a glance behind

Pursuit of the fishes was less than rabid this past year
Indeed, excursions familiar and casual were the outings
Distant storied adventures were but the shared experiences of others
Perhaps to be joined in the year ahead
with pike, perch, bass and even troutlings

Time on the ice was fruitful and simple. No fancy gear or fish house. Just a few holes and some eager panfish. The season was short, as the winter was mild with a very early ice out.

Late March found me in the Lake Superior drainage, both North and South shores. The early steelhead run was worth the 34 degree air temp and wind howling off the big lake up the canyon.

Then on to splendid April and May, that just kept the crappies and bluegills coming.  For me, this is truly one of life's great pleasures. Wet flies and nymphs (no bobber please) produce freight train takes one day and the most subtle line twitch the next. A few of these come home for the pan as they are just prime after a long winter of gorging on chironomids

June was all about walleyes and perch - making meat. More work than usual was required this year to stock the larder and feel entirely satisfied.

Kev with a keeper

One July evening when the bugs were fierce, I was able to paddle up to a school of crappies feeding on top. I plucked five slabs in a row before the school spooked for good. They were just on fire. Never satisfied, I'm still looking for that magic seventeen. Prime number.

I only made one outing looking for the hex hatch. Must be getting old - twenty years ago, I would be out there seven or eight nights in a row. One fish only - on a sunken streamer before dark - no hex hatch occurred that night

Bass, bass, and more bass. Bycatch

A few good fish.

Captain LaPup with a Kalawah chromer

Spank with a Brule bruiser

My last open water fish of the year. Six November

And LU with what has to be one of the latest kings ever from the Knife. A pud in December is some kinda  Christmas present

There were a lot of great musical hooks this year, as well as the fish.  Of the thousands that passed through in 2016, this one stuck me.  Jayhawks,  from their 2016 release Paging Mr. Proust

And then there was this; another of those tunes that just wouldn't leave me alone. Darlingside, from their 2015 release Birds Say

And one more. Kevin Morby with a song from his 2016 release Singing Saw. Incredibly, Meg Duffy, who just shreds the guitar in this performance does not appear on the studio album.

So, goodnight 2016. Looking forward to again employing the angle.