April

The stream is very cold.

      A week ago south facing hillsides were almost bare ground, while north facing slopes looked like a pinto with irregular brown patches between vast areas of white. Now, more than a week into the month, Mother Nature has pulled a cruel pranks and dumped eight or ten inches of snow everywhere.

Maggie wondering where the
snow came from.

      But the woodcock are back and grouse are drumming, so it must be spring. Our dogs enjoyed the brief freedom of bare ground and hunted up birds. I am sure in a couple of days the ground will be bare again.

      The streams are swollen from the melted winter snow and soon will rise still more as the new snow melts. Water temperatures are very low and it will be a month before we see much insect activity on the streams. Thoughts of fly fishing, so far, revolve around the tying of flies.

      Spring in northern New England certainly teaches patience.

Woolly buggers galore.