I love winter, probably more than some people do. There is something about a negative degree day, something I can’t really explain, that I like. Maybe it is the humbling of the cold and wind that does it, knowing that it is really hard to be better than winter. But every year, we do it. And at the end of every winter, I forget that spring is my favorite season. There is so much potential, so much new growth, and sound returns to our surroundings. Each morning when I wake up, I hear the birds shouting to each other, and remember how quiet the winter was. The snow muffles much of whatever sounds are out there, and for the most part, there aren't many creatures to make any sound anyways. Here we are in April, and it is pretty easy to forget how cold, quiet and gray everything was only a few weeks ago. Here we are in April, and the willingness to get outside trumps everything else.
Of all the negatives Covid-19 has brought about, I can thank it for one thing; a reintroduction to fishing. I needed something to fill my spare time, and needed to find a new challenge, thus the idea of fly fishing was born. It started last summer on the salt marsh in Hampton, cheap dainty rod in hand. I had no idea what I was doing, never caught anything, and I couldn't have been happier. Spending hours on the marsh away from everyone? Good enough for me. Then, through trial and error I started to figure it out, and started catching some fish. Schoolie stripers aren't much, but for someone who never caught anything it was a blast.
Fast forwards a few cold months, and spring is waking up on Squam Lake. It’s time for me to embark on a new challenge, freshwater fly fishing. Freshwater is the same ballgame, but with different players and different rules. Lately, much of my spare time has been spent figuring out these players and rules, where the new stadiums are, and how much a bag of peanuts cost. Now that the ice is gone, and temperatures are warm, it’s time to put my research into practice. And you know, I think it’s starting to prove itself. My first day out this season I pulled out four fish (admittedly, they weren't very big, but a fish is a fish right?), yesterday, a decent sized shiner.
I mentioned earlier, the idea of being away from everyone and being outdoors is what really drew me back into fishing. But when I say everyone, I only mean humans. There are plenty of other beings I am more than willing to share the water with, those that were here well before me. As I was standing out on the docks at the SLA yesterday, testing out a new rod, there was a fellow angler out there with me. This one had 8 talons, a 7 foot wingspan, and a white head and tail (if you couldn't tell, it was a Bald Eagle). I gave them the right of way, as I stopped what I was doing, and just watched this expert do its thing, soaring close to the water and deciding how to make its grab. I stood there, for what seemed like hours (it probably was only a minute or two) and just watched in amazement. What an amazing bird, adapted perfectly to life on the water, a better fisherman than I will ever be. As it soared down along the water, only feet away from me, I could hear the wind whistle through its feathers, and knew a fish was going to meet its doom soon enough. Like it has done many times before, the Bald Eagle dropped its feet, picked up its dinner, and was gone*. That was it for me. I packed up my stuff, knowing no caught fish could top what I had just seen.
As the season progresses, I am looking forward to seeing more of this lake's beautiful residents, aquatic, avian and everything in between. This winter was great, but now I am starting to really realize just how lucky I am to have all of this in my backyard.
* When I look up from my desk and out the window, I have a perfect view of the little cove the SLA is tucked into. Besides me today, and every day, are my binoculars ready to scope out any movement in the cove. This morning, as I was writing this, I watched this spectacle again. Another (perhaps the same) Bald Eagle rubbing in their fishing expertise, grabbing another fish and heading home for a fresh breakfast.
We appreciate Mike’s willingness to drop everything and help anyone who needs it (especially if it involves being outside). Learn more about Mike here!