Spring time..the fish must be getting hungry

It's been to long since I've tied on a fly (dry OR wet) and gone out to play 'hide & seek' with the Metolius stock, or to my secret 'guaranteed catch 'em' spot. All winter long they've been fattening up on the underwater bug life so abundant in Central Oregon streams and lakes. All the while I'VE been fattening up, too, but that's another story.

I wanna walk those streams...peruse those ponds...meander the shores of those mountain lakes. Scouting...reconnaissance...watching where the Osprey feed, and when. But UNLIKE the Osprey I don't kill my prey. In fact, too often I don't even lift one from the water. You see, as everyone who does this knows, there's a reason they call it FISHING, not catching.

The real pull is just to be out and feel the water flow between wading legs; cool air on the face; pine needles baking. I'd do it if I knew the streams and lakes where sterile...if there weren't even a prayer of a strike. It's all too good. Time drifts like the river and you promise you'll leave as soon as you've had ONE more good cast...just one more...good...cast.