March has arrived like a Lion. Can the Lamb be far behind? Traditionally mid-March starts the warmer weather. By mid-month we see the sun longer each day. It is called spring or the Vernal Equinox. I have seen March 17th have temperatures in the 70's F, the down side is, it can also be below zero. I'd like to think a break in the weather is close.
It was just two years ago that March 18th had a week of record warm temperatures in the 80's F. The fact is that an extreme fast warm up might be dangerous with the snow pack so large. Ice dams can block flow raising the rivers far over their banks. High snow piles in parking lots or at road intersections can cause flash flooding. A week of mid 30s F would be a helpful start of the new fly fishing season. A quick warm up could be devastating. Mother Nature has created a scenario of massive snow levels, now let's see what she does to get rid of them.
Smaller inland rivers like the Maple, Bear, and Boyne will take the brunt of the melting snow. They will be blown out with silt and rapid flowing water. Their Steelhead runs might be a little later in April. The larger Pere Marquette, Manistee and Muskegon rivers are always an early season choice for Steelhead runs.
Winter is far from over. March & April are months that can go either way. They can be as cold as February or as warm as May. Thus the next 60 days can be tough on the human spirit. Cabin fever time. One day your clearing the sidewalk with just a shirt on, and the next day your bundled up shoveling snow. Summer is going to come sooner or later and fly fishing will be at hand.
Come on Mother Nature, it's time easy up on the flora & fauna...my winter gloves are worn out, I've lost two knit hats. I dream of wearing loafers while walking on bare ground. Oh and holding a fly rod over open water again.
I think we all have had enough of winter?
It was just two years ago that March 18th had a week of record warm temperatures in the 80's F. The fact is that an extreme fast warm up might be dangerous with the snow pack so large. Ice dams can block flow raising the rivers far over their banks. High snow piles in parking lots or at road intersections can cause flash flooding. A week of mid 30s F would be a helpful start of the new fly fishing season. A quick warm up could be devastating. Mother Nature has created a scenario of massive snow levels, now let's see what she does to get rid of them.
Smaller inland rivers like the Maple, Bear, and Boyne will take the brunt of the melting snow. They will be blown out with silt and rapid flowing water. Their Steelhead runs might be a little later in April. The larger Pere Marquette, Manistee and Muskegon rivers are always an early season choice for Steelhead runs.
Winter is far from over. March & April are months that can go either way. They can be as cold as February or as warm as May. Thus the next 60 days can be tough on the human spirit. Cabin fever time. One day your clearing the sidewalk with just a shirt on, and the next day your bundled up shoveling snow. Summer is going to come sooner or later and fly fishing will be at hand.
Come on Mother Nature, it's time easy up on the flora & fauna...my winter gloves are worn out, I've lost two knit hats. I dream of wearing loafers while walking on bare ground. Oh and holding a fly rod over open water again.
I think we all have had enough of winter?
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