As I sat in my chair this morning looking at the rain falling I got a feeling of something really good going on. I am not a knowledgeable person when it come to the complexities involved with climate change. There are many more qualified people out there who can give you better answers to what it's all about. I as an angler for 65 years can tell you is that something is happening to our area. I have noticed in the last 15 years a decline in rainfall. Some years have been drastic declines resulting in severe drought conditions. A few of the streams I fished were but mere rock gardens with hardly a flow noticed. In other years the streams flows were diminished, and in years in between the rainfall was adequate. Now as everyone knows it is this up and down that is a big problem. Folks can relate to the fact that your blood pressure is better stable than high and low and so on. I think water levels in our streams are facing the same issue.
As I have said several times that the big problems facing our world such as climate change will be more then a uphill battle, when we can't even clean up our own roadways and trails"just walk along one" you'll know what I mean. I'm sorry for the preaching but that's what happens when I get up early and watch nature performing outside my window.
This stream is fine now, and with a steady rainfall weekly it should be able to sustain it's life.
Look at the size of this wild brook trout. It's barely the size of my finger and yet shows the signs of maturity. If the small stream above stays healthy this little jewel may spawn this fall....
Supposedly, the Ecuadorian Currents called El Nino and La Nina affect how the weather is in America. If we have an El Nino year, we in the West get flooded, where you in the East are dry. La Nina is exactly the opposite. This year I believe we are having a La Nina year and you can tell that by how much the word "drought" is being used. You should be getting rain on a regular basis. But then, what do I know. I can guess as well as the Weather Guessers can.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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From our reliable senior meterologist you have it. I remember hearing something similar to what you said. So hopefully we have some rain in our future.
What a special little fish! I love him!!!
ReplyDeleteThe River Damsel
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Emily they are so precious. They don't ask for much and give us plenty.
Natty and I returned to a certain rocky river this past week, one that had only pools and little to no water flowing last summer.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to report it is full to roaring right now, though we did not catch anything.
I've alway attested that rain is a good thing!
Nathan Camp
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Nate I pretty sure the trout survived. It may take a few more trips there to find out for certain. What a joy to have good knees. I take it Natty had a good time.
She loved the adventure, and is all ready to return.
DeleteThat's the spirit Natty.
DeleteWell we didn't get rain Friday but we did get snowed and hailed on. Great day of fishing on a miserable weather day.
ReplyDeleteWe are soooo dry and the humidity has been around 5%.
billp
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Bill snow at this point is hard to deal with. Just saying the word gives me the shivers.
I was just watching the news and they were talking about wild fires in your neighboring state Arizona.
We've got 4 in our state too. This is the windy season and they are tough to control.
DeleteAs a rule, we humans aren't particularly good stewards of our environment. I don't see that changing. Sad. That's a beautiful fish, Alan; I hope his world survives another summer.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike for the most part your right. But hopefully there are enough of us that do care to help offset the rest.
In his book Brook Trout Nick Karas has a photo of a tiny year and a half brookie. The take from it is that they might spawn. I wish I had gotten a better photo of that fish. He was gone in a second as the shutter clicked.
The closest river to me is a really good example of your post. It's not a tail race but if you looked at the flows over the years you'd think it was. Drastic differences and yes if you spun the info the right way you could say it has a average flow of 750cfts but if you really looked at the data you'd see the river ranges from 500-50,000 at any given time. It feeds into a lake and it's banks are under developed. I think that is why the crazy flow rates go unnoticed. It has so much wildlife potential but I believe it is stunted from pollution and the extremes in flows.
ReplyDeleteFeather Chucker
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Kevin erratic flows can screw up a river-stream. Big fish like bass seem to handle it better but I see issues with them to.
Maybe Atlantic salmon? Just a far out thought.
Definitely a funky time climatically Alan!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will funky to say the least. Fingers crossed it will change.
Sadly, not everyone believes in watching out for the environment -- it is, after all, about the only thing we really do need.
ReplyDeleteAl R
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Al outdoor people see what's going on first hand. Most want better but the few that are ho hum do not. Educate as best we can.
You were not preaching, Alan, and I enjoyed reading your words same as always. I know one thing, I love it when it rains. I will never complain when it is a rainy, gloomy day, even days on end. I appreciates such days and think to myself that we are lucky when these events occur.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam it's funny how our perspective on rainy days changes. As kids we hated to see rain and now we appreciate it.
A soft rain with the windows open and a good book is a comfort in many ways.
Alan
ReplyDeleteClimate Change is reel; I wish the nation and world would take notice. Extreme weather conidions will continue as long as climate change continues. Let's hope it's not too late to address the problem. Thanks for sharing