MGMT "Congratulations" (vinyl)

From my nephew's collection.

The Purple Haze Blew My Mind!

I went to Willow Creek on Thursday for probably one of the last fishing trips this year. The weather didn't look like it was going to cooperate and right when we arrived it started pouring buckets of rain. But as soon as the rain started it was over and the sky and stream stayed clear the entire evening. I started with the StonedHopper but only caught a few fish in the first few likely spots. But when I switched to a #14 Purple Haze the fish started slamming it kamikaze style. Fish were completely jumping out of the water for the fly. By the end of the night I caught over 50 fish in less then 4 hours. They were never larger then 11", but fun nonetheless.

I'd like to thank the guys from Fishtech for taking the time to help me round-up all the materials for this fly. I went to about three other shops before ending up at Fishtech and no one prior could help me out. For those unfamiliar with the Purple Haze, it's basically a Parachute Adams with a purple Flex-Floss body. I sometimes add a dubbed thorax of purple dubbing mixed with UV Pink Ice Dub.

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

I attended a four day training in SLC this past week to be a certified Non-Violent Crisis Intervention instructor for my agency. I hoped to mix business with pleasure and fish as much as possible working around the training schedule. As I drove up, I planned to fish Willow Creek, but severe thunderstorms changed this plan. But I was able to find a break in the storm and semi-clear water on Fremont Flats. I was excited to fish my newly repaired 3wt. The Stoned Hopper was the preferred method and with a dozen fish under my belt in a hour, I moved on.

After the first day of training, Craig met me in downtown SLC and we headed to the cabin outside Oakley, UT. The water dropped at least 12" since the beginning of July. We were still able to find willing fish, but not as many as last time. I caught most of my fish in a para-Adams, but my largest Cutt fell victim to the Stoned-Hopper.

I wasn't able to get out and fish again until the trip home. I chose Fremont Flats as my playground, but the water had a lot of chocolate milk mixed in making it less productive. I threw the Stoned-Hopper and streamers picking up fish 50/50 on both methods.