Almost Gone

Stoke up the fireplace in the ole cabin...this weeks temperatures of 25 Fahrenheit, while not rare at this latitude, is cold. Fleece hats and scarves are already literally upon us. Waders are becoming a memory. Six months of winter is tough, so maybe the forecast of above average temperatures by NOAA might give us a few more late season hatches to close the dry fly season.
Spawning Brown and Brook Trout are hard to bring up to the surface this time of year but it does happen. The King or Chinook Salmon are done. Bald Eagles are feeding on their remains at many Lake Michigan tributaries. The Browns and Brookies are still active in the rivers.
This fall was exceptionally colorful. The leaves showed their bright almost luminous reds, yellow, and iridescent orange pigments. It was a very cool and wet growing season and the foliage enjoyed the respite from past hot and dry years. This fall was the best in years. The leaves are all but gone now and that Halloween or November grey that sets the stage for a shocking white snowy morning is soon to come. Crisp, calm sunny days in the high 50s F are to be counted on one hand. This week could be it.
The Maple river is very high and dark, but the Pigeon and Black Rivers are still clear and inside their banks. The Elk can be heard bugling in the Pigeon River Forest and one more trout on the line might better help me survive these next six months.