Rainy Daze?

High summer lies ahead, and my thoughts consider what surprises it may bring. The ten-day forecast calls for rain each day, something this season’s experiences will not allow me to believe, and yet threatening skies are not far away. In the absence of intense downpours, such a run of weather would do our streams and rivers a great deal of good.

A little Orvis rod has been added to the fold, eight feet and perfectly suited to a number five line in these hands. It’s provenance tells me it was made in 1958, thus we share most of the same years of experience, and it is only fitting that we share a river or two. I wiped it down with a light coating of bowling alley wax, polished it with a soft cotton cloth, and watched the luster of flamed bamboo and it’s impregnated finish shine through. Shall we dance?

The classic Orvis cane rods are unique, designed with full flexing actions and rated to handle what most trout anglers consider rather heavy lines, they lend themselves to sweet dry fly work when lined a size or two lighter than their ratings. They still flex smoothly and cast a long line and tend to be a bargain in today’s collector influenced market. Most of these rods were designed by the late, great Wes Jordan, truly the man who turned the Orvis arsenal of fly rods into classics.

If the rains come, I have some hope for the sight of a mayfly this week. There are still sulfurs hatching on the West Branch, and days of rain might mitigate the incessant crowds. Of course, a good shower tends to wash an assortment of terrestrial insects into the flow, good news for trout and observant anglers.

My old SST jacket has a lot of years and river miles on it, as do I. It never fails to keep me dry and fishing. I have always liked the fact that they eventually figured out how to make a jacket light enough to be comfortable in warm weather, yet truly durable and waterproof. I’m glad mine has lasted, I mean, have you seen the price of a new fishing rain jacket these days?

My suspicion is I can get away with a simple nylon fishing shirt for at least several days this week, but then again there is a tropical storm system down south. The remnants of those things are unpredictable, though we probably won’t see them until the weekend.

The two summer fly boxes in my old chest pack have sulfurs and olives and terrestrials to get me through, the smallest ones stacked on wire threaders to help me overcome the trouble with my depth perception. I have dealt with that hampering my casting so far, simply taking care to start short of my target to avoid plunking a fly on a trout’s nose.

There are those special fish though, the ones who move and hunt something good to eat. They always present the ultimate challenge, as one can never be absolutely sure where they are and where they are heading when about to drop a fly on the water. To take them, your cast has to be right on, the first time.

I had a duel with one of those last week, seeing single rises in three different places. Three different fish, or one working slowly upriver? My casts failed to elicit any response, but then I saw a brief little wake as that old warrior turned and sidled back downstream to start over. Sure enough, within five minutes there was a sipping rise just where I had seen the first one. Perhaps next time I’ll be able to figure the route and timing of his little milk run just right!