I had the day off and I needed to be on the water. It was 6:00 a.m. and the temperature was 83 degrees. I knew it would get worse later in the day. It had been this way for two weeks. I loaded the canoe the night before along with everything else.

I arrived at one of my favorite ponds for the first time this year. I can see that the water is down about two feet, that is the effect of no rain and hot dry winds.

The fly rod in my hand shimmered blackly; graphite iridescence, green guide wraps, Portuguese cork grip. A gold reel seemed almost gaudy against such understated charm.

Around me, the creek was low, perhaps a quarter its flow last time I was here. But the water was cool and moved along at a good clip. My fly of choice, a small yellow popper with white legs, still rested in the chrome hook keeper near the rod's grip. I stood there on the edge of the creek and soaked in the sound of the water falling over a little ledge, the scents of the trees, the sun on the back of my neck, just cresting the tree tops.

Duration and intensity of Fall BWO hatch and trout rises vary day by day. Both are affected by daily weather. It's hard to predict what would happen on that day or set up routines during fall fishing around Livingston. One day hatches and rises would last over two hours (longest one can expect), then next day, they could be as short as 30 minutes, if not none.

As a fly tyer I'm always looking for patterns with universal appeal. It's an occupational hazard for me to carry hundreds of patterns. I keep trying to reduce the load but I'm always afraid I'll leave the 'right' pattern back in the tackle box. But over the last few years I've made a considerable effort. The fly pattern today is truly one that has helped. This creation comes from the vice of Ted Earl. Ted was a commercial tyer who hailed from Kingsley, Michigan. This pattern was created back in the mid to late 1960s. This fly possesses magic. Like the Adams, it has the right colors and silhouette.

Armstrong's Spring Creek, July 20th around noon Neil and I moved up to the water above the bridge (Culvert) stopped for a bit of lunch and to apply some insect repellent since the mosquitoes in the shade were unbelievable and without the repellent we would have been the lunch.

After lunch Neil began to explore the two channels around the island, I moved out on the rip-rap bank to fish the old bridge pool which is to the east of the present culvert. By now there was a real mix of insects with PMD's, Baetis Dun and Spinners, a sprinkling of small Black Caddis, a few Midges and even a Sulphur Dun or two.

It's been quite a few years since I had to apply for a job but when I was on the bench occasionally I had to interview individuals for jobs in my office. Applicants had to be able to demonstrate certain skills as part of the application process, and a certain level of proficiency was required before the applicant could be considered for the position. Since my office was completely computerized a person that was not familiar with computerized record keeping would not be able to function in that position.

Ken Morrow is an old friend of FAOL and a longtime advocate for programs that allow individuals with disabilities to enjoy the sport of fly fishing and fly tying. This book is an outgrowth of that commitment.

Ken knows what he is talking about having served in the U.S. Army in Desert Storm, and later served in the U.S. Navy. He suffered multiple head injuries during his military career which resulted in permanent disability.

Every inch of the Troy Resort shouts "rustic outdoor experience".
From the haunting stare of the bobcat mount in the corner of the bar to the extremely rare spike cow elk above the restaurant door, Troy isn't your typical weekend hunting and fishing destination. Located at the confluence of the Grande Ronde and Wenaha Rivers and at the edge of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, the Resort is a haven for fishermen, hunters, hikers, campers, river rafters and sightseers alike.