Mid November and the Glorious season has passed. The days are now shorter and getting colder. I fished the bamboo rod for the last time and took my winter maintenance to it as I placed it into it's protective sleeve. It will now hang in a dry place in the closet until perhaps mid March. On and off through the winter I will take it out and assemble it, do a couple of false casts and dream of those days ahead.
Looking forward to that first snowfall of the season. We have had it fall before Thanksgiving in some years. There is a feeling that comes over me when I fish a stream while the snowfalls. It seems so peaceful and clean. My Fiberglass 4' 10" 3wt will be my primary choice for most of the winter.
There is a 3 pound bag of gourmet jelly beans in front of me. As I reach for a few sweet sensations I think of the tasks I have before me. Christmas is coming and I know some replenishing of flies are needed. The "Winter Brown"...what a great fly to tie on these long nights.
Well I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and "thank you"...
Alan, thanks also to you for your blog, its very enjoyable reading and great pictures. Fishing has slowed down here in western NY state, I haven't put everything away yet, just in case another nice day gets me another outing.
ReplyDeleteDave H
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Dave I think the slow down we have been experiencing is due to the season change. Once the trout become accustomed to colder waters the feedbag will come back on.
Brk Trt, as always your blog is a great read. I too haven't put any of my gear away. I planned to hit the upper east branch of the Westfield today/this weekend. But with the down pours we had blew out the rivers again. Even the Fife brook/Deerfield river which is hydro controlled is 1,200 CFS which is outright dangerous. So I'll refer to my honey-do list today for my entertainment. My wife will be happy....Phil
ReplyDeleteDRYFlYGUY
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Phil I haven't put my gear away either, just the bamboo rod. Ice and bamboo do not mix...I will continue to fish all winter when I can I'll just be using my fiberglass rods. I love that area your speaking of. I've never fished the Deerfield but the small headwater streams that feed it are goldmines. Have fun buddy.
With this warm morning, it doesn't feel like there will be snow anytime soon. That photo of the bamboo rod in poison ivy still seems sacrilegious.
ReplyDeleteShawn
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Some pretty wild weather Saturday afternoon!! I fished the morning and it was just super weather wise. Leaves of three let it be?
You're welcome. Always a pleasure discovering the Northeast with you. "It seems so peaceful and clean." You forgot quiet. Something about snow that deadens all sound.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark your right. Quiet is another sense/feeling you experience in the snow. The phrase "hear yourself think" comes to mind.
Snow? Forgotten about that.
ReplyDeleteBureboyblog
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That comment say's you are not a fan of the pretty white stuff that falls from the sky....
No, Alan; thank you. I went out hunting this morning, and like Mark said, "...snow deadens all sound". The woods were cold, dark, and deep. The snow made the stillness palpable. So quiet...
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike November deer season? To sit on stand and watch the sun filter through the woods on a cold morning is one of the nicest pleasures of deer hunting. Seems all is right with the world.
Beautiful photos and words, Alan. One good thing about the "dark days" is that it makes for good fly tying season with thoughts of warmer days ahead and the fish that await the flies we hope. Luckily we can fish throughout the winter around these parts if one dresses for it, and don't mind getting "skunked" with the water being so cold and trout not very active.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam yes those dark long nights make perfect fly tying times. A nice hot cup of coffee or beverage of your liking and a few materials and what a night. The outings of winter are short but they are always remembered. The skunk does not hibernate...