Riffle and Rise Blog |

Texas and Louisiana

Spent a few weeks in Texas and got to visit Louisiana for a few days as well. It was good to get away for part of the winter and help out Peri’s mom. Pulled the camper down and camped in the Texas Hill Country and also in Natchitoches, Louisiana. After about 5 weeks, 2 flat tires, and a cracked windshield, I am back home in Colorado and looking at a snow storm coming and below zero temps. Next year I hope to be gone for January AND February. But it’s time to ramp up for the upcoming fishing season now. Sure hope we don’t have another drought. Stay tuned.
(Check out my road trip inspired song, 18 Wheelers and Jesus.)

Luckenbach is a cool place. Would love to get back there for music during non-COVID time.

Some of the oldest buildings since the Louisiana Purchase are in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Old cotton plantations dot the landscape in Louisiana. Lots of history and great scenery.

Headed South

Got the new topper on the truck and hitched up the camper and headed south to Texas to spend a few weeks down here with Peri’s mom. It took two days and one flat tire, but it feels great to be in 70 degree weather while it’s 15 below zero in Gunnison. It was also good to melt the glacier off the camper. Happy camper.

Winter is here!

A major winter storm dropped between 14 and 16 inches of snow here in Taylor Canyon last night. This is a view of the Taylor River just down the hill from the house. Winter is here!

Fall Fishing

A nice fall day on the East River.

Rainbows and browns were feeding on eggs and baetis nymphs behind the pods of kokanee salmon.

Steamboat/Yampa trip

We went camping and fishing up north of Steamboat Springs during September and had a blast. Great fall weather and colors, and we caught some beautiful trout. Looking forward to a return trip next year.

A really nice Yampa River rainbow.

A beautiful wild rainbow trout. My best rainbow of the trip.

My 23″ brown on the Yampa River. A great fish!

Peri with a Yampa River brown trout.

Peri with a gorgeous brown!

A pretty cutthroat from a mountain stream on the last day. Love that small creek fishing!

Lake Fork of the Arkansas

We spent a really nice day on a private stretch of the Lake Fork of the Arkansas River last week. It’s a beautiful stream that meanders through a ranch south of Leadville. It was great having this all to ourselves for the day.

Rio Grande

A couple of nice fish from our trip to the Upper Rio Grande. Looking forward to going back.

Arkansas River

Peri with a pretty wild brown trout on the Arkansas River on 8/6. We fished a private section of the river north of Buena Vista. Fishing was slow, but it was a beautiful stretch of river and a great day to be out there.

Taylor River

Dry fly fishing has been very good on the Taylor River lately. It’s busy out there but you can find some fish, and they are looking up.

Small Creek Fishing

The recent rains have really helped pump some much needed water into the rivers and creeks. I got this nice wild brown trout on Tomichi Creek yesterday.