If you drive around in the mountains a bit from our house, follow a Forest Service road for a few miles, you end up in a canyon with a perfect little river flowing through it. It's mostly become our 'go-to' escape, given its closeness and exceptional beauty. But, who am I kidding, almost everything here is perfectly splendid.
We decided on a quick trip in the middle of the day right when the temperature had gotten too hot to work anymore, and a little extra elevation was necessary. We hit the river just as the afternoon rainstorm did it is monsoon season after all.
If you've been a follower of this little blog of ours, you've probably noticed that I've misplaced my enthusiasm for it. Maybe it's the adjustment to a new place, lack of motivation, too many rod bags, too little adventure, or perhaps basic laziness. I'm still trying to figure it out.
As I sat under a pine during the rain, I started to wonder about all of it. Here I was, happy as ever, in this ideal place and I can't muster up any words about it. It certainly isn't that I'm without sufficient inspiration. The only thing I could chalk it up to was laziness. Perhaps the rain would wash it away.
As soon as the rain stopped, we were in the water, armed with four-weights and dry flies. The brook trout hit almost immediately, excited about the rain that was or possibly the rain to come. As I looked up through the canyon, I noticed the new set of dark clouds rolling in. Short fishing trips are the absolute worst. As we hastily made our way upstream, trying to make the most of our short day, Jacob hooked into a fish, in the most unexpected run. I pulled out the camera, fully prepared for another colored up brookie, but that's not what appeared. As soon as I saw the golden back, colored up gills, it hit me. We'd found our first cutthroat of the year!
Now, I didn't catch this little fish I was simply an onlooker but just seeing it stirred something inside. Months later, Colorado had finally given me exactly what I needed.
I found two things on a trip that wasn't epic or an all-day adventure, just a midday escape between the storm; the discovery of a cutthroat and the unearthing of myself.
