Thank The Lord For The Nighttime, Forget The Days.

Got up early today, in part because the ache from the groin pull makes it hard to sleep and in part because I wanted to do the yard work before it got too hot. Had the peach tree remains stacked up under the porch before 8:30, pruned the Holly tree and the two red buds and disposed of the trimmings before ten- thirty, and was on the lawn mower shortly thereafter. Finished up the mowing just before noon, got cleaned up, had lunch, made a couple of calls and it was one-thirty.  Just the right time to drive up to Deposit and fish the afternoon sulfurs, but I just didn't want to do that today. Sat down and tied a half dozen flies, did a crossword puzzle, read the news on the pc, and was lost for something to do. Against my better judgement I got in the car and drove up to Deposit.

What did I find?  Up in Stilesville there were Cedar Waxwings, sulfurs, fishermen, (well spaced), and a very few rising fish, spaced much farther apart than the fishermen. Two boats at the Red Barn, (Adrian's sport had a fish on), and a reasonable number of fishermen. As I continued down the river, the birds, bugs and fishermen all decreased in number. Below Oquaga, I could pick my pool. Sat and watched the Cedar Waxwings attempt to exterminate future generations of sulfurs, without seeing a trout rise. Watched an eagle on a big log reducing the fish population by one. Hot and bored, I put on my waders and waded into the cold water, almost instantly it became a beautiful day. Why? The water where I was, was in the fifties and it was delightful. An hour later I trudged back to the car after first talking with river friend Stuart, (waved two times yesterday at his wife on her walk on river road, she had no clue who I was), who concurred with my thoughts on both the bug and fish populations. While I was out running mother nature's AC, (wading in the cold water), Adrian came by, told me about his trip to the Missouri, and mentioned that the back door on my car was open. Said he was on his way out and would stop and close it if I wanted. I thanked him, pressed the button that closes the hatch, (from over 200 yards away), finished fishing, (had one refusal), and when I got back in sight of the car the hatch door was closed.

How about the evening? Like every other evening down river the past two weeks, nothing until at least eight- thirty, then  rise,  cast,  hookup, (much of the time), net, measure, repeat. Hooked five landed four, one two year old, and three browns between 15 and 16 inches.

Where it's at - If you live here or are an easy drive away, be on the river anywhere downstream from Hale Eddy by 8:00 and wait, it will happen, probably not for another half hour, but it will happen. If you are a drive away, and play golf, come, get a room, play a round of golf, and be on the river for the magic hour. If you are two hours away and just love to fish, suck it up, rent a room and come.  Don't drive two or three hours each way, (the return trip after dark), for the amount of fishing currently on the menu.