jackshoe

As you Probably guessed I have the pictures reversed-my bad.

I have lived in Arizona all of my 59 years and don't feel that just having to happen to have been born here should give me preferential treatment over any other resident hunter-no matter where they were born. I like RR's idea-give extra consideration to people who give time and labor to improving habitat-makes sense to me. Ted B.

Happy Birthday Buddy-hope you have another hundred or so!

Very cool mounts-is that color variation genetic or a result of cross breding?

Don't know if I did this right-but if I did please read it.Have_you_ever_wondered_what_happened_to_the_56_men_who_signed_the_Declaration_of_Independence.doc

Thanks to all for your prayers and support for my wife Ann and me. After thirteen days in Banner Desrt Hospital, Ann got to come home yesterday. She is feeling much better and well on her way to recovering. Again, thanks to all and thank God above for prayers answered. Ted B.

If you want to camp in a campground, I would try winn Campground-it is close to Lee Valley Reservoir and a really nice place to camp. If you would like to camp on the forest and not in a campground, you can take forest road 116-The road that turns off of big lake road and goes toward reservation lake- and pic a spot. There are some corrals that you can see from the road that have some nice campsites nearby and your group will be close to fishing on lee valley resv, crescent lake , big lake, and the west fork of black river. These are all on forest service land and only require a state license. You will also be close to reservation lake and drift fence lake if you choose to buy a reservation permit. As far as I have heard, there are no restrictions on camping on the forest at this time-call and check this out before you go- I could be wrong about this. All my fly fishing friends tell me that the place to be fishing right now as far as lakes are concerned are cresent. pacheta, and canero. Lee Valley has experienced a recent algae bloom, and big lake is producing a lots of small stocker fish. Pacheta has been producing some really big fish, not great numbers, and it is a catch and release lake. the guys that I know that have done well at pacheta are pretty technically advanced fly fishermen, and have a lot of patience. If I was going to go someplace now and hope for a good result with bait I think it would be Cresent-I have it from a local that they have been catching some nice brookies there. Good luck and enjoy your time in the Mountains. Ted B.

That's pretty much the straight story TJ. Jeff was on the road off of Cherry Creek that goes into the dagger ranch. That was when Steve Smith lived there and Jeff was going into the ranch to visit with Steve and do some catfishing where Cherry Creek runs into the Salt River. The road was narrow and sloped toward the creek-Jeff had a big camper on his truck and it was top heavy-He rolled off the road and was killed. His wife walked down to the ranch and got Steve. Tragic story. Jeff was a great taxidermist and an even better guy. Ted B.

Thanks everyone-especially you TJ-Ann's feeling better this morning. We're hoping she gets to come home in a couple of days. Thanks for the beautiful prayer Ernesto-it really touched the hearts of Ann and I. God Bless you all. Ted B.

21 inches after drying is the minumum score to get in the B&C book-don't know where it would be in the Arizona book.

Thanks for sharing the pics-looks like a good time was had by all. My wife and I got to spend a week in Estes Park a few years ago-Had a blast in RMNP-caught lots of green back cuts and saw many awe inspiring sights.

Great Pics-Beautiful country, good company and big trout on the fly-doesn't get any better than that. Thanks for sharing-looks like an awesome trip. Ted B.

TJ hunt 2, two of my nephews and me got away to do a little trout fishing on the San Juan April 23rd thru the 25th. I used to fish the Juan several times a year, but the last few years it's been one or two trips a year. I don't seem to travel as well as I used to. Tom had been to the San Juan with me once before a couple of years ago, and this was the first trip for my two nephews. Tom and I left early on the morning of April 22nd for the eight hour drive to the river. We met the nephews and got our camps set up at Cottonwood campground, got our licenses bought and our gear ready for a day of fishing on the 23rd. We all had a good day on the river on the 23rd, with both nephews landing the biggest fish either had ever caught on a fly rod. The hot set up in the morning was a small cream colored egg pattern with various midge patterns or a red hot fished under it. In the afternoon, the bite switched to small mayfly nymphs. It got pretty windy about 4 o'clock and we all headed for camp for some cold brews, food, and story swapping. On the 24th we decided to try our luck in the section of the river known as the upper flats-I had heard that it had been fishing well. We got away from camp a little late, and the river was crowded when we got there. Everyone picked up a few fish, but we never really got it dialed in where we were catching them consistently. We went back to the truck for lunch and decided to spend the rest of the day fishing around the Texas hole and the Kiddie hole. Again everyone picked up a fish or two, but none of us were knocking em out of the tub. Everyone but TJ had called it a day and headed for the truck. When I left Tom at the Kiddie hole, he and another angler were fishing not to far apart. A little later we saw Tom come walking up to the parking area with te other angler who was very wet and cold. The guy was and older guy and pretty large-really large-lots larger than me even. He had lost his footing down in the Kiddie hole, fell down and couldn't get up. TJ got ahold of the guy and helped him get up. Tom hurt his back while he was lifting on the guy, but could have been real bad for the other angler if Tom had come to the truck when the rest of us did. The morning of the 25th we got out a lots earlier and headed for a back chanel off the main river on the advise of my friend Rick Hooley who is a guide on the river. We fished may fly emerger patterns all day and were into fish all day. Thanks again for the tip Rick. The wind came up really bad about 3 o'clock and we packed it in for the day. We went to the Sportsman's bar for one of their famous green chile cheeseburgers and some cold ones for supper. Ran onto some friends that I hadn't seen for awhile and had a nice evening. Sunday morning found us all tearing down camp and getting ready for the long drive home. I hope it's not another year before I get to go again. Oh yeah, if you go and stay in Cottonwood campground, lock your grub and stuff up real good at night-they have some coons living there that have phd's in getting into icechests and stuff. But that's another story.

Great buck and a beautiful mount-Congrats to you as well as Scotty.

Mike-TJ was headed up today and called the ranger station in Payson and they said no restrictions at the present time. Ted

Nice pictures-thanks for sharing.

Thanks Mike. I'm ready for the years to start going backwards now-I wish. Ted

Thanks TJ-I'm sittin on ready for the Juan-Thanks for the tasty birthday present-think I'll have another!! I may be a year older now but I'm just as dumb as ever-some things never change.

I don't like the idea of only kids whose parents or legal guardians have drawn to be able to purchase over the counter tags. I think the whole idea of the over the counter tags is to recruit young people into hunting. The kids whose folks have drawn tags are going to be exposed to hunting and outdoor activities anyway. Maybe at some point the number of tags available will need to be looked at. But if someone wants to take his nephew or niece or friends kid whose parents don't hunt, I don't think these kids should be locked out because their parents didn't get drawn or because their folks choose not to hunt.

I like high brass 6's-only takes one pellet in the neck or head and you have more chances of getting the one with 6's than with shells with bigger pellets.

Snow pack and lake levels do affect the flows from saguaro lake. If there is enough runoff into the salt river lake chains, SRP releases water to make room for projected runoff. When SRP raised the level of the dam at roosevelt lake the extra room that this created in the lake is for flood control only. When the level in Roosevelt rises above the old high water mark, the excess water has to be released as soon as possible without wiping out the bridges and roads in the valley-no long term storage was gained. SRP keeps the lower lakes pretty full when they can and uses Roosevelt to feed apache, canyon, and saguaro lakes. So on a real wet year, there could be higher than minumum flows all winter-in years when there is only enough runoff to fill the reservoirs or less than enough to fill them, it's 8cfs all winter. Ted B.

Flows out of the dam at saguaro lake typically go down to 8 cfs after irrigation season is over while SRP is filling the salt river and verde river reservoirs. If the lower salt could maintain a decent minimum flow it could be a great brown trout or smallmouth bass fishery. I know that many of the local fly fishing clubs have tried in the past to get guaranteed flows in the lower salt-SRP says it just can't be done. Too bad.

Great story and pics-I think the best I've seen here! I think that this story and pics shows the true spirt of the hunt-that it's not all about taking an animal to make a successful hunt-better than any post I've seen. Thanks for sharing! Ted B.

Don't know anyone who hunts with one-lots and lots of trap shooters swear by them and they are about as fine a piece of machinery as you can find. If I could afford them, I would love to own one to hunt with.

Call Arizona Fly Fishing shop 480-730-6808 and ask them. I know that one of the guys that works there, Ron Marlow, fishes it a lot during the winter and should have some up to date info.