This spring has shown me clearly that when I go to Pine looking for trout with a fly rod I tend to see less insect life than when I go with just my camera looking for pictures or video for the website and newsletter. I'm going to continue to go for the trout, but I believe I'll start with a more careful inspection of insect activity along the edges to see what the trout have been seeing. The picture above was taken on a blustery, windy, sunless day and most of the flies were sheltered downwind below the edges of rocks or thicker parts of vegetation. There were many varieties in close proximity.

     I went back the next day, straight to the rocks at about the same time, there were no insects. That was when I spied the big fossil rock (see the photo gallery tab above) and got the picture, still a little amazed there were no flies. But, heading downstream I stood on a small hill overlooking the smooth pool, and there were the flies! They weren't in the rocks, they had matured and were now egg layers skidding, skipping, and gliding on the surface to assure continuity of their kind. That is where the insect videos for this newsletter came from. There were a few visible feeds in the quieter water.

Yesterday I went back for another look and the gusty wind was kicking the tops of small waves into white caps, there were stones and caddis in the air, and between gusts, when the water was calmer, you could see that some of the commotion was being caused by swirling trout taking the egg layers. I love catching trout and salmon, actually I just love casting and drifting a fly, but it is almost as great to watch and observe while doing the fishing. Our waters, the life within them, their trout, and each day we can be a part of it, rain, sleet, wind, cold, warmth, or sun, it is a gift more valuable than anyone can buy...

Sincerely,