[IveofIone]

Have you noticed or is it just me? Although not exactly a love-in it seems like the board has been a little more civil this winter. Over here on the east side we have had a lot of sunny days and that always seems to improve the general demeanor. Spokane has had less than a foot of snow so far and last year at this time they had 80". At my place I have only plowed the road twice this season and here it is almost mid January. Running a heavy tractor with knobby tires with calcium carbonate inside and chains on all 4 wheels is kinda like riding a bike over railroad ties. Think cog driven ass kicker and you get the point. I haven't missed that a whole lot although it is far more enjoyable than running a CAD-CAM station.

Now the days are getting longer and brighter and temps are nearing 40 degrees. Hell, it was warmer in Spokane on Monday than it was in Florida! Hope is starting to re-emerge. Time to get started on that pram, it takes a couple of months to do one right. Time for you guys in the southern part of the state to head over to Maupin and nymph the pocket water between there and White River. Good fishing right up to the rubber hatch in spring. And for those of us still surrounded by hard water, March will be on top of us soon. I'll be getting those new fly lines spooled, flourocarbon ordered and those last few dozen flies tied.

Without 7' high berms of snow around my place this year I can actually look out and spring looks good from here!

Fish early and often.

Ive

 

[Don Davis]

You are right Ive, we have turned the corner and can look to spring and better weather and fishing opportunities all around the northwest. It might be a little early to try and see our shadows to determine and end to winter, but it definately looks brighter. It is refreshing to have a positive post!

 

[Old Man]

All this nice weather is just the calm before the storm. While I also have hard water, some of it is open. If I didn't feel like shit I would get out in it. If my knees didn't hurt I would have a headache. My damn aches and pains just won't leave. We've had weather into the mid 40's this week and farther north it is supposed to get into the low 50's.

Most of the snow here is gone except for the seed on the ground. I've had snow here since October. I just last week got to see my yard. And it is a nice shade of brown.

 

[GATOR9]

Here here for OMJ on the aches and pains. When you hurt you just don't feel like doing a darn thing. Some of you will feel the companionship of arthritis as you get older, hope you don't though cause it really does suck. I love the sun and warmth and as i look out the window the sun does look nice but anything under 65 is just cold. Take another look at my avatar and you will see just how i feel.

 

[Mumbles]

Best Optomism Thread of 2010. Thanks IveofIone. Winter can't last forever can it?

 

[Kent Lufkin]

Some friends from WFF and the HiLakers and I met at a tree farm lake Sunday for our first outing of the year. Our purpose wasn't so much to catch fish as it was to get out of the house and shake off a dose of cabin fever and to share some quality time together. We were on the 40º water before noon, pulled out for a shore lunch of beer-boiled grilled bratwurst, deviled eggs, cookies and beer at 3pm and off the water and packing for home by 5pm. The fewer than a dozen fish that came to hand were a bonus.

K

 

[Gary Thompson]

As I was heading out Sunday morning a flock of morning doves flew over the truck, then when I got down to the end of Batterman rd to turn onto the hiway the Russian olive trees were full of robins.
The birds know when it's going to be spring.
I say bring it on!!!!

 

[Old Man]

Some friends from WFF and the HiLakers and I met at a tree farm lake Sunday for our first outing of the year. Our purpose wasn't so much to catch fish as it was to get out of the house and shake off a dose of cabin fever and to share some quality time together. We were on the 40º water before noon, pulled out for a shore lunch of beer-boiled grilled bratwurst, deviled eggs, cookies and beer at 3pm and off the water and packing for home by 5pm. The fewer than a dozen fish that came to hand were a bonus.

K

Go ahead Kent, rub it in. All the lakes in my area have about two feet of ice over the tops.

 

[papafsh]

I'm in no hurry for summer.
Compared to last year this weather is good, and for me the fishing has been excellent. I am very pleased with the recovery of my right hand, I can cast my 8wt with big fly's and full sinking line all day with ease now.
With the winter run steel just starting to show up it will only be better! So while the rivers are still open, don't wait, get out there every chance you get.

LB

 

[Lugan]

Speaking of terse threads, where is Coach Duff? I recall he moved to Hawaii and now guides for bonefish, but did he just fade away from this forum?

 

[bobduck]

Last winter I was laid up with a broken ankle and the shack nasties were the worst ever. So I was determined to get out the first day river levels and weather were agreeable. It was great to be out. First time since October. And as usual, this time out was another fly fishing learning experience. What I learned was that my waders had a new leak. So back to the shack until the aquaseal dries which is a another day of tying. Sigh. Oh yeah, no strikes either but being out was still great.