It’s hot stinky and smoky here in Zootown right now.  But just a short drive and a NASTY hike away there lies pristine cold water, with no closures, and fish that have never seen a fly.

My son Leo and I packed a lunch, a bunch of water, and worked for it this weekend.  We got up above the irrigation and dropped way down in to a canyon.

Air temps were 20 degrees cooler, there was lots of COLD water and the ecosystem was totally different.  But you had to earn it – going was THICK and the casts were short.  Leo never got more than 3 inches of line out of the tip of his rod.

Dapping and slingshot casts were the name of the game but, what could be better for a 6 year old kid.

Did I mention it was thick???

Hounds tagged along and learned about stream crossing – Ruby is the king of the log cross.

The higher we got the steeper and more rugged it got.

And the fish just got dumber (it that was possible)

Best day ever Dad

800 vertical feet down 1.5 miles of fishing 1,200 vertical feet out – if a 6 year old can do it so can you.