In Defense of Hip Boots

In other words, Wet Wading 101

Soft hackles strike again!

The creeks have been running a little higher than normal with the extra rains we've had recently. However, in spite of this, the creek I stopped at yesterday had exceptional clarity. I did choose to wear hip boots instead of my chest waders, which with temps in the 80's seemed okay. This quickly turned into an extreme form of wet wading with added resistance of water filled boots. I did catch browns though, working my way to holes that few anglers would dare to approach. After working a spot for a sufficient amount of time, I would simply sit upon the bank and drain each boot by laying back and raising each foot up. This is a good way to stay cool, considering the water here is well covered from the sun and stays below 60 in the heat of the day. My dear rubber hip boots also provide excellent leg cover from thorny brush and are impenetrable by the vicious swarms of mosquitoes I've been encountering. In an emergency they will make nice water buckets for making camp. All hail the mighty hip boot.

The leaves are beginning to hint at fall. Green grasses have begun to golden. The sun in the morning mists hints at the changes coming soon. It has neither the freshness of early summer nor the crispness of Autumn, but is unique to now. It is not tired, but life in transition. Birds are hustling. I had a hummingbird fly right up to me yesterday and inspect me for a moment. I could've reached towards it, but I was just pleased with its company. I saw two fawns and a family of wood ducks. The fawns only recognizable by the fading spots on their sides. The wood ducks now hard do distinguish juveniles from adults at a distance. 36 days until duck season, but I'm not ready.