Why Do We Do It?

Why do we do it? "Standing in a river waiving a stick" as one author puts it. For hours. For days. Thinking about it when we're not doing it. Intrusive thoughts of doing it while at work or when spending time with a spouse or in church. Why? My wife encourages me to do it, knowing there is purpose beyond putting off chores around the house and coming home smelling of fish and cigars. A purpose beyond the simple fun of it and of the male comradeship sometimes involved. Lately I've been asking why I do this "stick waiving." And while there are several very good reasons why, it mostly boils down to one thing. It makes me feel big. It always has. From the first trip I took with dad proudly looking on to my most recent outing. There's something about standing in the middle of a big river and setting a hook and having a fish on that creates a sense of feeling big. There's something special in going out into the river and enticing a fish and after landing the fish and marveling at its beauty, releasing it to be caught another day. It's this getting out away from everything made of concrete and enjoying God's creation, and to rule over it, and to show mercy, and to realize the mercy shown me in that this river and all the fish in it are mine. And I know I'm important to God. This is what makes me feel big.....and small. Definately loved and perhaps at the end of the day more loving.

Rim Shoals 11/26/05

Great weather for late November. A little windy but otherwise very very nice. I fished from about 9:30 to 1:30 at Rim Shoals. A very nice day on the water. Plenty of Rainbows starting about 11:30. Thanks to Brian Harris at White River Angler for showing me how to tie that Y2K Bug. I finally tied Y2Ks that look right and don't fall apart after a couple of hook ups. I tried a nymph briefly but soon after stayed with the Y2K as it produced more. The yellow/orange combination was better than the yellow/pink combination. Had a few minutes at the end of the day and so decided to do a little exploring around Roundhouse Shoals. Had fun taking pictures and turning over rocks. Sow Bug, aquatic worms, Y2K Bug.

Entomology Anybody?

When the fishing gets slow I always make good use of my time on the river whether being productive in my studying bugs or productive in my rest and relaxation. I usually take a good book, my tobacco pipe, a tasty snack and my camera with me when I go fishing. Sometimes, even when the fishing is good it's still nice to stop and have a snack and take a look around. Since I started tying flies a few years ago I've become more and more interested in aquatic insects and their various life cycle stages. I took some pictures on several of my last outings and here are a few. As the colder months move in I will spend less time on the river and more time at the vice.

I caught this little stonefly (adult) on the upper Buffalo River back in March.

This mayfly nymph was clinging to the bottom of a rock at Rim Shoals (White River)

A Pale Morning Dun (Mayfly) on the Buffalo River. Don't see too many of these on the White where they would be quickly gobbled up and more useful to the fly fisherman than they are on the Buffalo.