The Mad Trouter: Farewell Sweetness...

OK...for the summer time person, Winter blows. I was hit with the harsh reality that I need to give up on the summer of '08. Granted I’ve been pushing off the bass flies, and haven’t been wet wading in months, but I keep saying “man, I should run over to the pond for some bass”, when in reality, they’ve already gorged, and are now hunkered down for the long cold spell…They seem to accept it better then I…

To top off my Sunday depression of rivers being blown, cold temperatures outside, and the parting of a family pet…I get the following message read to me on the itouch…

“Issued by The National Weather ServiceCleveland, OH 3:46 am EST, Sun., Nov. 16, 2008
... LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST TUESDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND HAS ISSUED A LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING FOR THE EAST LAKESHORE COUNTIES... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST TUESDAY.
LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TODAY. THE SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES BY TONIGHT... WITH 6 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE BY MONDAY MORNING. LOCATIONS ACROSS INLAND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AS WELL AS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF GEAUGA COUNTY COULD SEE LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS... POSSIBLY MORE THAN A FOOT OF SNOW BY DAYBREAK MONDAY.
LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH ADDITIONAL MODERATE TO HEAVY ACCUMULATIONS LIKELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IN LAKE EFFECT SNOW THE WEATHER CAN VARY FROM LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW IN NARROW BANDS TO CLEAR SKIES JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. IF YOU WILL BE TRAVELING ACROSS THE REGION BE PREPARED FOR RAPID CHANGES IN ROAD AND VISIBILITY CONDITIONS.”

Now as I wait for the gas heater to rally up the fly tying room (Converted 3 season room), I can’t help but wonder where the summer went. Below are my memorable’s from this last 6 month warm up…

Married Life – She’s been great with the fishing hobby…something I was worried about
Got brother into the fly fishing gig…
Started TMT to help get rid of cabin fever…and it’s turned into a bit of a fun project…
Found one of the most beautiful places on the earth…Potter County, PA. Not to mention some of the best food EVER at the First Fork Lodge (This also meant discovering Trout on the fly rod…completely different from spinning…)
This last fall I went to Michigan to fish the salmon run with Schmidt
Got the canoe out onto the water…
Got the DSLR camera I wanted and have taken close to 10,000 pictures already…I just need to get into a sorting mood with them all…
Made the donation to Bristol Bay…made friends at Felt Soul Media…had cards made for the wedding trying to bring attention…
Got the new fish mobile (Subaru)…
Fished steelhead early in September…and have done pretty well this year thus far…

So as I think back on the accomplishments, here are some pictures of the last 6-7 months that have made for a pretty good year…