Western Clave 2004 TR

In a few words, another great time at the Western Clave. Good to see the
regulars (Warren, Willi, Snoop, Charlie Choc, rw, Bruiser, John Hightower,
Randy Kane, Chas Wade, etc), our semi-regular claver from Cackalacky,
Jeffie; and our very regular Indian Guide, Chief Joseph Metamucil McIntosh.
Despite our well deserved reputations, we were able to get a few new
attendees in Harry Mason, Lou Teletski and his friend Tom, and John Godfrey
from Boise, and The Mighty Finn, Mike Makela.

The campground selected by Clavemeister Warren worked out very well. It was
centrally located to lots of water, had a good cafe across the street, had
lots of trees, and a nice campground host, Billy. I wouldn't mind using this
place as Clave Central again in the future.

I made the short, scenic trip from Valley Center, Ca to the campground in
about 18.5 hours, arriving at 12:30 in the morning. The odometer said it
logged 1090 miles in that stretch. Can't understand why I was a little tired
when Willi came by to go fishing later that morning at 6:30. Must be getting
old.

Friday, Willi and I fished the Madison across from the campground and then
down at Raynold's Bridge. After having bought some of the green drakes at
Penns last year, I thought that they were the largest dry fly that I would
probably ever use. Wrong! The stoneflies that Willi had tied up to match the
monsters hatching were the size of small birds.The fish liked them and I
managed to hook up, but not land, several before I lost all of Willi's flies
to the fish. Meanwhile Willi had.....well, ....you know...pictures on ABPF.
Friday night Willi, John Godfrey (a friend of mine who finally made it to a
clave) and I set up an assembly line and tied up a bunch more.

After that, I can't recall which fishing trip goes with which day
but........

Jeff, John Godfrey, rw, and I went to Indian Creek and had a good day on
some beautiful water.

Willi, John, John, Indian Joe, and I drove 215 miles of bad dirt road, got
ran off a creek by mosquitoes, drove 175 miles of bad dirt road, had a flat
tire (with the flat spare option), fixed said tire, drove 88 more miles of
bad dirt road, fished for an hour, but capped the day off with chocolate and
strawberry malteds at the Ennis Cafe. Good day...great adventure...no fish
for me....

Fished Upper Soda Butte and had a good day with the little Cutts while some
of the boys were at Rattlesnake Lake.

Fished the Gallatin with John and John. John Godfrey caught a bunch!

Fished the Yellowstone on opening day with all the ROFFians, 987, 437,983.2
other fly fishermen, and 3 buffaloes. (pics on ABPF)

Fished $3 Bridge and caught a few at dusk with John Godfrey.

Fished Raynold's Bridge with better than moderate success on the last Friday
of the Clave. Ceded my holdings in the big hole just north of the bridge to
Chas, who dredged the fish up until way after dark.


Other highlights:

No ROFFians became inebriated enough on raffle night to have their picture
adorn the "Boobs and Butts" Wall of Shame at the Happy Hour Bar.

I won a great shirt at the raffle. Thanks, John H! (Big Dale, your raffle
gift left today)

Charlie Choc managed to get his parts from African Axles "R" Us and join
us. We also got to meet Ms. Choc, a delightful lady.



Not so highlights:

Charlie Wilson had to cancel. We missed ya!

The redneck idiot in the campground across from us whipped out his chainsaw
one afternoon and proceeded to drop a 40 foot tree right in the campground!

Snoop left early with an ailment. (no, not the usual Honky Tonk Fever and
attendant Gringo Butt).

I fell down (dry Reided) three times in one day! Left a quarter pound of
flesh in various cracks and crevices at the Ruby River.

My hotel room in Las Vegas was on the 14th floor, no air conditioning and
about 100 degrees outside!

We gotta wait another year to do it again



Many thanks to Warren for the organization of the clave. Good job, Bud. I
had a great time.

Danl

PS....... A CD of the pictures I took is on its way to Warren for
compilation into the "Clave CD". Those of you that have pictures of me,
please feel free to email them to me (Hint, hint, esp. for Charlie Choc).