Adaptation

     The last time I was on a branch of the Delaware--and it wasn't that long ago-- it was snowing sideways.  As I write this, evening temps on portions of the Main Stem are pushing into the mid 60s, and the warmer weekend ahead combined with sparse releases may render some portions too warm for trout fishing.  The freestones have looked great, but the lack of bugs during textbook days are puzzling.  Some guys are hitting them, but a lot aren't.

     I love trout fishing and all of the river dynamics that come with it. But when it comes to the management of my free time--more difficult by the year--I am getting protective and I need to make the best use of it.  Water too high, too low, too cold, too warm, DEP politics, no bugs, too crowded-- you name it.  The threats to our available time, just from the river itself, are everywhere.

     More and more, the fishing day dreams involve squeaky oar locks and the sound of my line ticking the aluminum bottom of the boat as a I strip it in.  I put into the local lake a little earlier than last season to find some solitude and conditions that include a gentle breeze.  

     The debut for this year on the local lake was one of the single best fly fishing nights I've ever had, anywhere of any category. That is measured by fun and enjoyment.  I placed and stripped Whitey wherever shade met weedbeds and he was beat to unrecognizable oblivion after I don't know how many snapping jaws. I am finally getting the hang of the sinking line techniques, which was not easy but the rewards are finally coming.

Before

After

     Due to the aggressive nature of the strikes, I moved away from the articulated Whitey toward a single hook 'sunfish' imitation that I had tied up last year (shown in "January Syndrome") and, if anything, it pissed the fish off even more.

     I don't know what to say.  I don't like to make comparisons between warm water fly fishing and trout fly fishing, but that's mostly because I'm afraid of the ultimate answer.

      The only thing I know for sure, is that I love pumping the rod.  Whatever winds up on the other end, I'll take it.