Winter’s grasp is waning in the Northwest, giving way to a teasing mix of warming temps and Spring rains. The tying is almost done…if it is really ever done…and the images that dance through the mind and quicken the pulse are causing that twitchy yearning to get away from urban environs and connect in all ways possible with the fish and the surroundings.

Some random thoughts about being on a lake whether in a float tube, pontoon boat, pram, drift boat or an old Lund etc: Calm mornings~ drifting fog on the lake’s surface~ mumbled voices carried across the lake~ periodic dimples to the surface~ casting in toward the reeds as a cruiser feeds, rustling the reeds~ lazily wind drifting along and picking up more hits than moving into the wind~ disgruntled voices from Power Bait plunkers sitting in their folding chairs as you catch one after another~ looking down to change a fly or fine tune a rig and having been blown out of position~ sharing info, flies and encouragement with a stranger (Pass It On)~ the increased pace of a hatch~ the fish that rises right beside you as you kick or row along~ the missed hit, the perfect cast and take~ settling in and reminding yourself to calm down and enjoy~ looking upward at the Osprey, Eagle or Red winged Blackbird~ afternoon winds and waves and seeing the rises in the troughs~ admiring a big fish, feeling the adrenaline after releasing a bigger fish~ looking around to see if anyone noticed your success~ shore side siestas~ the last two hours of the day~ the setting sun and seeing fish rise in the pale, last light.  

Picture ‘borrowed’ and sorry to say I can’t credit the source…but it depicts the morning calm for sure.