I walked the water today, didn’t take a rod.
You go out to see what’s going on with the water and the bugs.
The fish are always there, so it’s the curiosity of seeing the day to day changes.
The subtle changes…The way the sun is just an inch higher than it was yesterday.
The sky is a mix of cloud and sun with a mild spring breeze from the west. Perfect…
The Turkey Buzzards that roost on the hill are back for the first time this year.
That means all the local birdy players have returned for the season.
It appears so far, that the melt is a gradual one, rather than flash melt.
Still freezing at night, just barely…. And the days have been cool…
The river’s color is good, it’s tone has an urgency, of extra water flowing down to the valley.
I can tell from the car, that the flows are up.
A few Baetis blow by me, before I can lock up the truck.
All I need is a beverage for the stroll, and a thermometer for accuracy.
Is the temp falling or rising? I’d only know if I came today, as I did yesterday.
47 deg and rising. The bugs like it…..there is a blend of them.
Our tiny Baetis mayfly, a bunch of BWOs, and the occasional March brown..
Part of me calculates their differing numbers…I can see a graph in my head of seasonal hatch curves. Mostly, I just like watching them flying about doing important life stuff.
They don’t need me here to witness it, but I need to be here..
As I ease into my fortieth year on the on the water, I have a firm grip on what is captivating about this sport…..life and change….and the maybe occasional fish.
Glad I went out this morning…
This afternoon went grey and gusty, looks like the trend for a day or so…….
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