The challenge at Intake 2... It's Hydraulics

Early the following morning, I pointed our Suburban in the direction of the mountains on Route 168. Within forty minutes, we were at 7000 + feet of elevation. I turned left onto Intake 2, a wonderful place to fish. The lake is about the size of a football field, with a huge water pipe constantly restoring water to the lake. This hydraulic movement of water is a perfect environment in which to study the surface flow and oxygenation of water. These conditions are great for fishing. As soon as I parked the car, the doors swung open, the anglers reached for their fishing poles and rushed towards the glistening, clear waters. Each angler quickly claims his real estate along the inviting surfaces of the lake.

Javier, with great expectations after winning the Mammoth competition, boastfully tried to intimidate the rest of us. Unfortunately Dagon, the ichthyoid god of fishing was against him. He ended up in 5th  place. The rest of us believe that his downfall was because his son, Javi, didn't stock his tackle box. Javier isn't usually aware of what to use or what he'll need.

Jorge, the first one out the door, quickly crawled underneath  the canopy of trees seeking a shady spot. There, completely hidden from view, he remained and was not seen again until he emerged from under the trees at departure time. Here, he happily displays his catch for the day. Good enough for 4th place... Opochtli, his Aztec god of fishing, failed him. "I tried to do better, I really wanted to beat Bob well... I'm happy that the kid beat him ". 

 Bob, a cranky, conservative fisherman of the old school, who lives with one thought in mind, "Catch more fish, (roar) more fish hence his moniker, the trout slayer. "I don't need no stinking demigods", He shouted as he stationed himself on a small section of the dam  next to the intake pipeline. He was attentive and determined to win. He hustled, changing baits frequently; powerbait to rat tails, plastic worms, hook sizes and leaders. With eagle-eye precision he casts his rig into the oxygenated current at the intake of the pipe. He worked it!  With his very respectable catch and the crowd behind him he, disappointingly, fell just short of first place. He settled for 2nd. place. Obviously sadden and disillusioned, he walked over to the New Champion, Little Dave and with his rapscallion charm, he congratulated him.

The championship plaque for first place was awarded to the 2014  champion Little Dave. Click play to hear the championship song from one of Dave's favorite singers.

"Work hard, play hard and fish hard... that my mantra" said Dave as he enjoyed a cold refreshment after winning the derby.  "This is a very delightful win", he added. "I had to go against some very good anglers. They have been fishing ever since I was child". "I won because I found the sweet spot in this lake, I have to plot it on  GPS . This is a special win and I owe it all to my dad who started me in fishing".

After the competition of fishing challenge, we got together the following day for a very delightful lunch . Being an outdoors-man Dave ordered an elk steak with chipotle sauce and country fried potatoes along with his favorite brew. He promised to win again in the 2015 season. The trout slayer reminded him not to count his fish before they are caught.

Want to hear another song? click play

Me? well... I came in in third place. Thank you for asking.