Dan Bailey

I bought a pair of Dan Bailey "BareBones" waders two years ago to the tune of $129.00. At the time I thought it was a ridiculous amount of money for waders. I had only purchased the cheep Hodgeman waders that everyone has seen. I actually got a pair of those for Christmas the year I bought my Dan Baileys also. They are a bargain!! Some where around the fifty dollar mark. I must have spent three hundred dollars on them since I started fishing. I sure wish I would have invested in some Dan Bailey Guide waders. When you pick up a pair of cheep waders at Allied (remember that) or Sports Castle you are going to get what you paid for, A season of dry fishing, maybe. Some time around January when you are throwing tiny bug rigs on the Weber you are going to notice that creeping of needles on your feet where you have a hole. You'll patch it, but there is something about those cheep waders when they get a hole they turn into swiss cheese over night. More patches then you can put on.
I had my Baileys about a year before I had wet socks at the end of the day. Luckily it happened in the spring. It was early spring and It did get too cold a time or two. I actually had awhile where I would wear my Baileys with another pair of Hodgmans on top. It kinda sorta worked, but I felt like a goon. I turned them inside out and filled them up in the tub to find the hole, damn seams were leaking, not a thing I could do about that. I called the shop where I bought them (Four Seasons) and the sales man told me to bring them in and he would fix the hole for me. I did not really want to leave my waders at a shop, I knew I would never see them again ( I miss my Scott). Well I took them up and he said they would try and fix them. I figured I would be wet wading till it got cold and I would have to buy a new pair cause my waders had been lost to warranty. The next day I got a call from the shop? What had happened? did I leave my wallet there, my glasses? Why would they call me so soon? I was confused. He told me they tried to find the hole but the seams were blown so they would have to go back to Baileys. Wow thank you, that was quick. There must be no action on the MP this year. A week later I get a call again!! Dan Baileys checked out my waders not my fault they were on their way back to me all fixed up. I could not believe it. A few days later I got another call from Four Seasons my waders were in, come get them. I made that trek out to Heber and picked them up. I was expecting that sixty dollar charge for shipping, to be expected. Was not there!! free. I opened up my box, not my waders. It was a new pair. What a great day, what a great company, what a great shop. Yesterday I got out on the water with them. It was a small creek that I would have rather wet wader but it flows into drinking water so I must protect the water drinkers of salt lake, no oils from my body will end up in your iced tea. Dan Baileys had made some improvements since i had bought mine. Built in gravel guards with a sweet little Velcro strap, and the suspenders come off for a quick easy conversion to pants/ waist highs. Along with the built in belt these new features make the names "barebones" just sound silly. These waders are tricked out in my book. $129 dollars was a bargain. If they are going to take care of me so well when they get leak I will have no problem dropping the three hundred bucks for some guide series waders one of these days.

In review.
Dan Baileys customer service is AMAZING.
Dan Baileys makes a good product.
Four Seasons is a great shop, I wish they were in Salt Lake.
Four Seasons has the cutest employees also.
Dan Baileys-- go get a pair.

The Watson Twins

Photo by darrinnoble.com
I am going to start posting some music I am currently listening to on here.
The Watson Twins first came across my ears because of an album they recorded with Jenny Lewis. I know that Rabbit Fur Coat received tons of hype and got great reviews, it should have. The sisters out shined the Rilo Kiley singer.

Fire Songs, Chandra and Leigh Watson's first full length album is a little bit Alt Country a touch of Jazz and completely full of perfect harmony. Their voices melt so perfectly together. Sky open up is my favorite on the album hands down. It could be because of the slide guitar gives a heaver country feel. Of course it is, I am a sucker for slide guitar.

After seeing them play live last night at Urban Lounge I can officially say I have a crush on Leigh.

If there is a sage grouse in your camp leave it, they are good company.

Well, I've spent the last four days on a little stream in the heart of the windy beast. Fishing was slow, wind was cooling, thunderstorms every afternoon, more stones and caddis' then you could imagine. I caught the biggest fish of my life. A carp that loved a woven stone. I am guessing 30 inches and some where in that range of pounds. That fish was so thick. This silly bastard had both eyes, but he had moss growing on his back. I was on a ridge watching trout roll on the bottom. Then comes up this submarine and starts working the back water. He had a lady with him who I was thinking I wanted to catch, because I only had my three weight and come on... He was facing the only approach I had on the bank. So I sit and watch and he won't change directions I can't climb down and throw to him. What is the next logical thing? Make a cast from the ridge. I have only had a limited amount of sight fishing for carp (see previous post) no problem. First cast a bit short, but he still saw the movement and went to check it out. I pulled it away from him not wanting to get the big guy but wanting the smaller more manageable fish. Next cast perfection, for the big fish. Two small strips, he keys in on my stone crawling on the bottom, little flick of the tail, six inches forward, tail up, short strip to set the hook, he doesnt move, neither does my fly. What the hell? I raise my tip and then he can finaly feel the hook. He doesnt make a mad dash for deep water but a slow steady jog. I scramble after him over sage brush and slide down the ridge into the waters edge. There we have a tug of war for the next 15 or 20 minutes. He makes no hard runs, but does not want to move. I get ten feet he takes nine back. When I finally get him with in reach I have no idea what the hell I am going to do. Net? psh, I would have a handle with no net in the loop and he would be wearing a silly green hat. Try and thumb him? fuck no my fist could have fit in the vacuum of a mouth. Gill him? Nope, enough said. I get him up next to the grass and get a boot under his belly, he just rolls over onto the reeds, what a cooperative fish. He had moss growing on his back!! how long does that take? Enough Carp.




The trout were tough. Did not want anything to do with my nymphing. I had fair success on top, but in the windy South Canada your window on rising fish is small. They were all cookie cutter Cuts in the 16 inch range. Not a thing to complain about with the beautiful fish smashing my little stone/caddis hybrid.

Lessons learned on this trip.
Broken shock mounts do not have to slow you down.
Sage grouse make good camp buddies when you get lonely.
Coyotes will give this boy bad dreams.
Mosquitoes are the state bird of Wyoming. (Nich remember how I said they don't bother me? Bull shit).
A big carp can make your day when the trout are hiding.
Fuckers in drift boats can be assholes
Even in swarms of stones and caddis the fishing can be slow when you are a poor fisherman.
Sight fishing to carp and rising trout, so much better then watching a bobber or Czeching.
Thunder storms every afternoon, maybe another around 1am for good measure.
I NEED a new tent.
Four days alone is about right.