LOAH B. Dammed

[LOAH]

There's something special about beaver dams. A lot of people tend to dislike them, but I really enjoy fishing a good beaver pond.


In celebration of landing a new job, I decided to go out and hunt down some beaver ponds today and also to either confirm or dismiss a hunch that I've had for the last 4 years.


The places I had in mind were somewhat close, which was needed, having to be home to take my wife to work in the late afternoon.


For years, I've driven past certain parts of a creek I like and always wanted to spend some real time investigating some of its beaver ponds. Also, there was a mysterious puddle I've seen on the maps for quite some time and it was close enough to my creek that I could check that out too.


While driving to the place I would eventually call a "trail head", I had to pull over and try to get a feel for the day's fishing on the creek. Luckily, the fish were ready to play.


First came a sturdy little brown:


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3853_zps1b5a6069.jpg


Then a pretty cutthroat:


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3854_zps830bf8bf.jpg


It's a great little creek that often gets overlooked by passers-by.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3856_zps81bcb504.jpg


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3859_zpsb25adba0.jpg


After testing the mojo there, it was time to heed the call of curiosity. The hike wasn't brutal and as I got closer to my mystery pond, I could see some promising signs along the path of its outflow.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3860_zpsef09dfa8.jpg


A mental note was made to just follow the water back down the hill and work that system back to my car instead of using the easier route along the mountainside.


First thing's first though, I had a date with a pond. Upon arrival, it was difficult to tell whether or not fish were present, but on my second cast with a Gulp minnow, I found my answer.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3863_zps7447a89d.jpg


A giant smile spread across my face. It's a beautiful thing when I finally take the time to check out a hunch and it pays off. Seeing how the other fish in the area were nowhere near that size, usually, I knew I had just stumbled upon something special.


The fishing continued and the catches got better and better.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3864_zps13006d72.jpg


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3865_zpsbdee79d6.jpg


A couple of others were came in without a photo, then I got the nicest one of the day:


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3866_zpsd4949dd3.jpg


What a beauty!


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3869_zps12b775dd.jpg


For some reason, the pond went quiet after that. Not a single bump after noon. Some time was spent in hopes of reviving the bite, but it wasn't meant to be. No matter. I've got a new place to fish for good sized cutthroat, within an hour of my porch.


As I had promised myself earlier, I took the scenic route down the hill and got my fill of beaver dams along the way. It was magical.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3872_zps408d9e4b.jpg


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3873_zps04e58dd7.jpg


This tiny trickle was responsible for the highlights of my day.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3874_zps4a1ee1de.jpg


Eager little mouths awaited the drop of my jig (now using a black marabou) and the next couple of hours were spent enjoying a free for all, catching beautiful little cutthroat, practically at will.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3875_zps75e3619d.jpg


Stacks of ponds. The beavers have been busy.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3876_zpsaeb80f2e.jpg


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3877_zpsacd3054d.jpg


Here's the biggest fish I got out of the beaver ponds.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3878_zps03a49437.jpg


Paradise!


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3879_zpsbdcc73ae.jpg


Another stream flowed into the area and I wandered upstream for a short while on that, missing a few strikes from tiny cutts along the way.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3881_zps4814be0b.jpg


Back to the dams, I slowly made my way back to the area where I was parked. It took awhile with holes like this around every bend:


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3885_zps063616ca.jpg


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3886_zpsf3fc9722.jpg


Oh yeah, I broke a personal record while I was at it.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3887_zpsbc489ec9.jpg


My smallest cutthroat to date. A close runner up also paid me a visit:


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3889_zpsd570228d.jpg


Strangely enough, I was every bit as happy to hold them as the others. It was just a joy to be out, doing it my way for the day.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3894_zpsd7b93dce.jpg


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3896_zpsf36a9401.jpg


And those cutts just kept rolling in.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3897_zps48393a9b.jpg


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3898_zps5f74b14c.jpg


They never cease to amaze me with their snazzy looks.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3899_zpsb6324104.jpg


What a great place to spend the time.


Once I got to my car, I took my time driving back home and took a slight detour to test the waters in a spot where two smaller streams converge. About a year and a half ago, I hooked a pretty good brown in this hole and today I did the same!


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3902_zps1f031861.jpg


It was probably snacking on tiny cutts to get like that. On my next cast, a smaller one came in, but it had a very peculiar spot pattern. X's and O's. Anyone for Tic Tac Toe?


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3903_zpscfdb49e7.jpg


More great water.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3904_zpsd07759f9.jpg


This hole looked like a winner, but I ended up missing the bite I got.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3905_zpsca6a8b46.jpg


This hole looked even better.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3907_zps4ee38e6c.jpg


Nothing big came from it, but I was still able to pull one in.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3908_zps6eae2d8b.jpg


After that, it really was time to hit the gas and get home. The day was filled with surprises and I accomplished everything I'd set out to do. It was another amazing day playing in the water.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3880_zpscf5b3204.jpg


Happy Fishing, Humans.

[LOAH]

Here's a video of me catching the bigger brown. Kinda shaky, sorry.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfvriTD5YT8

[JP]

I liked fishing beaver dams back when I lived in the northeast. The only problem with beaver dams is that they kill the river after a few years. I remember having some pretty kick @$$ pools to fish due to the beavers. But, over the years the dams continue doing what they were designed for. Allow water through to a degree, but no silt. Visiting those dams years later, what were once awesome pools, were now the river bottom raised to the height of the dams. The silt continued to back up river until the pool was filled in and then the silt was able to wash over the dam.

Always like reading your trip reports, very refreshing! :mrgreen:

[UTJetdog]

Awesome when a plan comes together and a little recon pays off.

Oh and just a tip, when you hook one of those small ones reel it in very slowly.:nod: ...Of course just so you don't injure the delicate lil' guy.:naughty:

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/DSCN3889_zpsd570228d.jpg

[LOAH]

Those two tiny guys hit right at my feet. I fixed this one's lip before I let it go. It had folded into its mouth.

[ChanManYFZLV]

AWESOME report thanks for the pictures !!!

[accadacca]

Great report and congrats on the new job. :2thumbs:

[LOAH]

Thanks! Unfortunately, the job fell through and I'm currently considering an even better offer elsewhere. Hopefully that all works out...:popcorn:

[accadacca]

Well damn! Good luck with the new opportunity... :2thumbs:

[Deadeye008]

Nice. I grew up fishing beaver ponds. Still brings back memories every time I fish one.

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