It was the ride to the office yesterday that finally triggered that physical feeling that Opening Day is upon us. Despite the early hour — 0600 or so — the ride was comfortable, not too cold and not too warm. The sun was already burning away the coastal overcast, leaving behind clear skies.
Then it hit. Smack dab in the middle of my face shield. The first bug of the season. If I were to guess, I’d say something in the family Chironomidae. Trout food, particularly as pupae.
Until last year, it was imperative to depart Opening Day Saturday, immediately after assisting with a fly fishing class that I’ve been involved with for quite a while.
What changed? I’m certainly not self employed like the Unaccomplished Angler or retired like Mark (@Northern California Trout) and able to traipse off to fish whenever I’d like. I do, however, accrue a healthy number of vacation days at work and now consider it impolite to not use them.
Stream X
The more accessible waters have been flogged and the fish traumatized by flashy spinners and DayGlo baits, making it all the more challenging and satisfying to hook and land the fish too smart for not caught by these other anglers.
I hope to also visit Stream X, where unmolested wild rainbows likely will attack anything that remotely looks like food. It’s a bonus that this is the time of year when much of the fishing crowd won’t be out during the work week.
So, Opening Day I’ll be helping folks learn how to play and land fish on a fly rod. Sunday I’ll spend time with The Wife. Monday through Friday I’ll be fishing.
See you on the water.
fishing for words 
April 29, 2011 at 10:28 am
Have a great week!
April 29, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Thanks, I will…you know how the cabin fosters a great time.
April 29, 2011 at 2:45 pm
I’m with you- I’d rather fish alone (or nearly so) with reduced chances for catching, than to fight crowds. It’s not that I’m antisocial- I just don’t like people. Another well-scribed entry that cements my contention that you are not fishing for words- you’ve already caught them. Enjoy your day off seeking seclusion, and may scores of others not be thinking the same thing as you.
April 29, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Thank you for the kind words, Kirk. There are those oh-so-enjoyable times, however, when it’s fun to have a bit of
competitioncompanionship on the water. Particularly those times — and I’ve had ’em — when fly fishing outfishes bait or hardware nearly 10 to 1. It’s fun, at least, until the mutter begins and a 4-ounce cast master flies in your direction. BTW, I’ll be fishing for five days, not one. Count ‘em, five days of fishing, eating man food, and drinking beer. But it’s a necessary evil; I got a blog to feed, as you understand.April 29, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Hey Patrick. Thanks for the plug. You’re retirement time will come. I had to have my nose to the grindstone for 40 years to get here. On an opening day note, I think mine will probably be talking and taking photos more than actually fishing. I feel combat fishing on the horizon.
Mark
April 29, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Thanks, Mark, I do thank my lucky stars that I do get a liberal amount of vacation time. I’m looking forward to your Opening Day report(s). Maybe some other week I’ll get over to your neck of the woods. As for the combat fishing, heading to Alaska? 🙂
April 29, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Not Alaska. I think, just all the people on opening day. -Mark