2023 was filled with adventure for the kids and I. We had a gentleman in Lehi named Shaun Nimtz build us a custom camping trailer. With that purchase I decided to swap out the vehicle we used with a Ford Maverick so we had the towing capability we needed to get things to the camp site without issue. We spent just about every weekend this year out camping with that little trailer. The kids and I sure enjoyed the time together on those adventures and we are looking forward to more camping in 2024.

The bikes didn’t sit around, but also didn’t see a lot of dirt. Most of the time spent was on the road with the kids. Maxwell has moved up to a Commencal Ramones 20″ wheel bike and he is doing so well on it. He was happy to have something with gears. Clair is rocking the Strider for the most part, but she can ride the little 16″ Scott we have if I help her start and stop. I think by next spring she will be in a better position to make the transition.

Here are some random pictures from the adventures this year.

The outlook for 2024 looks to be clear. We will continue to grow and search out new adventures. We have the idea of making it to Texas for the solar eclipse. Hoping to take the truck and trailer on a road trip down there for that. Dad just needs to get off his ass and make the plans before it is too late. Father seeking motivation!

We ran into some issues with Maxwell’s reel on the first outing. It was troublesome last year, but I stuck with it. I gave up on it the first day of the season and replaced it with a bait caster. I’m not sure yet this was the best decision. With me having no experience with them it has been a new experience. We got quite a bit of backlash in it the first outing and ended up with a bird nest at the end of the day. I re-lined it today with some mono and 20lb braided line and did some adjustments on it. Took it out without the kiddos tonight to see if I could get a better feel for it and ended up landing five or six trout with it at. Still isn’t perfect, but was much better than the first try. Think I can get it out again later this week to try and dial it in even more. We will see how the boy does with it this coming weekend.

I guess we need to figure out what setup we are going to get for Clair as well. She asked for a fishing pole when we went out and I didn’t have one I felt comfortable with letting her use at the time. Maybe we just get one like big brothers?

I asked Maxwell what he was going to do when he catches his first fish. He said he was going to make a fish pie with it. I sure hope he doesn’t ask me to taste it!

Here are a few shots from the weekend with the kids and then some of the fish I caught on Tuesday evening while testing the new bait caster

If the weather keeps up like it is I think you can expect some trail ride from us soon!

We moved on to Hidden lake which wasn’t much further up the road from the river. This one you have to hike in from the road a ways. Maybe half a mile or a bit more? Last time we fished here I had no luck with fish. This time I at least caught a nice Cutthroat Trout. My first I believe.

Hidden Lake has to be one of my favorite lakes to fish. I’ve only caught one fish here, but the hike and lake itself is just beautiful. We unfortunately had a problem here today. Maxwell ended up breaking one of the segments in PD’s Tenkara rod. This boy gets a bit too crazy at times and the rod paid the price today.

We stuck around Hidden Lake until noon and then headed for the car when the weather started to change. It rained the last time we fished this area and again today. Lunch was served in the car today while we waited out the storm.

After the storm passed we made our way up to Moccasin Lake and then beyond that to Papoose Lake. It is posted at 1.5 miles from Chepeta, which isn’t as fun as it sounds when you have a twenty six pound child on your back!

PD and I both caught a nice Brown trout about the same time while we were at Papoose. Ended up having them in the same net there in the end and he had to get a picture with his.

We made it home just a bit before 7pm. It is already a struggle, but a joy to get Maxwell out on these adventures. #GetOutAndFish

I hope around a lot on some days. The day started with a little boy that woke up at 4:00am and wouldn’t go back to sleep. Mom forced him to go out fishing with dad at 6:30am so she could go back to sleep. I had some work meetings scheduled for late morning and early afternoon so I couldn’t be gone too long. Maxwell and I went to Little Monte’s that morning. It is the closest place to our house.

We caught so many little bass there it kind of got a boring. Wasn’t much of a challenge.

After a little over an hour we were both done. He was falling asleep in the backpack and I had lost interest.

I dropped him off at home so he could finish his nap while I went out to try Midview. I think after that experience I’ve voted to never return to that place without my kayak. I have the worst luck there from the shore. Too much vegetation in the water near the shore. You get snagged on it almost every cast. Just not worth the battle from the shore. Please remind me I said this next time I go without the kayak!

The plan worked and I was up by 6am on Saturday heading out early. Paradise lake is a ninety minute drive from our house in Roosevelt. This one has been on my list of place to try all summer, I decided it was time to check it off the list this weekend. Kayak was loaded and I set out for a day on the lake. Ninety minutes later and I’m there and ready for some paddle action.

I parked my car and walked up to the top of the dam to scout out where I’m launching my kayak. I was so disappointed at that moment, the fun was over! Only a few small ponds were left at the bottom of Paradise.

The stream coming out of the lake was still flowing some and I found a gentleman there fly fishing. Speaking with him I found out this lake is used for irrigation so the water doesn’t stay around late in the season. He told me it was pretty much gone the end of July. I’m now kicking myself for not putting this ahead of other destinations this year.

While I was speaking to this gentleman I realized he was catching a number of good sized fish out of this stream so I decided to stick around and fish the ponds. Was there still fish in the little water that was left in those ponds at the bottom of the lake bed? Oh yes! I ended my morning and early afternoon on those ponds with well over twenty fish in my net. It went so well I decided to keep a few to take home that day. Not something I do very often, I usually release everything. Brook and Rainbow trout left and right. Most of them really good sized as well.

When I returned home I had to show the boys the score for the day and tell them what they missed out on. That conversation turned to talks of going back that night. PD and I ended up deciding on doing an impromptu overnight camping trip at Paradise. We grabbed the essentials and headed back as quick as we could. With camp set up we had a few hours to fish the ponds that night.

Sunday morning we were up early and ready to get as much fishing in a we could before we had to return home that day. We started off with the ponds and pulled a few good sized ones out of there. I kept one Brook and a Rainbow out of that run. After that we headed for the stream to try out some Tenkara action. It didn’t take long there before PD was pulling them out like crazy. I couldn’t keep up with him. I blamed my limited fly selection I had with me. It is time to go fly shopping after this trip.

What started out as a really bad day in Paradise turned out to be a fantastic fishing and camping weekend with PD. My kayak will be on this water earlier in 2021.

The boys decided it was time to move on after a while so we headed to Chepeta Lake which was just a little ways further down the fire road we were on. Wasn’t very long after we showed up here that a storm rolled past us. It forced Maxwell and I to find cover in the car. Playing with the fogged up windows passed the time away.

We rocked Big Springs today with the total fish count. I landed well over twenty rainbow trout today myself and the boys did well themselves. PD even managed to hook a 70+ pound something or other, Corbin didn’t appreciate the hook to the back at the time. We will see how he feels about it once the soreness wears off. PD had a bit of tenkara action going on part of the day, but caught most of them off the standard rod and reel. I stuck with the eagle rod myself because I was having such good luck with it I could switch.

There was one fault today. I was lazy and just wanted to fish so I skipped the sun screen. That was a bad move. I’m a bit toasted right now and regretting that decision.

Really looking forward to next year. I think this would be a great place for him to fish when he moves beyond just throwing rocks from the shore.

We ended up parking at the Uinta trailhead and walking the half mile or so up to Smokey Springs to fish. I believe we spent more time throwing rocks into the creek than fishing. That worked out because the fish weren’t biting anyways. Maybe they just didn’t like the fly I had on the tenkara rod, I was too lazy to change it out to find out.

I always enjoy the time I get to spend with Maxwell outdoors. My promise to him is to keep getting him out. Too many things to see and do in this world.

He took a little power nap on the way out. Guess that works out when dad is the one packing you around. He had the energy to get into everything when we made it to the camp site!