Smoky Skies and Hungry Browns

Southern Utah has been on fire (literally) for the last few weeks. A local Brian Head man stupidly decided to torch some weeds behind his house and it erupted to what is now the largest fire in the country. Bet he's regretting that decision. The man (no name has been released yet), lost his own cabin and around thirteen others were lost to the fire as well. Tragic, though I cant say I'm too sorry for the perpetrator.

There has been lots of hype about this fire due to how largely and quickly it spread. I remember hearing over the radio one of the fire chiefs talk about how he had never seen a forest fire spread so rapidly. Well, it was no surprise to many locals in Southern Utah. Many knew that this portion of the mountain was a time bomb waiting to happen. As history tells, years ago, an environmental group fought against the eradication of a pine beetle that came into the area which destroyed thousands of trees. They also fought against the removal of the dead trees. Just stupid. Regardless, this was a wild fire and our area has been very dry and hot lately. Did the dead trees even matter? Some say it didn't.

I am someone who cares deeply about the environment and doing what ever we can to protect the great outdoors. But honestly, I would have fought to remove the beetle in looking at the greater good. No beetle, no dead trees, no raging wildfire. Listen, I get the logic of letting things run their own natural course. However, we live in modern times with new knowledge and resources. If removing a little bug is for the greater good of the forest, then so be it. We need to look toward the future, not just the present. There's also the argument that fire brings new life to an area. This is something I also truly believe in some cases. But, try telling that to the innocent people who had their cabins burn to the ground. Again, I believe we need to all look to the future and what is best for the greater good. 

Alright, enough debating, now onto some fishing. Due to the raging fire, my dad and I drove North to one of our favorite spots. This area holds a special place in our hearts, and always will. It is a place where you could say I re-ignited my inner fly fishing flame. I, of course, fished when I was young but, I took a long leave of absence from the sport for a long time. This all changed when I was in college and decided to hitch along with Mike and my dad for a fishing trip. I don't know what happened that day. Maybe it was all the fish brought to hand, the beautiful serene landscape we were in, or the fly fishing gods instilling something upon me. Whatever it was, something clicked, and I'm never looking back. 

In all honesty, something had been greatly missing from my life. I did not know then, but I sure do now. The truth is, fly fishing brings such calmness and relaxation to my life. Being someone who is a worrier and prone to anxiety and depression, I needed fly fishing in my life. The older I get, the more I realize how vitally important it is for me to make time to do things I enjoy. Fly fishing will be something I do until I physically cannot do so anymore, which hopefully never happens. Who knows, maybe my last minute on earth will be spent standing in a river, fish on, and smiling. That would not be a bad way to go. 

The evening with my dad last week was a great one. Though the sky had a tinge of orange and we could smell smoke this far North, it only enhanced the experience. The water levels on the stream were coming down, and more clear from weeks past. We rigged our dries, and tossed them to willing browns and the occasional rainbow. 

Spots for days...