4 Seasons and a Rainbow

                                                      4 Seasons and a Rainbow

                                                                     2/24/25

                                                       

  “Here in Pennsylvania we have the true meaning of all 4 seasons. We have snowy cold winters, the aromas of early Spring, heat of summers and colorful Autumn. Some days we get these 4 seasons, it seems, all in one day.”

 

 Snow still lays on the ground as light brightens the early morning with freezing, below 32 degree, temperatures. As the morning progresses, I walk outside of my house, the temperature rises to above freezing. Not fishing for over a month because of the fridged temperatures and snowy/icy conditions I decided to go fishing with the promise of warmer noon time temperatures. 

 As I reach the parking area I step outside in the 40+ degree weather. I could smell, as if spring is in the air, as the pines, laurel and foliage fill the air with pleasant aromas. As I put on my fishing attire the sun shines down from above like a summer time ball of orange. I can feel it’s heat penetrating through my layers of clothes. I assembled my ‘poor conditions’ fly rod, my Scott SAS 8’6” 5 weight. It’s not that it’s in poor condition it’s just that when the weather is unkind I like using the older rod in conditions like today. I walk to the trout stream and I look across the water. Some oak trees still hang on to their lifeless looking fragile leaves as if not wanting to let them go during the Autumn season. Snow covers the banks assuring that it is still winter in Pennsylvania with ice forms along the waterline.

  I step into the coldness of the moving water and in no time at all I feel the chilling water swarm around my stocking foot chest waders. I cast out into the open water as I watch and listen to the easy rippling water as it tumbles over the shallow rocks and boulders upstream. In time I fish nymphs and Woolly Buggers without a strike while I puff on a cigar. I try using an indicator to detect any subtle strike that never comes. Time ticks away, pleasantly, as I slowly wade my way fishing downstream. 

 I’m able to cross the stream and start fishing, hoping to maybe get a better presentation, on the far side of the creek. I still have no results, thus far, and decide to knot on a Triple Threat Streamer. The first two colors I try doesn’t appear to have anymore appeal to encourage a strike. I knot on another shade and cast it out into the riffling water and let it drift, in an arc, into the deeper outflow. It’s just a little tug but I’m pretty sure it’s a strike and I wrist the rod back for the hook set. Sure enough the line rises off the water and tightens to a struggling fish. He’s not too aggressive in the chilled water so bringing him in and netting him is not too strenuous. A nice rainbow lays in the bottom of my net that survived the freezing winter.

  

 I fish for another hour or so changing offerings often without a strike. Afternoon I call it a day and head to my truck in the snowy, icy parking lot. I change into my driving clothes, wipe my fly rod dry and put away my fishing gear. The sun still shines down but the air seems to get a little colder. I head home relieving my urge to get out and fish. 

~doubletaper