Ice fishing Wyoming Feb 13-24, 2019

[Mahigeer]

Ice fishing Flaming Gorge, Wyoming Feb. 13-24, 2019 PART TWO

Be sure to read the text for some adventures.




Tuesday, February 19, 2019




Left for the Reservoir in early AM, after first making a stop at the local hardware store.




1-Many protruding rock formations. I think the wind must have worn the dirt of surrounding top portion of the hill.








2-It is starting to get cold. This is at 7:00 AM.




3-A local bar and restaurant called “Hitching Post” on the way to the reservoir, looked interesting from the outside.




4-The restaurant looked ok, but the bar was not worth of a picture.




5-The local ACE hardware store was very well stocked in fishing tackle store items.






6-As well as the usual hardware store items.





7-The road to the reservoir was clear most of the time.
Exceptions were few nights where the wind would blow snow on to the road.




8-Is it cold now?






As I was struggling to load the sled and hook it up to the snowmobile, a local arrives with this unit.


9-This is the next wish.


He had most of his gear already mounted on his transport. In the winter, he replaces his round tires with these tracks to be sure
he can be sure-footed on the snow. About $5,000.00 for the set of four I was told.
He just backed out of the trailer and added some more items and was on his way. In a short while his father arrived, and he too had
similar transport with him. He too left, before I got on my way.


Once more I was in the search of the lost forceps. I setup the jigging Jawjacker and a tip-up as before in the meantime.



10-The only fish caught by the jigging Jawjaker during the trip. Hook was treble and bait was nightcrawler.




11-The old school tip-up unit was ignored too.




12-If there are no fish around, no amount of gear will help you catch them. Never the less it was fun to play with toys.


Underwater camera pointed to a jigging Jawjacker.


I stayed until dark for some Burbot, but no takers.



Side note: The trip to the marina was eventful.

The headlights on the snowmobile had gone out (15) minute in the first night.
My headlamp was not working and I was some distance from the Marina.
However, there was a full moon and the Marina had light polls.
So, I got close, but I had to find my trial.
As I realized I am not on the right path on a steep bank, I stopped the snowmobile and set the handbrake.

I took my lantern and walked around to find the right path while sinking knee deep in snow.
I got back to the snowmobile and after starting the engine, I put it in reverse.
As I pulled on the throttle, the engine RPM went up, but instead of snowmobile moving, a big cloud of smoke appeared.
The more I increased the speed, the bigger the smoke got.

I tried forward and reverse with no progress. The snowmobile simply would not move.

I then saw a red indicator light on the dash showing an oil can. Am I running out of oil? I was told to watch out for low oil.

I stopped the engine and sat there thinking what to do. I could not leave the snowmobile overnight.
If stolen, I would have to pay $2,000 to the rental company.

Suddenly I noticed that the handbrake lock was set. Dohhhh
Some stupid (perhaps frugal) designer had used the same indicator light for handbrake and low oil warning.

The smoke was probably from the brake pads. Once I released the brake, the snowmobile was set free and moved as I wanted.

What a relief.



13-The beautiful moon made it possible for me to find my way to the parking lot.



I loaded the 4Runner and the trailer and got on my way home.
A hot bath, bowl of hot soup and comfortable bed put me back in shape for the next day’s adventure.






Wednesday, February 20, 2019




I decided to take a day off from fishing (loading and un-loading) and do some sightseeing today.


14-My hotel was on this road a half a mile up toward the canyon.

Notice the statue of a wild horse by the Exxon sign.



15-This road was to the left of hotel going to a canyon with possible sighting of wild horses.



Side note: The day before some German tourist had taken the road and got stuck. A couple of hotel guests with a truck had rescued them.
They were very thankful. Good gesture on part of the guests toward foreigners.

I figured since I had a 4X4 and snow chains all around, I would be fine. So the next adventure began.
Seeing wild horses in wild would be interesting.

Without noticing a sign soon after I went up the road, I drove about 2.2 miles up the hill into the canyon with no problems.
There were areas of deep snow, but with even street and not snow tires, I was able to pass with the 4X4 engaged.
At that point, I decided that I may be pressing my luck a bit too much. Not having seen any horses, I decided to make a “U” turn and
head back.

As I drove to right to make the turn, my right wheels sank into a ditch…….. Dohhhhh
Hard as I tried to move to left, the 4Runner kept going straight and finally got stuck…….. Double Dohhh



3-Notice how far the tracks go back. The high center made it impossible for the 4Runner to move left and out of the ditch.




17-The passenger side had sunk in deep in the snow.






18-It was much harder to put on the chain on the rear tire than front, the other side was impossible without a lot of snow removal.



Side note continued: After the snow chains did not helped the situation, I called the hotel to let them know and asked if they had
AAA service in town.
Let us say AAA was not helpful, since apparently (“Without noticing a sign soon after I went up the road”) I was off-road on
non-maintained by government road.

A local tow truck driver quoted me $200.00/hr. for his service. Triple Dohhhh

Now I realize that I had pressed my luck. Fortunately, there was cell signal. I would be fine, only I had to pay for my mistake.

After resting a bit, I decided that I am not going to pay $200.00/hr. Thus, I got a tarp that I had for this type of emergency and put it
on the snow and got as much snow as I could from under the 4Runner.

That did not help either. So, I called the tow truck company. However, they said he is on call and did not know when he will be back!

I should have consulted 4Runner’s owner’s manual for some features, but I was not thinking straight.

Suddenly I hear a tap on the window. To my relief and great surprise, it was a sheriff deputy. Hurray.

The hotel staff had called the sheriff’s Department once I told him that AAA was no help, and local guy was not available.
The sheriff came up the road and saw me stuck, so he parked well below me and walked to me.
I tried one more time with no movement. He said they had tow truck drivers on rotation call and had to respond. I thanked him and he
made the call. Then he went and sat in his SUV the whole time while waiting for the tow truck to arrive.




19-The site of first ditch.




20-This is the second time I got stuck in the ditch and had to be pulled out.




21-The local driver pulled me out since AAA would not come out for off-road issues.


Boy, are they going to hear from me.


I am still learning about the 4X4 setting as well as other features of 4Runner. I should have consulted my factory owner’s manual in
the SUV, but somehow I did not.



22-The visitor center was very close to the hotel down the road.




23-All I had to do was to go downhill to see wildlife.




24-I got my yearly fishing license here at the beginning of the trip. It was cheaper to get a yearly license than
a five day and four one day! $117.36—it did not matter then when I did not fish for three days.









Thursday, February 21, 2019




It was too cold and windy today to go to ice fishing. So I stayed home for a while and then went out for lunch.

A recommended Chinese restaurant had good food, but when I reached for my wallet to pay, no wallet.
No cash in my other pocket either. First time in 67 years it has happened to me.
I had even ordered some food to go for the sheriff who sat in his SUV until the tow truck showed up.

Well, I left my cell phone and camera as collateral and went to the hotel to get my wallet.
After I paid them, and when I told him I was from Los Angeles, the owners and staff were very friendly and we shared fishing stories.

One more memory for the book.

Next day I took the Chinese food to the Sheriff’s Department in Rock Springs and did some shopping.



25-Green River is a small town. Population: 12,305 (203) · 7th largest (Wyoming). Area: 14.02 sq. miles.
Elevation: 6,115 ft.
-






Friday, February 22, 2019




It was time to return the snowmobile, so I went to Rock Springs.



26-Lots of truck on I (80) going east and west.




27-These tunnels allow passage on I (80) to another city called Rock Springs. A bigger town than Green River.




28-You have made it if there is a Walmart in your city!




29-There was even an operating Sears. Imagine that.




30-More snow to last a life time of making snowman.




After returning the snowmobile and shopping, I went back to Hotel in Green River.






Saturday, February 23, 2019




Today once more I was to going to meet Jim to fish together. This time it was Mr. C’s brother who came instead of him.
An experienced angler like Mr. C.

After I parked and loaded my sled, I made a long trek to where Jim and friend was fishing.
He likes to go to the middle of the lake to fish in deep water.




31-Wayyyyyyy in the distance are two dot. Closest to camera is a shelter. The further one is my 4Runner.


I had already returned the snowmobile. Talk about a workout. I had to do many stops to catch my breath while pulling my heavy sled.

Note to myself: Next trip make sure the snowmobile is returned after the fishing outings are done.




32-There was this structure sitting on the ice for the entire time I visited the reservoir.




33-It looks like a nicely insulated shelter.




34-The temperature went up slightly.





My first catch was a nice one, but I lost it just before it was pulled out of the hole.
Sometimes the ice edge cuts the line when the fish shakes it head.
Instead of pulling the fish straight out of the hole, it is easier to go sideways and slide the fish out of the hole on to the ice surface.




35-When we moved to the new spot at lower depth, I was able to catch a fish at the same time as Jim. Double hookup.




36-At the Fred Hall Show I was asked by a friend, “what is that orange thing you have around your neck?”


In case I fall into water through thin ice, I can use the sharp spikes into the ice to pull myself out.
Although the ice has always been more than thick enough where I fished, it is a good safety item to have.
Or as someone mentioned to hold corn on the cub!



37-Saturday night massacre


Jim took the fish. He had brought me some delicious smoked lake trout from the last batch.



38-Ice (hardwater) fishing is becoming a popular way of fishing.
Perhaps because the season is so short comparing to open (soft) water fishing.






This would be the last evening at the hotel. I said farewell to a great staff.






Sunday, February 24, 2019




39-It is time to go home. Not knowing what is to happen later.




I left the hotel in Green River about 7:00 AM. I had an enjoyable ride most of the time.



The curse of I (80)

The I (80) was clear and the sun was coming up. Great weather and a day for a drive home. So I thought.
Somewhere before town of Evanston, Wyoming, I saw a big electric sign flashing “BLACK ICE. REDUCE SPEED”. So I did.
I went from 80 MPH to 60 MPH.
For a while it was fine, then suddenly I hit black ice. I lost control of the 4Runner as it went sideways.
I instinctively pressed on the brake and tried to control the steering. However, I over-steered and went diagonally all the way to the other lane.

The back and forth sliding went on for maybe four to six times. Finally, I hit a metal rod that was on the side of the road with reflector
on it. The impact corrected the wheels and I was going straight again.

After a short drive, I pulled to the right and got out of the 4Runner to assess the damage.



40-Damaged to the 4Runner.







Curse of I (80) continued….. As I was going side to side I did not see my whole life, but I imagined flipping over and over.
Remember I had made a shelf system and I think I was top heavy in an already higher than normal center of gravity vehicle.

What I will never know is how was that all the trucks and other vehicles on the road behind me avoided hitting me.
As I was going side to side in a serpentine fashion. No one hit me or even passed me.

Is it because they saw me and stopped, or reduced their speed tremendously?

I guess it was not my time. Someone was watching over me perhaps.

Well I have to really study all the features of the 4Runner before the next trip and install snow tires as well.



41-Layerd cake mountain is what I see here.




42-One of the warehouses of Walmart on the way to Las Vegas. It is a huge one up close.




43-There is a winding road that is cut out of rocks.






44-Saw many trains with long line of cargo going from somewhere to somewhere else carrying goods.





I made it to Las Vegas late afternoon. I was back at Silverton Hotel, next to Bass Pro Shops once more.
I was offered a free room and buffet dinner and some free slot allowance. How could I refuse.

After some rest, I hit the casino for some Black Jack.






Monday, February 25, 2019




Next day I slept till about 10:00 AM to make up for all those 5:45 AM wakeups! After a good breakfast, I hit the road for Los Angeles.



45-I loved the picture in my room.




46-I have never stopped at the border to see some of the casinos there. Always on a hurry to get to Las Vegas, or Los Angeles.






I had not missed much when it comes to table games.


Of course I made another stop at the Mad Greek’s Café for a brief rest, before heading for home.





Got home in early evening, being thankful for my life. I had not told my wife about my black ice encounter until then.

She responded……. “what do you mean reduced to 60 MPH?” “you should have slowed to 40 MPH or even less”.

Oh well, I am sure she meant well.




THE END