Emergence !

After kicking around the house since the first week of deer season, battling my old foe chronic bronchitis and feeling generally bad, I emerged yesterday to attend the open fly tying session at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum. It was good to smell the fresh, cold air as I wandered about the grounds, and great to see old friends and new from the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild!

I wore one of those irritating masks left over from the assault of the Coronavirus, just to provide some protection less I cough near anyone. Bronchitis in itself is not contagious, though whatever cold or infection that fires it up can be. My cold came through the last week of November, and headed out four days later, the past two months and counting being courtesy of the scourge of the bronchitis itself.

I tied a handful of favorite patterns and talked a little with some friends, the best therapy yet, short of the brilliant sunshine the afternoon provided.

A Catskill winter is usually conducive to life as a hermit, so little gatherings like this one, or our Thursday evening Guild Zoom meetings become rather precious. I do enjoy talking fishing when I am not involved in doing it.

We are beginning another run of warmer weather with the blessing of sunshine. Cathy and I enjoyed a river walk this morning with the sun doing it’s best to set aside the cold, cold winter air. Rivers have cleared and dropped, though the Delaware reservoirs did begin spilling again this past week. Sunshine and warmer air has always been the cure for my bouts with bronchitis, and I am hopeful to find enough of that this week to free me fully from winter’s harness.

Planning is underway for Fly Fest 2024 here in the heart of the Catskills, and I am anxious to enjoy another of these wonderful winter gatherings. The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum has now officially added the date to their events calendar: Saturday February 24th from 9:00 AM until 3:00PM at the Rockland House, 159 Rockland Road, Roscoe, NY. A winter festival of Catskill fly tying and a wonderful lunch at the Rockland House, what could be better?