So we're off to do some fly fishing

[OnionPatch]

Only locally. I wish I were posting that we were headed for the Green River or the Deschutes or something, but maybe some of you will be able to post something like that after this 4th of July weekend. I'd love to hear your adventures.

But we will be camping and fishing in our local mountains here in Southern California. There are only a few streams where wild trout still live and one of them is our destination. It takes an hour to get back the 4x4 road to get there but once there, we will probably have the place pretty much to ourselves. It's very pretty; rocky chapparal with pine/oak forests here and there in the less exposed areas. The riparian around the creek is so green and lush I swear I'm back east again when I'm in it.

My husband will be teaching our 6-year-old daughter some fly-fishing. He bought her a new fly rod this weekend and she's really excited. Me? I will be creeping around trying to watch birds. (I don't have my fishing license up-to-date) I probably won't see many birds, tho, because our two big dogs are coming with us. They will be beside themselves with joy, crashing through the underbrush slobbering and panting with ecstacy. (I hope we don't have any rattlesnake episodes! :scared: )

Hope you're having a good outside weekend this 4th, too, DUers!

[Redneck Socialist]

1. Sounds like fun

Have a great time and post some photos if you can.

[OnionPatch]

2. I had to post back

because we DID have a rattlesnake incident!! OMG, that thing was huge! It came right into the camp and the other people we were with killed it. :( With a big rock, no less. I felt kinda bad. I mean, we came into its home. But they had little kids and I guess just chasing it away didn't feel safe enough for them.

We didn't catch many fish but the trip was a lot of fun. The kids played in the creek the entire time. It was a nice trip. Here's our camp and our camper. The creek is in under the trees.

[Redneck Socialist]

3. Pretty area

Sorry the snake had to die. The few times I've run into them, I went around them, figuring I was more trespassing on their territory than the reverse. They are pretty inoffensive, at least in my experience.

Sorry the fishing wasn't so hot too, but it sounds like you had fun and made some great memories.

[OnionPatch]

4. Yeah, we felt bad about it

It kind of put a pall over the whole trip. I even think the guy who killed it ended up feeling bad about it but he just kinda freaked when it came into camp right next to his two small kids. Well, the good thing is that there are tons of rattlesnakes in that area, so he didn't put a hurt on the population, for sure.

Yes, the area is gorgeous, at least I think so. Typical southern California mountain terrain. It takes 45 minutes of 4x4 driving to get there. We had the place to ourselves.