February 28, 2021 – The Anniversary Party was a bit of a Downer – SEPA Blueline

The sullen walk of shame as the flow quickly doubles....

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I won’t write too much here.  Eric and I tried to sneak one in before the rain yesterday, committing to a sunrise start on our little spot.  I was hoping for a bit of stain before the steady rain brought the cold slush into the creek, but with nowhere to go but into the gutters and creeks, it did not take long for even a light rain to end that potential good window.  It was mild overnight, so that was a plus, but the creek was barely stained when we arrived, and the stain we got late morning was the gray, cold kind.  It was just about a year ago today that we made our first visit to this small freestoner in search of wild browns.  Even then, with no intel or experience on the creek, I landed two fish to confirm we might have something here!  Today, we got nothing to show for a solid six hours of fishing but a healthy glow—the benefits of what the Norwegians call friluftsliv.  This was Eric’s second skunk here this year, but like me he is undeterred.  We know how this creek comes alive in another month!  Until then, this guy will be sneaking around more productive limestoners.  I may even go west to fish with Sam during my spring break.

I will think all the snow was pretty in a year, but it's getting old now.