Remember the Far Away Rivers

Mongolia River Outfitters from Julian Braatvedt on Vimeo.

No Camelopardalids for This Observer

It was overcast during most of the day, but it cleared off by the predicted peak viewing time for the new meteor shower....which for me is still hypothetical. In two observation times totaling about 40 minutes I didn't see a single meteor.

It was a beautiful night, though, and the frogs in the flooded pasture behind the house were in good voice.

Heads Up: Brand New Meteor Shower!

For the first time ever the earth will pass through the debris field of the newly discovered Comet LINEAR.

The result: a brand new meteor shower for sky watchers in the Northern Hemisphere. Already being called the "May Camelopardalids," the meteor shower will reach its peak Friday night and into Saturday morning. Best times will be between 2 and 4 AM EDT.

The latest viewing prediction based on local weather:

And the location of the Camelopardalis constellation from which the meteors will appear to radiate.

EarthSky says that it could be the best meteor shower of the year, but it also stresses that, since this has never occurred before, it's all hypothetical until we see the actual meteors. (Go to the link for much more information.)

So head out, look up, and maybe see the birth of a new heavenly wonder.

The Hatch of Your Dreams

Wait for the last hook up....

Mother's Day Caddis Hatch from Lone Peak Outfitters on Vimeo.

"Forty-Five" by Hayden Carruth

Spotted Salamander    Ambystoma  maculatum

When I was forty-five I lay for hours
beside a pool, the green hazy
springtime water, and watched
the salamanders coupling, how they drifted lazily,
their little hands floating before them,
aimlessly in and out of the shadows, fifteen
or twenty of them, and suddenly two
would dart together and clasp
one another belly to belly
the way we do, tender and vigorous, and then
would let go and drift away
at peace, lazily,
in the green pool that was their world
and for awhile was mine.

"Forty-Five" by Hayden Carruth from Scrambled Eggs and Whiskey. © Copper Canyon Press, 1966.

Trout Lake Report: Like Old Times

You've got a few hours and a tin of new muddlers. You tie on the #12 and kick out on the north end.

Across the lake by the inlet you find some fish. The water level is rising steadily, and the fish are moving up closer to their old haunts along the willows under the trees.

There's a sudden spate of fish rising out in open water. You see what they're taking: big winged ants. It's an ant fall. You clip off the muddler and tie on an old Callibaetis pattern. You can't find an Adams; you'll need to replenish the supply.

The fish like the Callibaetis, especially when you give it a few twitches.

It's not long before the Callibaetis is too sodden to float. You look through your fly boxes and find some Henryville Caddis. You tie one on, and hope it's the right size and shape.

It seems to be. On the first cast, before you can even twitch it, a fish sucks it in. You set and the fish jumps, once, twice. A very nice Brown, the best of the year so far. You bring it in carefully on the 5X tippet.

As quickly as it began the ant fall action slackens. There is a pod of small fish still marauding and you capture the take as one of them ambushes the Henryville Caddis.

A plane rises out of the west. You're always amused to think of the people crammed into that metallic tube glinting up there in the late sun.

Less than a month ago, it was you.

You give thanks for the view and the leg room you are enjoying now as the jet disappears over the eastern ridge.

You take one more small fish on the Henryville, but the lake is quieting down.

You tie on the #8 muddler and kick back over to the truck side and work up the shoreline in the dusk.

You find two strong rainbows looking for a large-sized meal. They come out of nowhere, slam the fly, and run line off the reel.

It's beginning to feel like old times.

Fly Tying: More Muddler Variations

Cranking out some more muddler variations for that one trout that damn well isn't going to let that thing get away....

Number 12

 Number 8

Number 6

Trout Lake Report: Warming Up

Every day, in every way, the weather, the lake, the fish, and the fishing are warming up.