Rarest Trout in the West? | Fly Fishing New Mexico | Solo backpacking adventure

Fly fishing for Gila Trout in New Mexico was one of the coolest things I have been able to do in recent memory. Running solo in the backcountry brings a certain sense of fear and excitement that is hard to find anywhere else. You truly feel alone as the echos of the canyon walls whisper in your ear. We work up on day two with hazy skies and the sound of helicopters. The massive forest fire further East must have started blowing West as the winds shifted overnight. This is extremely ominous because you have no good gauge on how far away something like that might be. Regardless, we decided to head up the canyon like we had the night before in hopes of finding bigger and better Gila. The further we pushed up this little creek the more rugged it got. Boulders the size of school busses and pools that went all the way up to your chest. This kind of fishing is not meant for the average angler. If you want to fly fish for Gila Trout in this sort of environment you need to be coordinated and in shape. Every step will test you and the moment you get lazy Mother Nature will fight back. You can't play games out here folks. I know I was all smiles and laughs but I approach every situation with the utmost caution. Every risk is a calculated risk. There is no room for irrational thinking when you are alone and that deep in. Be safe out there folks.