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Last weekend, the DECKED crew loaded up and gathered in Nevada for a weekend with a few friends and ambassadors. Our plan to chase the country's largest cutthroat trout was scrambled by unseasonably warm weather, but we found other ways to stay entertained. Although the fish were few and far between, the beers and good times were not. We woke up Sunday morning with the sunburns and headaches to prove it.
ROUGHING IT? NOT REALLY.
Our group's setup included some of the most dialed rigs anywhere on the beach. Why rough it when you can enjoy working sinks, hot showers and a five-star experience? We had multiple grills cooking up food across camp and plush sleeping setups in rooftop tents. We left your old man's Coleman and freeze-dried food behind for good.
BYOCP: BRING YOUR OWN CASTING PLATFORM
When most people think of trout fishing, heavyweight rods and stepladders don't typically come to mind. Regulars out here have been dragging ladders into the sandy bottom for years. It allows you to stay out of the cold water and dramatically extend your casting range. It's a unique characteristic of fishing this place, and anyone that's been fortunate enough to have made a pilgrimage will recognize it immediately since it doesn't happen anywhere else.
Even though the hot, windless air drove the fish too deep to reach, we did connect on a few and got them to play. A fumbled net assist led to losing the largest, but we don't believe in finger-pointing. The guilt is bad enough.
A MOTLEY CREW
Many folks spent long hours behind the wheel to meet up for some spring fishing and camping. Photographer Nate Akey drove 9+ hours from Oregon just to net fish for total strangers. What a guy!
Caroline Akey takes a break from casting to rehydrate and enjoy some dog time.
Photographer Lacey Whitehouse made the trek out to represent Black Rifle Coffee Co. No excuses for the late risers--caffeine on deck!
Lucas O'Hara took some time off from knifemaking to try one of the most unusual flyfishing experiences around.
Mike Craig of No Leaf Clover Co. came all the way out from his home base in Colorado. Mike kept us laughing as he cursed the fish, the weather, and himself. Ya can't win 'em all.
Journalist Wes Siler took the prize for longest journey, coming from Bozeman, MT to get a headstart on fishing for the year.
DECKED FNG Brennan Cira knows it's important to look the part, even if your fishing doesn't measure up. The ol' cast-to-fish ratio took a hit on this one, that's for sure.
OG DECKED'er, Tami Harrison, is no stranger to life behind a fly rod. She couldn't connect with any Lahontan cutties, though.
DECKED's Matt Hardinge takes top marks for organizing the entire shindig. To prove a point, he also hooked up on a possible 15-pounder on the very first afternoon. He'll outfish you and then doctor up a Special Beer for ya.
A lil' liquid enthusiasm helped keep our spirits high, even if the fish weren't biting. Combine lime juice, hot sauce, and tajin seasoning for a Special Beer™ that can turn your day around.
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME
We struck camp and headed our separate ways, weighted down with adult sodas and a whole mess of untouched flies. There may not have been much action on the water, but a few days in a beautiful place were a great way to reconnect with the land and each other. Thanks for tuning in, we'll see you around the bend.
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