Spring; a time to witness natures rebirth
and to revisit those secret places of the mind that sustained
us during the long winter. These visits are necessary, not only
to replenish that which is the essence of "us," but as a form
of reassurance that these places still endure. We bank these
places only withdrawing from them that small measure required
to sate the hunger of inner peace unfulfilled. A quick fix for the
pressures of the work-week, drawing on the memories of only
one or two places, or during some winters liquidating whole
accounts just so we can survive.
These are solitary excursions. Not a
husband and wife trip, or a best buddy jaunt. These are life
saving withdrawals from natures bank to prepare us for the
year to come. An experience that if shared would diminish us
and the place. Each of us has his accounts banked away for
that "rainy day." Here are some of mine.
I have a place in Michigan on a major
public river where I can catch 50-80 wild trout a day on a
dry fly. These trout top out at about sixteen inches. It's been
there for years. Big blackwater browns that are relatively easy.
During the last twenty years I have shown the spot to only four.
I don't believe one has betrayed the confidence. One was a kid
I was teaching. His father and I fished secondary water while he
caught and released over 55 fish losing count before the end of
five hours. If he lives to be a hundred he will never forget that day.
How could he?
There is a stingy stretch of water below
Browns Cabin's in Frederic that I can spend days on. Sometimes
fishing, sometimes just sitting there for hours at a time. Recharging.
Behind the bar at Lovells, where I saw
the biggest brown trout I have ever seen. A hatch every night.
Flat water and the occasional big fish.
The Mad River above the tractor crossing.
Nice fish eating bark beetles, where a 2 wt rules.
Evenings on the back of my boat at my
dock on Lake Erie. Sitting by myself, reflecting on life.
Big salmon below the railroad bridge on the
Pere Marquette. The big fish are gone now but every few
years I return remembering the day I caught five that two
members of the Rainbow Club had to help me carry up the
steps. Now, when I return, I sit under the Rainbow Club
bridge remembering a different time. Seldom fishing. My
quarry has long since departed.
The stretch from "guides rest" to about
a mile below Stephan's Bridge on the AuSable. I can see that
stretch as if I fished It yesterday. I have fished that stretch almost
daily in my mind for the last 30 years. Every chance I get I spend
a day or two on that water. No wonder they call it the "Holy Water."
Last year while visiting the family farm, I saw
the bridge under which many years ago I caught my first fish. A
fish that I caught all by myself. A real bent pin and thread caught
2 inch blue gill. The same bridge under which I stole my first kiss.
Over the years I have wondered if those
two events were responsible for my life long fascination with fishing.
Sigmund were you right?~ "Old Rupe"
I will have to confess to my regret that I remember
the fish better than the kiss.
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