Anticipation

by: Ed Emory

As April begins, I find myself gazing out of my window past four feet of snow at the South Fork. Winter is always a time of regeneration for the South Fork and, for me, a time of reflection of seasons past. Winter has laid down a blanket of snow, a blanket that seems to silence everything it touches. This silence seems to be broken only by the occasional moose playing and splashing in the water, free from the deep snow that surrounds her; by the thunderous flights of ducks surprised by a winter intruder, so thick they blot out the sun; by the screams of many eagles, some flying overhead on winter thermals, others diving in a flight of thunder into the fleeing flight of fowl. April is the time of year when winter starts to loose her grip on our river, valleys, and surroundings. The buds on the trees seem larger, and there is even a hint of grass around the Lodge. Winter's laid back; dormant days are eroding away as spring approaches. As the days lengthen, so does our anticipation of the coming fishing season. With each progressively warmer day, the snow melts, sending more and more water to the river. The elusive deer and elk move from their winter homes in the valleys back to their summertime range in the mountains. As the snow recedes to all but the highest peaks, we know that summer is almost here, but not until the first Stonefly is spotted and we are sure. Remember that next years fishing season is nothing more than pure fantasy until your first cast hits the water.. Until then, keep your cast held high and your presentation soft.