This is probably one day that I should have skipped going out to a pond. It was hot and muggy. The relative humidity was over 90%. Even with this I had the time and that time needed to be spent on the water. I wondered if I might be able to just net fish that might swim by in the humidity.

This weekend was a tad different than most late summer weekends for me, in-as-much as it was barren of any water aside from that which fell from the sky. Here in the Northeast we have undergone a generational storm system that not only hit our area heavier than hurricane Agnes of the 70's, but followed up only days after with another tropical storm that caused many of the area waters to reach their breaking points. Currently area waters are slowly subsiding, and a sense of slight recovery is in the wind.

The Squirrels Nest has been with me for a while now, and this year it shined from Pennsylvania limestone & tail-water streams, to Virginia Spring Creeks and freestone waters. I carry it on all waters in #12 through #16.

We have all been there; we can see the fish, it's rising or we can see it feeding underwater, but everything we try fails to produce a take. You can hear yourself thinking, "Why can't I catch that fish?" What, if anything, can you do the next time you encounter such a frustrating situation? While I don't have all the answers I will make a few suggestions that may help.

As I read posts on FAOL I constantly read about the problems that new fly fishers are having or have had and I cannot help but wonder if we are making fly fishing too difficult for beginners to grasp. For instance, I see posts from people stating that they tried fly fishing several years ago and quit because they just could not do all that is required. I have read posts that state that they would like to learn how to fly fish because watching a fly fisherman fish looks so relaxing and looks like fun, but, they just do not think that they could master all that casting they see being done.

There is a certain ambiance about fall; a feeling of melancholy, a certain unease, and yet a glorious celebration of the completion of another bountiful season. The days can be warm but there is a bit of an edge on the breeze, a reminder that it is no longer summer despite the blue sky and warm sunshine.

For those of us who aren't tied to a "real" job or blessed to be retired, the region around our home in Livingston, Montana is the perfect base for exploration of all sorts.

I had mentioned to my husband Trav as we passed the turn-off to Big Sky on our way back from a trip to Quake Lake that I had only been up to Big Sky once many years ago. In fact so many years ago that it's founder and creator Chet Huntley was still doing the evening news with his partner David Brinkley. (It was called the Huntley/Brinkley Report I believe on NBC.) 

For some strange reason I had the Fourth of July off. I did not argue, but decided to enjoy the day. I had to help get some things done in the early morning, so after I got those activities out of the way my better half suggested that I head to a pond for a while. For some strange reason she believes this helps my disposition.

Fishing season is waning in many parts of the country. Vacations are over, and it's time to get back to work. Here at FAOL we need you to set down at the computer and put down some words of wisdom for your fellow anglers.