Getting Ready for Fly Fishing season. Living full-time in my jeep Cherokee XJ 

Kind of just discussing some plans I’m thinking about where I’m gonna go to start off my flyfishing season.

[@biggarfish]

Hi folks My wife and I plan to finally retire next year and drag a travel trailer around North America fly fishing and site seeing full time. I have been following John for a few months as I recuperate from meniscus knee surgery. Always keen on John’s adventures with his fly rod. It looks like the transition from winter to spring in the south and where fishing might be good as each region warms up can be a challenge. We can’t wait 🎣

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

I’m always happy to hear when somebody retires and get on the road and goes Fly Fishing. I think I got about six fly rods inside the jeep. The weather can definitely get crazy. I can be in 70° weather in a T-shirt and wake up in the morning with 3 inches of snow outside.

[@pambabbitt1894]

Good morning my friend! I tend to head north too early also. No fun. And yep, I totally agree with you when it comes to making plans. I now think of it as having ‘preferences’.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Good morning Pam, if you have to make a plan and stick with that plan, then you lost your freedom on the road. Just saying.

[@richardspurlocck5165]

Looking forward to your next adventures--the fly fishing is always great!!

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

I’m pretty excited to start heading back up north again. It will probably be another month, but I’m starting to think about what I wanna do.

[@GaryAkers-xt3tr]

Really enjoy your fly fishing videos in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and would love to see tying videos of the flies you use there. Thanks for sharing your envious lifestyle!

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Hey Gary I am glad you are enjoying my Fly Fishing videos. This lifestyle is pretty amazing just living the dream. I will definitely put some fly time videos up with some of my go to flies.

[@birddogfarms6981]

I'm going outside to have an ice cold beer in the shade Gonna listen to my 45's Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the rock-n-roll plays, yeah When the memory stays, yeah I'm keeping the faith...... 🧘‍♂

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Oh man, that is just awesome. I remember collecting 45 back in the day. That little center adapter for the big hole. I bet if you showed that to anybody nowadays, nobody would even know what that is. Lol

[@williamgunn1076]

Great video of the flowers and fauna. Thanks for sharing. Best, Bill

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks, Bill Each video I shoot. I learned something and get a little bit better.

[@williamgunn1076]

@@overthehillandoverthemount2925 We see that you are getting better at production . :)

[@UtahTenkara]

About not being able to fish in Idaho until Memorial Day ... I was trying to fish near Dillon, MT late last Oct and they had a bunch of those rivers closed!!! Totally surprised because in UTAH all streams are open year round with some incredible fly fishing going on right now. Just wanted to let you know.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

I do a lot of fishing around Dillon. I did not know they shut the rivers down there. By October, it’s getting cold and I’m starting to make my way south again. Last year when I drove up north through Utah all the rivers were way too flooded to do any fishing.

[@Wesley-uo3rn]

Top of the day to you Sir. Getting my XJ ready leaving Ft Worth next week for places unknown. West I know that much

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Wow, one more week. You must be excited. Freedom on the road.

[@barbarainfante6094]

Gorgeous nature pics ! Loving your new camera.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks I’m having fun with the new camera.

[@travisaucoin9341]

Good luck in the sale and on your new rig! Love the videos

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks man I appreciate it

[@DaveHyde]

Have a good trip

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks that’s the plan

[@stevezeppieri]

Love it John.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks, Steve

[@dianerivard1538]

Great opening shots

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks I thought it was pretty cool

[@rippatoe50]

Hello John. I have owned a few XJ’s. Some up to 400k miles. Trans is an AW4 and T-case NP 231, very good equipment. Forget the Jeep. It’s like a mule, tough. As they say around here, Fergit the mule, load the wagon.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks man I am hoping I can get 400 K miles out of my jeep. The Jeep is a mule it just keeps on going. It seems like all the newer high-priced jeeps are all breaking down on the road all the time.

[@colbyknowles7482]

Wow great intro and video I see a big improvement. And the new camrea is crystal clear! Keep rocking !

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Yes, man, I appreciate it. Been working hard to improve my video skills.

[@colbyknowles7482]

it shows! no doubt! @@overthehillandoverthemount2925

[@bobbygraydon5256]

I'd say check all of your bearings in case any are starting to go bad, and fluids for correct level and in case any are looking suspicious (burnt, metal glitter, etc). If you've got a newer engine I'm assuming you've also got a new CPS so don't need to worry about that. Aside from that, if the transmission fluid looks good chances are you're fine there. In my opinion what's most likely to get you is bearings. Could be in the transmission, transfer case, axles, or u-joints, but luckily you can check a decent number of them without taking things apart, and the condition of fluids will give you a good idea how the remaining ones are doing.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Hey Bobby thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it. Oh my U joints in my driveshafts and my two front axles were all replaced last year. My transmission fluid looks pretty clean. I am not sure if I should bring it into a auto mechanic or transmission place to get it evaluated. Living full-time on the road it gets difficult to get things repaired.

[@acp4237]

Big John will be in California in April. Might take a trip to see AZ. Stay safe my friend

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Hey Alex, you definitely should take a trip it’s Arizona. There are tons of things to see in California too.

[@jimgollach6202]

Go to yellowknife John! You will not regret it. Cooler,and fishing is great. Your pictures are awesome, very sharp colors. 👌

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

I am definitely thinking about yellow knife. I am not sure what I would do if I catch a good 4 foot northern pike in my little pack raft. Lol

[@chazzie5418]

Springtime in the desert. Lots of flowers and the thoughts of heading north for some fishing. I can't give you any advice on the jeep as mine only has 103,000 on it. Still a spring chicken.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Lol your jeep is just a baby. Can’t wait to get up north to get into the forest with real trees and a real trout stream.

[@tigersteamer]

New camera is nice. And yes to more fly tying vids😎

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Once I get back up north there will be a ton of Fly Fishing videos

[@tigersteamer]

Looking forward to it 👍

[@cargotrailerkenny]

Wow. There's so many more flowers than I have here in South Central Arizona. And those shots of the lizards are amazing, I don't know how you get that close. Great video John keep up the good work.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks, Kenny. The lizards are tricky to shoot.

[@doubledforge]

That new camera really has the colors popping! Pretty cool you have the skills to make your own tying vise. I screen shotted the pattern on the last tying video you made to save for future reference and would love to see more fly tying! Always looking forward to your next video!

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks there’s a lot of work in the video editing to get those colors. Any particular fly that you would like to see tied up.

[@doubledforge]

@@overthehillandoverthemount2925 Nothing in particular, just some flies you would normally use. Always looking to different flies. I usually tie mostly easy durable flies, woolly buggers, elk hair caddis, cracklebacks and renegades.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

@@doubledforge awesome sounds like a plan. I’ll come up with my Go to flies.

[@Kchernikl321]

Wonderful photography John. You are doing great with the new camera.. I know it is hard to wait for the fly fishing season.. Have you ever considered Colorado for fly fishing? Keep enjoying nature and the moments and the time to fish will come before you know it..Karen

[@nonewherelistens1906]

Go up through Eastern Oregon. Hit the Donner and Blitzen River, the Owyhee, and the Wollawa. Rivers won't be crazy high. Then move west to the Deschutes. Spend a week in each system. Some great scenery and plenty of trout.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Wow, you have been reading my mind. Been wanting to fish the Owyhee river for a long time. From there, I can head over to the south Fork of the Boise river in Idaho.

[@nonewherelistens1906]

@@overthehillandoverthemount2925 Just get there before the beginning of May. That's when they start letting water out of the dam and the trout water gets deluged all summer. Yes, you'll be close to Boise, then think about getting up to the Wood River, and maybe the Salmon River after that. In Montana, the Bitterroot may not be too bad as far as runoff goes, especially in the upper reaches. Have fun. I will stay tuned.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

@@nonewherelistens1906 May is still a little early in the season and I would think it be pretty cold. Every time I’ve drove by the Wood River early in the season. It has always been flooded. I usually hit the East branch of the bitter root early in the season and usually do pretty good. So far I have fish 47 Rivers in Montana and 21 Rivers in Idaho. I have to add to that list.

[@JeremiahGreco]

Have you fished the Conejos in Colorado? That might be a good early-season option, especially if you're already at the San Juan.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Not sure if I’m gonna hit the San Juan this year. Not a big fan of this river as it’s always windy and way way too many people. I kind of stay away from Colorado because there’s just a lot of private land and a lot of people fishing. I would say Idaho is my favorite place to fish.

[@gsflycaddis]

If you are still in California, you should fish Upper and Lower Owens in Bishop now.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

I would love to fish Bishop. I’m in the lower part of the state right next to the border of Arizona. I will be heading back into Arizona where it’s cheaper. Lol.

[@Polarcutter]

Awesome 👌🏼

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks man

[@bigairboarder121]

Come to Oregon! The Deschutes, Rogue, Metolius, Fall River, etc all fish great in April/May.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

I would really love to fish that in April and May but I’m concerned about the weather. What is the weather like that time of year since I live full-time out of a jeep and I don’t have heat in it.

[@bigairboarder121]

@@overthehillandoverthemount2925 In Maupin, Oregon on the Deschutes river: April is 45-60s deg and May is 50s-80s. Big salmonfly hatch on the Deschutes starting mid May (much earlier than Idaho and Montana). It's a high desert, so very little rain in central Oregon on the Deschutes, Metolius, Fall, and Crooked river.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

@@bigairboarder121 well thank you so much for that information. I’m gonna have to do some research on that, but I think I can make that happen.

[@paulhoffman5054]

I'm not a mechanic, but hey, maybe it's possible to keep the old jeep going forever. Or one day you may need to replace it with a newer jeep. Thanks for the vehicle update.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Hey Paul, the plan is to keep the Jeep going as long as I can. I keep saying the same thing about myself. Lol

[@MajorWeakness]

The jeep x j is an inexpensive platform to repair and maintain. Even putting a rebuilt transmission and rebuild transfer transfer case.In my opinion is worth it. Parts are inexpensive and available compared to newer Vehicles. But as you know i'm partial to the x j and jeep in general. Might want to take it and have it gone through and make a list of potential failures from a reputable mechanic

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

You’re right about that and the Jeep is pretty easy to repair. Except for the heating system. Lol I was thinking about putting into a transmission place to have it evaluated. I’ve heard a lot of people getting 400,000 miles out of the transmission.

[@Wesley-uo3rn]

My junk has 325k and I'm not going to worry about it

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

I know these Jeeps last forever, but, when I’m way up in Canada and I’m 200 miles down in rough off-road I get to worry. If it breaks down back there, nobody’s gonna tow it out.

[@monette44]

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

Thanks