Tuesday, May 31, 2022

The Dreams of Spring


Springtime dreams...

With swing season in the rearview mirror and temperatures on the rise, the mayflies of spring begin to stir. Nymphs, in various stages of their life cycle, become a more frequent part of the drift. The two handers get put away and the fishermen's routine changes to the tune of the hatch. It typically starts with gordons, then hendricksons, cahills, sulphurs, and finally slate drakes. The usual suspects like caddis, blue winged olives, and the occasional stoneflies round out the daily diet. Four and five weights come out armed with lengthy Harvey leaders tapered to whatever you can get away with. Boats and rafts are launched at unusual hours frequenting smaller sections of river with floats that last well past daylight hours. Anglers are on the hunt for subtle bank side rises and the occasional gator mouth breaching the surface. It is all so fleeting, forcing anglers to give up their daily routines and strain relationships to be on the water, and in the moment, for as long as possible. Battles are lost and some engagements are won. Victories involve smiles, laughter, shit eating grins, and lifelong memories with friends and family. 

These are the dreams of spring. 

A happy Dad...




The rower makes the most of his opportunities...


Found eating the last Hendricksons of the fleeting season...


A Bald Eagle on the hunt...


Even Adam got in on the action...


Thick...


Adam's first dry fly cast in ________ years?



When all the new "guides" on the river float their clients passed this active riser.



A bunch of average...






Dan was super excited...




Cheesing checking out the specimen in the live well...



At a loss for words...


Dan with a PB


The rower gets an opportunity at the last hint of light...


Happiness, more or less...


Even the stockers occasionally get some love...


Average...


Always rocking the blue jeans...




Sometimes Ryan does cool shit on his first cast...



The Orvis Blackout H3 595
One rod to rule them all...


Late night bike rides...


A full container...


A happy brother...


Rightfully so...


Ryan rocking the stache...





Ending the trout season with a slate drake eater...


Well worth the 2.5 hour drive back to no fishing land...














No comments: