Rewind

There are less than two weeks to go before my annual target date to begin my dry fly season arrives, and the Red Gods seem to have hit the rewind button once more. Rivers are high and un-wadable, their waters wintry cold, reservoirs are spilling again, and tomorrow is slated to bring day long rainfall – another chapter in the early spring that wasn’t.

I uncovered the drift boat yesterday, and today I’ll wash it and check the bunks, rollers, lights and tires to be certain its ready for the road. Fly boxes are about to be loaded into my vest, along with any new leaders, tippet or sundries required, but God I need to go fishing!

I just read a Blue Mountain TU newsletter post, courtesy of my friend Ed Ostapczuk, telling me that February was the warmest ever recorded in the United States. I managed maybe three visits to bright water, courtesy of the bronchitis that stole my opportunities. Just two weeks ago it seemed that everything was about to explode a month early, and I drank the Kool-Aid!

Dangling my thermometer in the river I read a temperature of 48 degrees, watched the first Quill Gordons riding the sun warmed air currents, and tightened my grip on the cork. Since then, rain, snow, wind and freezing temperatures have brought us back to winter. Yes, once more I let the Red Gods get the better of me. How many of my fellow anglers made that same mistake?

As with any and every spring, it will come when it is ready. If the good days come in fits and starts, so be it! I am alive and waiting for that first rise to the dry fly!