Just past three, and the sun is already dropping behind the summit of Point Mountain. Evening comes quite early at this season of the year. We enjoyed the sunshine all day, defying the forecast, and it helped make our little home cheerier this Christmas Day.
The last week of the year is upon us, amid hope for a glorious fishing season. Thankfully the winter storm spared our rivers from another flood, at least on this side of the Catskills. I see the Esopus drew close to flood stage on the Eastern side, and I hope the many brooks that descend those Eastern mountains did not suffer significant damage. Here the rapid chill kept Thursday’s rain from sending all of our snowpack down to the Delaware.
Watching the sun’s glow depart to the West, I feel a bit of warmth in spirit. The wait for springtime is down to four months or thereabouts, and that is better than six!
Quickly tying my Christmas fly this morning got me to wondering if a 100-Year Royal might be worth squirreling away in the vest. Lee Wulff’s famous version has been offered as a fine pattern for the Isonychia hatch over there on the Esopus. Who knows? Perhaps I will have to find a better bucktail and tie a handful this week.
The turkey is roasting, and before long the potatoes will have to be mashed and the biscuits baked. Dana Lamb’s “Bright Salmon and Brown Trout” is by my armchair, begun after I finished Schwiebert’s “A River For Christmas” for Christmas morning. Hooks and silks have been ordered, the better to continue my search for the ultimate fly; and I’ll be watching the long-range weather forecasts to spy an opportunity for the first outing of the New Year. I wonder if we will be blessed with another February warmup?
That does seem to be an ideal time. If only Nature herself was an angler I am sure she would understand, and toss us a little bone just when four months of dreaming have left us ready to burst.
Better check that bird…
Bright Waters Catskill 