![Rita Schimpff with her first redfish on the fly!](https://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0143-scaled.jpg)
Angling Firsts! Freshwater to Saltwater on the fly.
Trinchera Ranch & The Lower Laguna Madre
We set our minds to it and got it done! An IGFA Trout Super Grand Slam at Trinchera Ranch and my first Redfish on a fly on the Texas Coast were my goals.
My freshwater first!
We once again enjoyed a wonderful stay and great fishing on 185,000 acres in southern Colorado – The Trinchera Ranch.
![The gathering room at Trinchera Lodge](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5505.jpg)
The sprawling ranch offers 4 species of trout – wild trout – on gorgeous improved streams in the heart of the Sangre de Christo mountain range.
I wanted to catch all four in one day and I knew if anyone could help me it was our friend and guide Doc of Doc Thompson’s High Country Anglers.
We have fished with Doc for 4 years now and he knows this ranch well.
![Doc Thompson guided Rita Schimpff to her IGFA Trout Super Grand Slam at Trinchera Ranch.](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5539.jpg)
Doc also knows I only want to fish with only dry flies.
So the 4 trout I caught were: a Rainbow, Brown, Brook and Rio Grande Cutthroat.
I made the above vignette combining my photos with my paintings of the trout.
![IGFA trout super grand slam IMG_5707](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/super-grand-slam-IMG_5707.jpg)
Meanwhile back at the ranch…..the Lodge at Trinchera Ranch…….
![magnificent artwork surrounds your soul at Trinchera Ranch and the superb food & service feed your soul!](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/TrincheraLodge12.jpg)
The art! Remington, Bierstadt, Rungius & N.C. Wyeth originals for me to enjoy!
I was in hog heaven.
![Stack stone fireplace at Trinchera Ranch - fabulous taxidermy](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/Heritage-Game-Mounts-Lodge-Inspiration-Trinchera-Ranch-Rams-512x512.jpg)
Both of these handsome rams were taken within an hour of each other in huge snow!
![Heritage-Game-Mounts-Lodge-Inspiration-Trinchera-Ranch-skipdesk](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/Heritage-Game-Mounts-Lodge-Inspiration-Trinchera-Ranch-skipdesk-346x512.jpg)
Every hallway, room and corner are thoughtfully designed and appointed with vintage sporting collectibles.
![Heritage-Game-Mounts-Lodge-Inspiration-Trinchera-Ranch](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/Heritage-Game-Mounts-Lodge-Inspiration-Trinchera-Ranch.jpg)
Now to my saltwater first!
![fly fishing with Rita Schimpff and Ben Paschal.](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5808-512x512.jpg)
A redfish on the fly has eluded me for many years. Skip and I journeyed to Arroyo City on the Texas Gulf coast and the pristine saltwater flats of the Lower Laguna Madre.
![Rita Schimpff with her first redfish on the fly!](http://heritagegamemounts.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0143-384x512.jpg)
We enlisted the services of Capt. Ben Paschal owner of Lower Lagana Outfitters for help with this seemingly impossible task.
He made it happen!
We returned two months later and a heated competition ensued whereby I beat my husband 8-7!
Skip has thrown down the gauntlet and vowed it won’t happen again!
Ben fishes in Louisiana from November thru March – now I want a super sized Red – stay tuned.