The pictures in my photo slide show are all from a special place to me.  Cow Creek Ranch in the Pecos Wilderness area of northern New Mexico.  I have been guiding at the ranch for almost six years and have to say that it is as special a place to me as anywhere.  Not because of the fish either, and obviously, if you've looked through them, the fish are incredible to say the least.  I mean, where else can you catch a 10 pound 'Bow, a beaver pond Brookie, a native and wild Rio Grande Cutthroat and a streamer-slashing Brown...all in a few hours?  Cow Creek is a rare gem for sure.

What makes Cow Creek Ranch truly special are it's people.  From Lanier the manager, to the chef, to the ranch hands, lodge staff and summer help...just some fun folks! They work hard and play hard afterward during some of the most beautiful, best-smelling, fire-crackling, star-gazing nights on Earth.  Nothing better than a cold beer and George on the guitar singing some of the prettiest cowboy music anywhere.  And then there are the guests.  They come from all over, (although Amarillo has us pegged for sure...what great people!) and I have made many long-lasting friendships with them.  Of course I'm sometimes a little easier to like while I'm helping many of them catch the largest trout that they have ever, and maybe will ever, catch.  We've broken a few off too though, and I have some less-than-glamorous net handling beauties...but we always catch quite a few. 

I'll be fishing and guiding a lot over the next six months out at Cow Creek, and I can't wait.  More memories, more laughs, new friendships and more big, beautiful, wild fish.  And of course, when you pop the top at the end of the day, sit back with your buddies and watch the sunset and listen to the Elk bugle...that's hard to beat.  I'm lucky.  Enjoy the pics, and pay particular attention to the smiles!