That’s what the trout do when I enter the fishing stream. Not that I’m much of a threat, mind you. My timing is off, and I struggle to get the hook tied on tightly enough with my osteoarthritis. Yet I still find fishing in the stream so enjoyable. On the rare occasion that I do snag an actual trout, for me this is quite a celebration. It’s a good thing that we’re not relying on me for our sustenance.
So not expecting success allows me to put my efforts into astute observation. And this is when I noticed the trout behavior that I refer to as “sounding the alarm.” It happens after I’ve had a tug or two on my line, that distinctive double jerk feel that accelerates my heart rate and dries my mouth. What I’ve observed is a panicked, rushed movement up one way and then abruptly in the opposite direction. It seems that once I see this, they all get the memo and the interest in my bait stops. I’m amazed at the speed in which they move and how this news travels, which is quicker than two ladies gossiping, I might add.
I continue to find all the chaotic structures under the water in the stream to be quite a challenge to circumvent. I’ve heard stories about my dad removing some of these obstacles in his day to improve his odds for success. I don’t have that skill set, nor do I know if this is legal. So those fish are well protected, with their fate based on their desperation for food or momentarily letting their guard down, perhaps wanting to show off their food hunting prowess. Might they know that their odds are good with me behind the rod? I do continue to learn, though. My husband embarrassed me by showing a video clip on his Facebook page of one that got away last year. (If only this were the only one that got away, right?) By the way, he could have helped me net the fish instead of videotaping the fiasco. Anyway, I’m sure it was entertaining to those who took the time to view it. I was grateful that one was honest enough to share a few suggestions with me after viewing this, despite chuckling and trying not to laugh too hard… Thanks Troy.
Another observation I’ve made, and this does not require astuteness, is that up north living brings multitudes of bugs! The hatch is sudden and intermittent depending on the variety. Though the benefits of living here, for us, greatly outweigh this substantial inconvenience and annoyance, the presence of these pesky creatures cannot be denied.
When I was in high school, my mom once gave me a wooden plaque with a frog on it that said, “Frogs have it made. They eat what bugs ‘em!” This profound plaque found its way into the hands of one of my daughters in later years. And these words certainly still ring true today.
So, eating these bugs, more specifically mosquitoes, black flies, no-see-ums, and soon to hatch, horse and deer flies, is not an option, despite being omnivores. And the infamous tick brings next level irritation. Imagine minding your own business, enjoying a leisurely walk through the woods, only to find numerous ticks on your clothing or even your body, including the unmentionables, once you get back home. (They like warm, dark areas… no more words necessary.) So, in ticked off fashion… the body scan tick check has become routine in our home. And pet owners… beware!
Bug bite tip: Applying Vitamin E oil to bug bites works great to stop the itch, reduce the swelling, and promote healing by decreasing skin inflammation. Apply the oil from Vitamin E capsules directly onto your bug bites by rubbing it gently over the bites. Tick bites need to be observed for the classic bull’s eye appearance, which may indicate Lyme disease. After a tick bite, contact your health care provider if you develop a rash, including the bull’s eye rash, or experience flu-like symptoms.
On the positive side, the hatch of these bugs sounds the alarm that stream fishing season has arrived and for the fish, these bugs can be a great draw. So put on your big girl or big boy pants, don your favorite bug spray, toss a mesh net over your face, if you must, and head into the fishing streams. A trout feast may await you if you’re lucky and have great patience.
A word on grubs… Never again! I think I’d eat a worm before I’d try to hook another grub. What came out of that thing sounded an alarm to me… Never again.
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