Harvest Moon

Weather can be sassy to say the least. The harvest moon coupled with loud claps of thunder and lightning came early Thursday morning. One very close strike jumped me right out of bed at 6 AM. Waiting for my adrenalin to settle down, I meandered to my front porch to see the full moon peeping through the storm clouds. It seemed to be demanding attention for it's celestial performance. The earth and moon in our tiny little solar system take position for the change of the seasons. These are the last days of summer. The autumnal equinox is to arrive on Sunday September 22. Thursdays 80 F plus temperatures were unusually warm. A small respite for the earths northern hemispheres cold temperatures soon to come. Fall...let's enjoy it.
The harvest moon extends the evening sun's last light, casting a golden glow on the fall colors. A balmy light breeze accompanies me from stream to car.  How many trout did I catch, dozens. How big, 9 to 12 inches, but the outdoor experience supersedes all. The electric storms are predicted to pass early Friday morning with more fall like temperatures ahead. 60's F by day, 40's F by night. The sun will be out casting a low angle light illuminating the trees changing colors.
It is the week to fly fish. The trout are active, even big browns in the afternoon. I'm sticking with the Royal patterns and a mayfly size 14 ( white wing / yellow body ). The trout are hitting in the middle of the river, but with spawning coming the big trout will commit even more in the upcoming days. The rivers are all high, clear, and in great fishing shape.  Water temperatures are a smooth 60 F...perfect, so think I...so also do the trout. Jim and I are some what embarrassed with our Thursday evening fishing success. Big, big, and bigger, beautifully orange...trout and the moon!

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