It was 11:30 pm when the e-brake on the Versa Rental Car was pulled in the middle of a field in Basalt, CO. I was sitting in the middle of the backseat and thought for sure that the car was going to flip over, or Rohan was going to spill his Senor Frogs sized cocktail all over the vehicle. Neither happened and we all rolled out of the clown car into the chilly night. RA quickly got the luncher prepared about 30 yards from the car and lit the first mortar. It went soaring up into the night sky and blew into a few different colors with a bang. We all raised our drinks and hollered like it was the first firework we ever saw. Next Trevor, one of the two Canucks that were visiting from the north, lit another with the same result. Last but not least was Rohan, who was given a hall pass from his wife for the night. RA and Ro Ro were fumbling around with the lighter and launcher for about five minutes. The Canucks and I were shooting the breeze next to the Versa when we saw them both start running. RA took a route up near some trees and started shouting ” RUN…RUN.. RUN” I though he was messing with us then it happened. The rocket launched. But instead of going up it came horizontal across the field towards the Versa. Rohan was running back towards the car when the rocket caught up with him and exploded on his ass. All we heard was ” Ahh the thing hit me in the ass.” Everyone was fine but the laughter that came after could have been damaging to the stomach. I am laughing now as I type. It was like a slow motion cartoon scene. The light from the firework lit up Rohan just in time for all of us to see him jump when it hit him in the rear. We all piled back into the clown car and headed back up the dirt road to the Ranch where Trevor tried to put a steel bowl in the microwave. Thats a different story.

Pre Firework Brook Trout

Looked Like A Pike When It Waked On The Streamer - Not A Pike

Released

We have been on the river a ton this spring, mostly guiding people who are sick of skiing in mud and grass. I can’t blame them. It is unfortunate that it has been such a shitty snow pack year. We are going to be suffering come August. A common phrase around the valley has been ” we are fuc*ed” but there is really nothing we can do except hope for moisture. Regardless the fishing has been unreal. We have been able to catch them all three ways, bobbers, dries and streamers, but the bobber fishing has trumped the others. The rainbows are getting ready to do there thing and those assholes who are fishing the i-70 hole should stay off the redds and leave the fish alone. I floated by a guy last week and yelled at him twice only to get a blank stare. MORON. The hot flies have been pats rubber leg, barrs bwo emerger, ju ju baetis, rs2, and other tiny black midges. The bead has also been catching a few but it has been hit or miss on that guy. Most of the fish on streamers are Brown Trout in the 14-16 inch range. We did turn a big guy in little gore canyon the other day but he wouldn’t commit. Hot streamers have been olive and black sculpzilla and the teQueely. Run a tandem rig and move it through the fast pocket water. Nothing lie being on the bow of a boat and watching fish flash at your bugs moving thru the water. Below are a few shots of some rainbows we caught on dries last week. If you are fortunate enough to find a pod of them a small adams trailed by roys special emerger is tough to beat. If you are in the area and want to get on the Eagle before runoff look me up. It is a great time to be on it.

Bobber Bow

Fins

Ready For Release

Rattle Snake Ranch Rainbow

Been guiding a lot and the fishing has been off the chain, as some might say. I have some pictures of fish that I will not post here only because the pictures are mostly of the Dudes hands. I try to coach these never evers on holding a trout but it never sinks in. Thats another post all together. In fact Bobber has a good write up on it. HERE
So instead of going on about fishing, today I am doing a little product review for a pull over that I have had on since Christmas. I am talking about the Better Sweater 1/4 zip from Patagooch. Shit is tight, as some would say. I am a pretty lazy when it comes to the fashion world. In fact I wear the same jeans for at least a week or better, why?because thats when they are comfortable. And, it is usually a a tee shirt and this pull over to compliment my jeans. My wife got me this shirt as a present for X-mas and I have it on now as I type. I also bought one in Green….ooooh
Benefits-
Warm, Easy to pull on, No Buttons, It says Patagonia on it so everyone thinks your really cool, true fit, not bulky.

Boom

The last post about apparel I had also bought new sneakers. Well since Thanksgiving those puppies have started to get a little funk to them and I am now back in the market for some classics. i think I am going to shoot for the Diadora B Elite 2 classics. Although not easy to come by I think I might be able to find a pair on the internet machine. What chu think?

B Elite Bad Ace Mutha

I am off to the mighty Colorado to throw bobbers and rubber legs. Got one dude in the boat today I hope he can chuck it. But I am going to bet my tip that he is going to be a rook. Over an out.

I have seen those stickers around a bunch over the past few years–the one pictured below. I always mistaked it for some hippie widespread panic sticker of some dude in a hula hoop. But, upon closer examination I realized it was not. Anyway I had a chance to throw one of these rods a month ago up on the OP. I have never been a rod snob but I know when I have a decent stick in my hand. Brazda had a bunch of demo rods from Echo and gave me a switch rod to throw for a day. It was the Echo 3 11/8 switch and once I got a couple casts under the belt I could really chuck the thing. It loaded nicely and wasn’t super flimsy like other switch rods I have worked with. It was also a fairly light rod and didn’t wear out my chubby arms. Overall I was pleased with my first Echo Fly Rod experience and have been considering putting a couple in my boat. Any Recommendations on lighter Echo Rods? I am thinking about picking up a 5 or 6 wt. I would also like to have your feedback as well if you are currently casting Echo Rods.

Not to be confused with this

You know the kind of sleep the night before you have to catch a plane? Thats the kind of sleep you get when you have a baby. Never quite reach REM and just when you start to feel your eyes go dark you hear the chirp. Thats how its been in the Macomber household for the last couple weeks. Amos and I welcomed our new baby boy into the world on March 13th (lucky). His name is Joseph E Macomber the IV and we are calling him Maco (mako) for short. I am not gonna lie I was totally freaked out about having a little guy prior to his arrival. But, to all you soon to be fathers out there it is an amazing experience. The sleeping program I don’t think anyone gets used to so you just have to muscle thru it. Here is the newest addition to our fam… Baby Mac

Baby Mac Thinking About...

Baby Mac Out To Dinner