In anticipation of things to come

This is the time of year that's the hardest on me regarding fishing in
the Northeast US. It seems that once something is so close, anticipation
takes over and makes the target move further away...

There was a time when I commuted to work sixty miles each way in the
infamous traffic of the greater L.A. basin. My company, based in
Springfield, MA, thought our new office *had* to be placed somewhere
near LAX in order to be accommodating to clients. I convinced them John
Wayne/O.C. Airport was close enough, but that was the closest I could
get to my home in Carlsbad. Because I knew the commute was there and it
was what it was, I found ways to make use of the hours stuck in traffic.
Books on tape, my favorite music, talk radio, etc. made the time go by
in a way that made the commute almost pleasurable "alone-time". After
the lease on the office expired two years later, my company decided
people could actually fly into San Diego (who knew?) and that the office
could be located in Carlsbad with no detriment to clients. For the three
months from that decision until the move occurred, the sixty-mile drive
to and from work seemed like 160.

....Now I'm waiting for the snow and ice to melt off the banks of my
local rivers. I know there are those who brave the cold water and the
snow and ice to fish, and I wish them all the best. I even tried it once
in a fit of need. I suppose if I wanted to invest in the proper gear to
do such stunts, it might somehow be pleasurable for me, but I doubt it.
The streams are calling with visions of early Spring fishing, but the
cold and the prospect of sliding down icy banks into freezing cold water
keep me at bay. I know the time is almost here, but every day makes it
seem farther away. When the time does arrive for me to stand in the
river again, I plan to take advantage as much as possible. I think next
year it might be time to migrate south for the winter, even if only for
a week at a time, but it can't replace the ten-minute drive to the
wonderful and familiar rivers in the local area.

So fill and raise your glasses to Spring and the near future!
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Tim J wrote:

So fill and raise your glasses to Spring and the near future!


Well, we're beginning our eleventh week of January, with only a little
relief in sight. Supposedly no big storms for the next ten days, and
temps only a few degrees below normal. Looks worse in the North
Country, more snow this week with temps remaining in the twenties.
Probably won't see ice out in the CT Lakes region until near Memorial
Day. Most years I manage to fish a few days in March, but not likely
this year.

On the bright side, my tying is nearly done, and it looks like I'll
have time to finish up some projects around the house, (most related to
winter damage). But dammit! I want to go fishing!

"George Adams" wrote in message
ups.com...
Tim J wrote:

So fill and raise your glasses to Spring and the near future!


Well, we're beginning our eleventh week of January,

Bloody hell! I feel for you! How many glasses did you raise???

TL
MC

Tim J. wrote:snip
So fill and raise your glasses to Spring and the near future!

Spring was last Thursday and Friday in the Dallas area. Saturday the
high was 87 degrees and thank goodness the airconditioning was working.

Big Dale

On 14 Mar 2005 12:36:53 -0800, "Big Dale" wrote:


Tim J. wrote:snip
So fill and raise your glasses to Spring and the near future!

Spring was last Thursday and Friday in the Dallas area. Saturday the
high was 87 degrees and thank goodness the airconditioning was working.

You weren't up very early this morning, I take it G. At 5:30, it was about
36-38F air temp, and Mr. Dungan's "breezy" made it feel like a hell of a lot
less. Of course, by noon, it was warm again.

TC,
R

Big Dale

"Big Dale" wrote in message
oups.com...

Tim J. wrote:snip
So fill and raise your glasses to Spring and the near future!

Spring was last Thursday and Friday in the Dallas area. Saturday the
high was 87 degrees and thank goodness the airconditioning was working.

` nothin personal, of course, and in total awareness of the great
contributions the lone star state has made in so many ways, in the war
between the states, and in music history over the last hundred years, or so;
but i must say, i'll be damned if i could live happily in a place that
subjects its inhabitants to such relentless hell, weatherwise.

yfitons
wayno

Wayne Harrison wrote:


` nothin personal, of course, and in total awareness of the great
contributions the lone star state has made in so many ways, in the
war
between the states, and in music history over the last hundred years,
or so;
but i must say, i'll be damned if i could live happily in a place
that
subjects its inhabitants to such relentless hell, weatherwise.

yfitons
wayno

I believe the weather liars only twice a year...in August when they say
it is going to be hot and in March when they say the wind is going to
blow.

Big Dale

Wayne Harrison wrote:

` nothin personal, of course, and in total awareness of the great
contributions the lone star state has made in so many ways, in the
war
between the states, and in music history over the last hundred years,
or so;
but i must say, i'll be damned if i could live happily in a place
that
subjects its inhabitants to such relentless hell, weatherwise.

I dunno ... I figure there's just different degrees of hell. Around
here, during November, December, January, February and March, we're as
likely to have a 70 degree day as not. April and May are almost always
nice, as are September and October.

It's in June, July and August that we pay the price. :-}

FWIW, I got some time on the water yesterday a.m. The rivers are
running high from recent rains, so I headed out to my favorite cove on
Lake Travis. It was chilly (about 48 when I got to the water) and the
wind was blowing hard (and from the N/NE). I tried ff'ing, but it was
pretty much as waste of time. When I switched over to my ultralight
spinning rig, I had excellent luck tossing wolly buggers and damselfly
nymphs tied on 1/16 oz. jig heads.

I caught close to a dozen bass, most in the 12" range, with one guy
who pushed 15". While I was fishing, a van pulled up, and out popped a
half-dozen kids all armed with fishing gear. They immediately headed
in my direction, and being the curmudgeon that I am, I was grumbling
under my breath about them invading my fishing space.

They turned out to be great kids; they respected my "space", and I
wound up helping them rig up and catch a few fish. (It didn't hurt
that I continued catching fish the whole time they were there. :-) It
reminded my of the first time I took my nephews fishing, and I have to
admit that my crusty, old-fart attitude softened considerably after
hanging out with them a while.


Chuck Vance

So fill and raise your glasses to Spring and the near future!
--


Well, here Arnoldland,

Spring sprung, spurring significant seasonal sprouting of Sages, Simms, and
SUVs

It's a windy but otherwise beautiful Spring day here and I decided to drive
to the local river (Stanislaus) and take a walk to test my knee. I'm still
using a cane, a little, but figured I might even put a rod together, might
not.

Well, the parking lots are all full of Yuppiemobiles, several with their
owners gathered around rigging fly rods. One spot that has, maybe, 5
possible places to stand and pretend to fish, had 11 cars in the lot,
Hummers, Cadillac SUVs and pickups raised so much you need a ladder to get
in the cab. The season's first hatch of conspicuous spenders, blown in
from the Bay Area by the Spring winds.

Larry L wrote:
Well, here Arnoldland,

Spring sprung, spurring significant seasonal sprouting of Sages, Simms, and
SUVs

It's a windy but otherwise beautiful Spring day here and I decided to drive
to the local river (Stanislaus) and take a walk to test my knee. I'm still
using a cane, a little, but figured I might even put a rod together, might
not.

Well, the parking lots are all full of Yuppiemobiles, several with their
owners gathered around rigging fly rods. One spot that has, maybe, 5
possible places to stand and pretend to fish, had 11 cars in the lot,
Hummers, Cadillac SUVs and pickups raised so much you need a ladder to get
in the cab. The season's first hatch of conspicuous spenders, blown in
from the Bay Area by the Spring winds.

Some smart-assed seniors spouting silly sentiments should
eschew snobbery.

Fishermen, fly fishermen, were stringing up in the parking
lot and you sneer at their vehicles ? What the **** is the
deal with *THAT* ? You should be happy that there are other
people in California who care about fly fishing.

--
Ken Fortenberry