Had a great day on the water yesterday. I Guided Jon, a long time client of mine. We started the morning targeting large rainbows in small water. After a quick tune up on casting weighted nymph rigs, Jon was in the zone. As he made methodical drifts. The indicator would dip now and again only to reveal a snagged stick, or rock. On about the eleventh drift the indicator stopped again, Jon lifted the rod, and the rod came back down. There were two flashes of metallic purple and the line went slack. Jon turned to me, saying without words, "Okay, they are here!" 

It has been a slow start to the season, but things are looking to be speeding along now. My first trout of the year came a few weeks ago on a wild brook trout water. These waters should be turning on big time at this point. Most of my early season brook trout waters are spring fed and provide good dry fly fishing when other rivers and ponds are still ice cold. Speaking of spring water, I just returned from a week long trip to State College PA and the Catskills region of New York. I fished with Bob Mallard and was helping him collect photos for his two books 50 Best Places: Fly Fishing the Northeast and 25 Best Towns: Fly Fishing For Trout. These books will feature State College PA and Hancock NY as well as North Conway NH. 

As I write this, I hear the rain pounding outside. It eats away at a thin layer of slush that I thought might be the start of winter. I considered going fishing, but elected to stay home, write, and tie flies, "Better to be prepared for next season" I reason. November always presents herself before I am ready, still giddy from recent October fishing trips. Like the last kiss of a relationship, you usually don't know the "last day" when you are fishing it. But on a day like today I'm forced to think back to a few weeks prior, and realize, " I may not pick up the rod again until spring." It is a bittersweet thought, the memories of the season flash through my mind like a movie montage that I will need to wait to see again.