The forecast was straight forward enough: half an inch of rain overnight with showers and thunderstorms possible in the morning and highly likely throughout the afternoon. It wasn’t looking like a fishing day, but satisfying the rivers’ need for that precious rainfall was worth losing a day’s fishing. My final decision was made when I realized I was wide awake and turned to pick up my watch: 2:42 AM.
I did my best to get back to sleep and succeeded, resigning myself to a fishless day given my conviction that early morning provided my best shot at tangling with an early hunter. I was up for a few minutes when I checked the kitchen clock to find it was still only 5:30. There was no sign of any of the phantom half an inch of sorely needed rain. The Weather Channel showed moving systems of severe storms, though they seemed to divide on their video map and turn either north or south of these Catskills. Maryland got tornados, Hancock stayed dry. Better all of that energy the meteorologists were talking about had sent us our rain and reduced the power of the system to the south. No one needs tornados. They swore we were going to get todays storms though! Six thirty-three PM and blue skies to the east with a few clouds to the west.
Of course, they are telling me it will be raining in the morning, with thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. If I fish the early shift, I’ll be home by afternoon. Yes, that does make for a long day après fishing, but I can always tie another couple of dozen flies for my summer larder.
I’ll get my impregnated T&T Hendrickson ready tonight, set the reel out beside the two dozen flies I tied today. Can’t say that I will set an alarm just yet. I usually wake up around five, and I can get ready and out the door in a short time when I put my mind to it.
I always feel cheated when a bad weather forecast convinces me to change my plans for fishing and find out too late it was scientific fantasy. Tomorrow is Friday after all, the last fishing day of the week for sane, resident anglers here in the Catskills. We old guys do enjoy a little solitude you know. I simply can’t miss out on two days in a row. They fooled me once, but I won’t let them do it twice!
Bright Waters Catskill 