In our past trips up north, we usually opted to stay in a Motel 6, which then served as a base camp for day trips to and fro. It was a cheap place to crash and get free ice cubes, but certainly not to hang out just taking things in. This time we decided to make our lodging the destination, so we rented a nice, pet-friendly cabin just outside of town. Several of the A-frames are carbon copies of one another, but ours was the one on the left with the waders draped over the railing.
Stella enjoyed herself immensely and also learned that Abert's squirrels are very interesting. She inexplicably, and of her own will, waded into the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry during our last trip, but wanted nothing to do with our only water-based day excursion this time.
I too had reservations regarding wading. In my past two visits to Upper Lake Mary, I was plagued by leaking waders. I understood when the first pair leaked after a few years of use in NorCal followed by a decade of desiccation in the Sonoran Desert. I bought a cheap pair of breathable waders on the way back from that trip, and they leaked right from the get-go when I finally got to use them the following year.
This time, the used Simms waders I bought for $20 at the now-defunct Bookman's Sports Exchange were watertight - dry feet at last! My adventures with Gore Tex aside, I spent a few hours double-hauling bunny leeches and streamers for northern pike. The water sure looked fishy, and I was having a great time watching an osprey. I ultimately didn't have any takes, but you know what they say about the worst day fishing vs. the best day working.
I'd hoped to hit up Oak Creek for trout on the way back to Tucson, but we opted to take a different route home. No big loss, given my misadventure the last time I was at the stream. Arizona fishing licenses are good for a year from purchase, so the countdown to do yet more fishing is on. Maybe this will be the year I try for carp on a fly.
