheasants in Eastern Colorado and Kansas. My friend, Chad Cadwell, has graciously invited me to duck hunt with him on his prodigious lease in Weld County. I have put in for big game tags each year but have come up short; until 2013. With permission from my friend Bob Cage, I applied for tags on his ranch in Wild Horse, Colorado. Amazingly, I drew both a pronghorn and deer tag.

Preparation for the Pronghorn hunt involved multiple, and essential steps over an extended period of time. Step one was to acquire all of the appropriate equipment and knowledge that would lead to a successful hunt (see below). I leveraged the web and experienced hunters as resources. Step two was to get trained on how to properly shoot my rifle.

Over the summer, I had Cabela’s bore-sight my rifle in order to get me near paper. It was then time to visit the range in order to solidify my shooting confidence. In three sessions, we managed to achieve a 1.5 inch grouping at 100 yards. That would put me in the kill zone at 200 yards, even if conditions were less than ideal.

On the afternoon of October 4^th, Chad Cadwell and I made our way southeast to the Cage Ranch. Chad is a friend and veteran hunter who offered me his years of experience on my hunt. We met Bob, Eric Rosel and his son Kelly at headquarters. Eric also had a pronghorn tag to fill, and for the first time, he would be introducing Kelly to the sport of hunting. Some cocktails, and a few hunting stories lead to incredible anticipation for the following day’s events. Right before bed, I took a close look at my tag, and realized that my units were not the optimal areas on the ranch to hunt pronghorns. I would be sequestered to the northeast where the tree lined habitat caters more to the mule and whitetail deer population. Despite a new heightened level of anxiety, I managed to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before the 5:30 am wake up call.

The Saturday strategy was simple; we would get Eric his animal first, then it would be my turn. We purposefully traveled the ranch in Bob’s Ford F150; each of us glassing for pronghorn activity. The early morning produced a few prodigious mule deer sightings, but no pronghorn. Once we did spot a herd of speed goats, we stopped the truck, and started to pursue them on foot. The rut was on, and it became evident that the bucks were in hot pursuit of any and all females. As we climbed over a ridge, we could see the lone male rounding up his chosen mates. Bob signaled to Eric to ready himself for a shot. Unexpectedly, the buck initiated a determined sprint, and made a beeline directly at our position on the opposite ridge. Eric repositioned himself, in an attempt to get the appropriate angle on the moving animal. The pronghorn actually crested the ridge and then pulled an immediate 180 when he saw Bob’s parked truck. Bob stood up and waived his hands in order to attempt to make the animal stop. At two hundred and fifty yards the buck paused and looked back at us. Eric steadied his aim, and shot him in the shoulder. We celebrated the moment together; it was textbook execution and a clean kill. Eric, Bob and Chad field dressed the animal, and we headed back to headquarters to hang him in the barn.

It was now my turn to hunt. I was a bit anxious as we headed to my units. Hopefully we would see animals, and my preparation would allow me to perform under pressure. As we made our way back down the road, I stopped Bob so we could glass where I would be hunting. I quickly picked up four white bellies, but could not discern if a buck was present. Opening day of rifle season presents issues for Bob and his team. Trespassers regularly slip onto his land, and that can present safety issues when there are many people hunting his property. To that point, we inspected a truck that had illegally parked on the one of the main roads. In order rectify the situation; telephone calls were placed to the appropriate people.

Bob could sense that I was a becoming increasingly edgy, so he took us back to the fields. We headed to the general area where we had seen the four pronghorns from across the road. After emptying out of the vehicle, we began a quiet jog to the nearest hillside. The group cautiously peered over the edge of the ridge to see if we could spot the herd. Bob signaled for us to get low as he spotted the animals grazing to our right. He told me that there was a shooter-buck, and I needed to get prepared. I began an army crawl in order to seek a better vantage point where I could set up for a shot. Bob told me that the male was to my right, and standing at two hundred and thirty yards. I carefully put the rifle in the bipod, and got to my knees. The pronghorn herd immediately spotted my movement and started to run to the south. The male isolated himself from the others, and dashed forty yards to the west. He unexpectedly stopped and turned back towards us. Bob whispered “he is at two hundred and seventy yards” so I put the crosshairs behind his right shoulder and slowly squeezed the trigger. Despite the recoil of the rifle, I was able to watch the buck through my scope drop straight to the ground. An intense feeling of elation overcame me as I had just fulfilled a lifelong dream. I celebrated the accomplishment with my fellow hunters, and thanked them for their guidance.

Participating in outdoor conservation is a privilege and requires many personal responsibilities. Getting involved takes time, patience, commitment and direction. I am proof that it is never too late to participate. I look forward to paying it forward to younger generations of hunters and fisherman.

The Video – 2013 Pronghorn Hunt at the Cage Ranch

Product	Review
Tikka T3 Lite chambered in a 30-06 caliber	One shot one kill. I like my average so far.
Limbsaver Recoil Pad	The change was worth it, as the pad absorbs the thump. Great low-cost, easy to install investment.
Bushnell Elite Scope (3 x 10 x 40)	I made a scope change 10 days before my hunt. That was scary. I went from a 4x fixed power to the Bushnell with variable magnification. Great advice from my friend Luke Lindsay.
Barnes VOR-TX 168 grain bullet	Devastating. At 270 yards, I hit the animal 4 inches high and 4 inches behind my mark, and the animal died instantly.
Under Armour · ColdGear Infrared Ridge Reaper Softshell Jacket · Ridge Reaper Shell Camo Hunting Bib · ColdGear Evo Scent Control Fitted ½ Zip · UA Speed Freek Chaos Hunting Boots · UA Camo Crew Socks · UA Base 3.0 Crew and Leggings · UA Hat	Under Armour has and continues to manufactures great products. The question I had was whether the quality would translate into their hunting line. It does. Saturday started off chilly (29 degrees) and very windy, and I barely noticed the conditions. As the day warmed, and we started to pursue the animals on foot, I dropped the jacket. I ordered size large in all products and the clothing fit me perfectly. The Speed Freek boots are extremely comfortable, and did not need a break in period. I stepped on a lot of cactus and yucca trees, and felt nothing on my feet. I hope these boots hold up over time as I really like them. UA base layers are and have always been the best. Their technology and comfort continue to improve over time.
Vortex Diamondback Binoculars (10 x 42)	The Diamondback line from Vortex is affordable (around $200). These are a great set of binoculars at an ideal price point. Vortex is a brand all hunters need to consider.
Havalon Piranta Whitetail Hunting and Skinning Knife	This knife is EXTREMLY sharp and highly effective. It was effortless to field dress the pronghorn.
Badlands Recon Pack	Versatile and light pack; the Recon has all of the right features/functions. Badlands makes great products, and the Recon is no exception.
BOGs Bipod	Held our rifles steady for some challenging shots. Smart purchase for an inexperienced big game hunter.
Leupold RX1000i TBR with DNA Rangefinder	We quickly ascertained the original and secondary position of the pronghorn. Awesome product.
K2 Cooler (70 Quart)	I put 4 bags of ice in the cooler on Friday. We used two bags over three days. On Sunday, the two remaining bags were still frozen solid.
2011 Ram 1500	Still running strong after almost 2 years. Unfortunately my back windows just started to leak. This is the first major issue with the truck.

Hunting

Our Thanksgiving Meal Will be Purchased in 2013

June 15, 2013 admin 2 Comments

The Cage Ranch is about two hours from my house in Parker, CO. The sprawling 40,000+ acres is home to about 1,000 head of cattle as well as a plethora of coyotes, bobcats, antelope, deer, foxes, dove, quail and turkey. I visited the ranch just over a half a dozen times over the last year. Trips to the land have become a source of complete relaxation for me. Bob, the ranch owner, is a friend and an avid sportsman. Bob is use to my many hunting related questions, and his adept responses are filled with insight that I covet. He is keenly aware of my lack of familiarity with certain types of hunting, and is more than willing to mentor me. For that, I am greatly appreciative.

The spring of 2013 meant that I would purchase my first ever turkey tag. The Cage Ranch would be the land where I would seek my intended quarry. I took a Thursday afternoon off from work in order to get some scouting done. Turkey habitat had been planted years back, and a flock of gobblers had been seen strutting up and down the dry creek that runs through the northern part of the land. As a result of this knowledge, we made our way northeast using the cottonwood trees as cover. Hundreds of pairs of mourning doves were feeding as the afternoon turned into evening. Trying to glass every hundred yards or so, we hoped that we would spot the large birds making their way up to roost. We also paid close attention to the sandy bottom of the dry creek, as turkey scat, drag marks and feathers would indicate that we were hunting in the right area. Every so often, Bob let loose a gobbler shaker call in order to see if we would receive a response from a roaming tom. Two miles into our walk we were left smiling but confused – there was no discernable sign of the elusive target. A rare and hard rain had just graced the ranch, so there were plenty of watering holes available. Without a defined hunt zone, we decided to speculate where turkeys would be come morning.

Four thirty am arrived quickly, and the hot pot of Folgers tasted pretty good. We downed a couple of MET-Rx bars, and made our way north to the creek. The sun was rising, the air was warm and we were armed with our Beretta shotguns loaded with HEVI-Shot Magnum Blend shells. We hoped that we could intercept the turkeys as they moved from the trees to the ground. Bob and I took cover in a group of trees just off the edge of the arid river bed. We sat back to back in order to provide a 360 degree view of the territory.

We glassed and called for over an hour, but soon realized that turkeys were not present. While there was some obvious disappointment we decided to change strategies and attempt a predator hunt. I had recently invested in a FOXPRO Wildfire II, and it was a perfect time to see if the electronic call worked. We mounted the speaker on a branch about 50 yards from our blind. I selected the Lighting Jack sound while cranking up the call’s volume to twenty. It did not take but a few minutes before a big yote appeared on the berm about 150 yards east of our position. My Howa Hogue Heavybarrel 1500 .223 was unloaded and propped up on its bipod to my left. I muted the call and reached for the rifle with the ammunition in my right hand. The coyote was running at us at a high rate of speed so my movements were measured. As I raised the rifle to stare down the scope, the coyote appeared 25 yards from our position. Fearing that he would bust us, I used my left hand to activate the Fox Pro. The coyote immediately turned to his right, and started to move toward the call. I chambered a round and took aim. My movement caused the coyote to suddenly change directions, and actually run towards Bob and me. Twenty five yards turned to 10 in a matter of seconds. At that range, the coyote spotted us, and began to cascade away from our position. My first shot missed high; the next two were not even close. Realizing that my marksmanship was less than stellar, I apologized to Bob for the obvious choke-job. We set up in a few more places, but had no success. As mid-morning approached, I thanked Bob for hosting me at the ranch, and headed back to the office.

Next year I plan to take time off work and dedicate a few additional days to preparing for my turkey hunt.

Fishing

Wyoming on the Fly

April 9, 2013 admin

There are very few opportunities to completely disengage from the day to day grind of life. Living in a wireless world allows for convenient connecting from almost anywhere at any time. Hyper-multitasking is now a requirement if you want to survive in an ultracompetitive business climate. Unfortunately, there are times when emails, voice mails and text messages become unwelcome distractions. When this feeling arises, it is time for me to fish.

Over the last five years, the end of March seems to signal my personal breaking point. The desire to escape in to a river has become a necessity if sanity is to remain a life objective. Since moving west in 2009, I make an annual journey to the North Platte River in Wyoming in order to maintain my equilibrium. The weather is always unpredictable, but the fish are big and aggressive.

Weeks before departing, I begin a ritual of unnecessary acquisitions in order to effectively prepare for the adventure. I make triplicate tackle purchases because there is a profound fear of being without the key equipment at the wrong time. While I consciously realize that most of the money I spend is unnecessary, I cannot seem to stop clicking “PayPal” after nightly “fly fishing” web searches.

The five hour drive to the river feels as though we have been teleported to Wyoming from Colorado. All available fishing reports exclaimed how prolific the action had been. We arrived just after lunch on March 26^th, and quickly scrambled to get our equipment prepared for an afternoon of stalking native rainbows. After some preliminary scouting, we positioned ourselves in the tailwaters closest to the dam. Our research indicated that the fish were feeding on ample food churned up by the nightly flushes. To that point, my nymphing rig contained a purple San Juan worm as the lead fly, and a red rock worm as the trailing bait. The water was 40 degrees cold, but the air temperature was in the high 50s. A warm spring sun became visible as soon as we entered the water. This allowed us to more easily locate fish in the three to four feet of quickly moving water. Chad was the first to hook up, then Bud followed by me. The action was consistent, with 17” to 19” fish caught every fifth or sixth drift. The bows are stout in the Platte, and their strength is really felt with every inch of growth. As the sun disappeared over the horizon, a chilly 15 mph wind became more noticeable, so we ended a successful first day.

Unlike prior years, both AT&T and Verizon wireless signals were non-existent in our area, so our ability to communicate was severely marginalized. This was a unique “issue” that I actually embraced. Instead of checking voice messages, and executing web searches, we spent time talking about the events of the day over dinner. Sleeping is not an issue after a day spent on the river. A pleasant exhaustion sets in quickly after a big meal and a scotch or two.

However infrequent, when fishing becomes my sole focus, my brain becomes enveloped in the task at hand. Every movement has a purpose, and is executed with an underlying strategy in mind. While I maintain a heightened intensity, there is not the accompanied stress. I begin to appreciate the moment rather than constantly reliving the past. Mistakes are made, but do not define the gratification associated with my quest. Happiness is not derived from a monetary gain or retail purchase. Instead, my satisfaction arises from hooking and then landing a fish that I deceived.

On the third day, my friend Paul and I were fortunate to team with a great guide on a float trip down the Platte. Slade Fedore is a Wyoming native, and a master of the waters where he grew up fishing. He comes across confident, but not cocky. It does not take long to realize that he derives his satisfaction in his client’s success. To that point, he worked hard to put us on a lot of fish. Paul and I must have had twenty five double hook ups throughout the day. We were also able to witness a heard of antelope scurry from river’s edge, a bald eagle evade an angry seagull and sand hill cranes battling geese for their spot on an isolated island. We even passed two late season hunters working their GSPs on an evasive pheasant. One hundred and fifty fish later, our right arms told us to pack up and head back to town. It was a perfect Wyoming weather day so we grabbed a few Budweiser’s and a cigar. Sitting outside our cabin, we reminisced about what unfolded just hours before. Make no mistake; I will fish with Slade Fedore again.

The rivers started to fill up with anglers on Friday. The Reef attracts people from around the world, and the spring represents a great time of the year to fish. Even with a bit more pressure, plenty of big trout regularly hammered pegged eggs and rock worms. The morning produced larger fish, while the afternoon seemed to yield an infinite number of strikes.

Saturday morning was a bit somber as it meant the last morning of the trip. Inclement weather has started to move into the area, and it became cold quickly. Even so, I got up early in order to attempt to tie into a cagy North Platte monster. While I absolutely caught my share of 19” fish, the 25” bow evaded my concerted efforts.

Every spring I will travel to Wyoming in order to conduct personal therapy in the North Platte. It is cheaper than a psychiatrist, and the pictures are better. This trip is not about fishing; it is revitalization of my soul. I value every second on the water, and begin to dream about coming back as I depart.

Equipment Utilized	Comments
William Joseph Confluence Pack	Awesome pack. All critical equipment is easily accessible.
William Joseph Conduit Bag	Fantastic bag that you can pack all of your tackle in (even reels).
William Joseph Odyssey Travel Bag	Plenty of room for weeks of travel.
William Joseph Drynamic Waders	Very comfortable, accessible pockets and at a great price.
William Joseph Runoff Jacket	Perfect on a perfect day….not warm enough when the sun is not out.
Under Armour Cold Gear Compression (top & bottom)	Would not fish in the fall, winter or spring without them.
Under Armour Hitch Heavy Boot Socks	Toes were chilly in the 40 degree water, but I never had to exit the river.
Orvis River Guard Easy-On Brogue Wader Boots	Perfect wader boot. Easy on and off. Grips tightly to slippery rocks.
Simms Windstopper Hat	Windstopper technology helps, but I need a warmer lid next year.
Elkhorn T2 Reel	Have not had an issue in four years.
Brodin Ghost Series Frying Pan Net	Expensive but really nice – secure it well as you don’t want to lose it.
Orvis Mirage Fluorocarbon Tippet (3x)	Stayed strong throughout the entire trip – not one break off.
Maui Jim Seawall Sunglasses	Polarized with spring hinges for my big head – perfect.
Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service	HIGHLY recommend Slade Fedore (wyotroutbum@hotmail.com)
GoPro Hero2 – Click on the links	http://youtu.be/pCUfmC8tH3k http://youtu.be/C3F_q2pgucI

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