Return to Pinecliffe

November 7, 2012

I need a photo to go along with a piece I'm targeting to The Drake entitled, "The Tunnel. World Class photographer Randall Paeztold of Carp Slam and Skylark Lounge fame who has a similar goal of getting something published in The Drake, and of fishing in interesting places came along with his gear. (UPDATE !!. It was accepted and published in The Drake Winter 2012-13, pg 58. Get a copy at your flyshop.) 

I had carefully carefully calculated the time to the second that the California Zephr would be  passing through the S. Boulder Creek Canyon above Gross Reservoir using the related rate algebra necessary on college board exams. (You remember, "If Ohmar left Casablaca at 6:00 AM on a camel traveling east at 4.25 mph, and Eloise left Mumbai at the same time, traveling west on the Concorde at mach 1.2, where could they have lunch?" ) The East Bound California Zephr leaves Glennwood Springs around noon and the West Bound California Zephr leaves Denver at 8:06AM. 

Randall carefully set up the shot with the sun exploding behind the mountain, the bridge where the train would appear slashed across the frame, and me stealthily casting into the stream in the lower third of the frame. Of course the California Zephr did not appear on schedule. This isn't Austria you know. Amtrack passenger schedules should be considered suggestions. America is a vast country with unknown dangers and events destine to destroy a departure time. 

I fished that hole another 20 minutes, very much against my practice of 4 good drifts and move on, and eventually hooked a nice rainbow that struck my miracle midge out of desperation. 

No sooner did we move on than, by the law of event photography, the Zephr appeared. 

Back to fishing. Randall used his best stealthy techniques and a hook cast to present a red copper john.

Always prepared he's sitting on a railroad tie he brought along in case he'd have to fight off a cougar to claim his catch. Before his release of course.

 On the way back to the car we encountered what I believe is a reddish brown caddis. Next time I'll bring a couple of these tied in matching elk hair.