Long shadows

Went to one of my favorite driftless features: a deep and narrow stream where accurate casting can be the difference between a fish on or a nasty grassy snag. Chubbies and streamers. Fat browns who've made a comfortable living in tight quarters, chowing on terrestrials, nymphs and the occasional brookie.

Fading light added to the challenge, but I managed a couple of those gnarly browns I was after.

Butter

Love the color of these September browns.

Remembering July

A lot has changed in 6 months since last post. Tens of streams explored and hundreds of fish later, I find myself nearing another fall, reflecting on my summer adventures and preparing for hunting season. Here is a favorite from this summer: chasing cutthroats while backpacking in Western Montana.

Cutthroat Trout in the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Early Trout #1

Being back on the water for early season felt like coming home. My world is completely different than it was this time last year. Life is great, the people I spend my days with are amazing, and daily challenges have taken new forms. I've also improved immensely as an angler.

I've mostly been hitting familiar water, focusing on on my casting form and slowing down to get a better sense of where the fish are lying. It's been good.

Catching lots of these beauties

First brookie of the year 

Gnarly Rainbow 

I'm going to get on my soap box: Get concerned about our present administrations actions in dismantling the Clean Water Act. Any action towards less protection for our natural resources should give us reason to be alert. Clean headwaters and marshlands are a cornerstone of not only the well being of ecosystems, but ourselves as well. Give your representatives a buzz.

Happy Thanksgiving

I have a lot to be grateful for this year. I spent more time on the water than ever. I became friends with the waxwings. I  felt blessed by every trout I caught. I was invigorated with every watched sunrise and reflected at more sunsets. I learned that I had been my neglecting the need for my heart to break from the hustle and bustle to hear nature's whisper. To find peace.

It can be hard to convince others of the intrinsic value of the time spent communing with nature. It's about conquering this mountain, bagging a trophy, or even an exercise. We break near perfection to fulfill our selfish needs. Too much time viewing the earth as something that must be conquered. I hope we as a species can learn to express our gratitude for the earth that bares and sustains us.

Happy Deer Season

Be safe out there!

A little better

It was a rough week. A lot of changes in the country, my community, and in my life. It was one of those weeks where getting up and going through the motions seemed to be the only thing that kept me from unraveling. Thank God, I was planning on going up north.

Two  beautiful mornings of duck hunting, without a duck bagged. I shivered in my waders as we threw decoys into the gray chop; my bare hands stiffening with each dunk into the murky water. A drive to scout around confirmed our suspicions that minimal ducks were present.

Pleasant weather brought about thoughts of global warming, changes in migration patterns and the realization that we'll be celebrating yet another deer season without snow.

I hiked and scouted and hunted for grouse. I was graced with one and missed  a few more. Chasing grouse through the woods, I was reminded of a more carefree version of myself, 20 years younger. For a while my other worries seemed distant. I smelled leaves, listened for the flutter of wings, and studied the forest for movement, all the while clenching the worn wooden stock of my shotgun. Distracted from my fears, little else mattered and I was happy.

With the moon rising over the lake, I finally  sat down. Ice cold Leinie's is the the taste is want after a long day I'd hunting. I sat out on the porch on my jacket and studied my grouse gratefully. The meat will make a delicious supper, the feathers will become flies, anything I can't use returned to the earth. My mind drifted back to troubles, but this time a little better.