which is as individual as our DNA. Each day brings with it something new and different that can arouse emotions as unique as the day itself. And so it is each time we are blessed enough to journey to our favorite backwater whether it be near or far. Some of my favorite days on the water have been in the middle of a snow storm while giant snowflakes soaked my water “resistant” jacket and left me absolutely frozen to the bone. All the while trout were gorging on tiny midges and readily taking the dry flies that I felt so privileged to be presenting to them.
Standing in the middle of a city that shall remain nameless I am forced to live out the mantra “When in Rome” because the nearest trout fishing, which is poor at best, is hours away. And so I am on
new water in the middle of a strange and undesirable town seeking carp of unknown size or variety. I have just been schooled after a battle lasting nearly an hour by a fish that, by trout fisherman standards
I estimate to be huge! However, I was never able to actually seen this leviathan. I am throwing my rarely used six weight rod with a floating weight forward line and I manage to catch my first drum and few decent bass all on the same bug. I can hear a few bikers and walkers passing by on a nearby path that is
guarded by huge trees but have yet to put my eyes on another person after finding my beautiful hidden cove. Suddenly I hear a rustling in the four foot grass behind me and see several white tail cautiously making their way through the opening. They seem as surprised to see me as I do them. Leaving this place it is clear to me that even in the least obvious of places we can find our own backwaters. The
places where we can become immersed in our surroundings and be taken in by the beauty letting the water do what only the water can do for our souls.
- Daniel Leo Slattery -