I get some time to use the computer, come here and see that the world still spins, with nekkid pyrates tellin’ stories and the price of everything going up. Thanks to all who make this the entertaining and informative site it is!
Ice still covers this section of Lake Champlain. There is a moat of open water around this island, but it is narrow enough that even I can cast a line across it. It’s going to be a few weeks before the boat gets launched. I am jealous of those who are able to do some spring fishing! By the same token, though, I am almost scared to go ashore; haven’t had to buy gasoline since back in November!
I have tied more flies this winter than ever before. Mostly bass bugs, bubble-pups, etc. but thanks to inspiration from fellow FAOLers there are quite a few wool-head sculpins and such in the mix, too. Might even get to fish them some day! I’m tired of waiting!
Keep the hope alive Tup. I thought that I would never see spring again with all the snow we got this winter. The Yulan and Kobus magnolias are just starting to flower here in RI yeehaa seeing as I am a tree guy. But there is talk about snow showers next week, kiss all those tender buds goodby to a nice brown slop if that turns out to be the case. I am planning on making a trip up to camp next weekend for ice out salmon but my friend up there tells me that unless it heats up I am out of luck.
Thanks again for the wool. I open the package up for the first time last weekend. You were right about that interesting barnyard smell. I hope to get some flies out your way in the next few weeks.
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick
I guess it is still early. Only April, after all! Too many years on the front range in Colorado got me all spoiled.
Nick, glad to have been able to share some of that barnyard aroma! You ought to let that stuff air out a bit. I washed it twice, so you can imagine what big old Monty smells like in person!
The worst thing about waiting for spring this year is that the temps are very nice and we’ve had lots of sun but the ice is just sitting there! It pulled away from the edges a bit as the water level rose this week, but it hasn’t wiggled or cracked or shifted one little bit. Maybe we’ll get a good wind to start pushing it around.
I feel your pain guys, it seemed every time it got nice here, it would quickly change to snow. It has finally been nice for about 2 weeks and I hope it is here to stay. I had been fishing locally regardless of the cold, but that just gets old real fast.
Now that it is warm I have gotten to take my 4 year old out a few times and he seems to love it. Don’t worry spring will reach you guys too.
I feel your pain . I used to live in Underhill. Its two seasons up there, Winter and the 4th of July (or three if you count mud-season). Hang in there, 'cause when the weather gets good, you’ll love it again.
You crack me up. A little off topic here but you say the up the flows to 500cfm on the Owens River. Hah, that doesn’t even make a good tributary. The Skagit, my home river, is running 11000 cubic feet per second. Thats per second not minute and it is running way below normal.
With a mighty hissing noise, the ice sheet parted the other day revealing a strip of open water about 200 feet across. Then the wind shifted and closed it back up. Next day the ice sheet really got moving, shoving chunks of ice up on shore, ripping deep gouges and taking down a few trees. Day before yesterday, we were surrounded by ice for a mile in every direction and things were looking pretty bleak, but the wind picked up overnight and I was in the boat headed for shore by noon. Don’t know where the ice all went (and don’t care), but it went in a hurry! Only had 25 days of being stranded!
Sat on the deck, grilling burgers and enjoying the “new” springtime look to things and realized it’s almost time to start complaining about mosquitoes!
Went down to Kenai Lake where it starts to make the Kenai River, the other day. It was open and I got to cast for a couple of hours. Ya Hoo! The ice will start to come off of the lakes in another few weeks, maybe sooner if this good weather, 40’s, keeps up. Most of the northern rivers will be fishable for kings by the beginning of June but the good runs of fish won’t start until a little later. A few fish will be had though. The trout will show up in numbers and congregate when the salmon show up and start spawning. Until then some grayling will be caught on some of the creeks once the ice goes off. It’s hard to wait, eh?
The ice went off of a local lake on Sunday. That means that some float tubing is on the horizon in the near future here in SouthCentral Alaska. Ya hoo.
Happy Trails,
Dean in Alaska
[This message has been edited by Alaska Dean (edited 02 May 2005).]
Tup before you know it you will be wiping the sweat from your brow and cursing the black flies and wondering how long it will be until fall. Life in the Adirondacks!
. I used to live in Underhill. Its two seasons up there, Winter and the 4th of July (or three if you count mud-season). Hang in there, 'cause when the weather gets good, you’ll love it again.