Category: Fly Fishing

The spring is in the air. There is a lot lining up this season to give us one of the better seasons for fishing here on the Yakima River.

Let’s talk about what my trouty senses are picking up on shall we:

First the snow pack. Last year at this time we had over 200% snow pack. Way above average. Which gave us some of the highest and coldest water flows through June in over a decade.

This year, we are at 96% snowpack today. Right around normal with a few more storms to come through before April. This means we will have nominal flows in the river. Consistent flows is our first boon to the season! Now that’s a prediction, and it’s gonna be in flux, but the conditions are lining up pretty nicely.

Moving on to the weather. Last year, it was cold, snowing, and raining into March. This year, we are looking at just above average precip…meaning a little more rain this spring and a little colder. About 30% colder and wetter. Which means low barometric pressure and cloudy warmer days. Almost muggy for the spring… which are ideal conditions for spring fishing!

Let’s talk about food. We have had really good skwalla hatches the past few seasons, and this year is shaping up just the same. Already, they are near the bank staging to hatch. I give it 10 to 14 days. I say that every spring, but this feels right. March is looking to be a banger for skwallas. We also get BWOs here soon. Especially as it the air temps rise and that cloudy and wet starts to roll in. With a high probability of prime conditions for head hunting days on less spooky trout with small abundant mayflies…sign me the fuck up anglers. Let’s go. It’s maybe 20% of the time on a good year that we get those kinds of days and conditions for head hunting pods of trout. Streamers. Over the years, I’ve put the big streamer stick in clients’ hands as well as my own to catch monster troots on swung and stripped meat. The spring offers a lot of food for very hungry trout.

Now let’s talk about the trout this year. 2020 was 3 years ago, we had a massive spawn in 2020 and our trout had literally zero pressure during that time of the season. Those fish that were born in 2020 are mostly adult size and sexually mature. And they are the majority population of trout now. I’d sat more than half the trout per mile are in this age range. And the size is 15 plus inches and heavy. And mostly females. Sexually mature fish spawn, and they eat. As they wake up, they are going to smash food and move around a lot as they start their first spawn. This works to our advantage as anglers in that we have a good population of healthy big fish and ravenous behavior pre and post spawn. Now we don’t target active spawners, but they got to eat before and after, and that helps up the opportunity at fish on the fly.

Some of the best encounters with wild trout happen during the next 2 months. As fish wake up and get trouty. Skwalla eats are some of the most explosive from cover eats that these trout do. Full body lunges for big, easy meals. The battles on a streamer rod in the spring are unparalleled. Into the backing kind of shit. Consistent nymphing, and the higher possibility of headhunting, along with fewer boats than other times of year, especially during the weekdays, and everything culminates into some of the best fishing the Yakima has. The spring had become a favorite time of year for me.

So let’s talk about dates, anglers! Because we are trying to fill that schedule! I’m limiting days to 150 to 175. With the possibility of good caddis fishing in May, I’m gonna stick around until Memorial Day and chase those evening eats, so book those Mother’s Day Caddis Days and May dates. March has openings and they are during prime times.

March Dates:

March 1st-10th. Let’s get some of those dates booked up. Early, first dibs, chance at those big number skwalla dry days!

March 13th-16th. During the week, right in the thick of it all.

March 28th and 30th. Possible March Browns getting going, colored up trout, aggressive pre spawn eats.

April 4th-7th. March Browns popping off at 2 pm. Excellent nymphs pre hatch, last days of skwallas.

April 10th-14th. Prime March Browns!

April 16th-21st. Big cutties prepping for spawn, streamers with a little bit higher water, March Brown epicness.

There’s more dates in April after that. But that’s what’s open coming up. I highly recommend those half days during the skwallas. Walk and wades are also available. Let’s get on the water, learn some stuff, and chase trout!

See ya riverside anglers!

Tamarack

I’ve been out for a week working on camper related stuff. Camper is finally done. Only a few minor shenanigans and a 2 days longer than expected. But the home base is in good shape.

I’m back on the river. Landed yesterday morning in the LC. Got camp set and decided to swing a run amongst the crowd.

It was busy yesterday for February but expected. It’s sunny and warm. Highs in the upper 40s almost 50. Sun stays on the water longer now and each day that increases warming and waking the river up. Life is beginning to blossom. Birds are here getting twitterpated, bugs are starting to fly about.

While walking the river, I found skwalla nymphs within the first 3 feet of the bank. They ate starting! The Skwallas are on the move. Water temps are still around 40, but I expect that to start its incremental rise each day moving forward.

It’s happening, and I definently know the procedure. I get to fish for the next 2 weeks. Knocking the kinks out and getting the body and mind set for guiding. March isn’t far away, anglers, and while guides are already working, I’m not jumping in until consistency and water temperatures are on my side. While February’s fishing is typically superb from the 15th on, but it’s still cold, and it’s not spring yet. There’s a huge difference between February and March in terms of what the river is doing. More bugs, warmer temps, spawning behaviors, regular feeding, and response to insects. By March, all the fish have transitioned out of the winter, and the whole river is alive and moving. Just more and better opportunities for anglers and this guide. Something I’ve learned over the past few years. And last early season and spring was much different. We have a slightly lower than average snow pack. It’s been less wet but still cold compared to last year. We had snow in April last year, so there is still a lot that can happen over the next 2 months. But it seems that this spring is gonna be pretty normal for weather and water! Which means consistency, which means better fishing.

Sculpins are still spawning, and more will as the next 2 weeks progress. Water is warm enough now for it to be happening river wide. Skwallas are moving across the watershed, Blue Wing Olive Mayflies are coming soon. Saw a few flutter off in the sunshine yesterday.

It’s about to get crazy out here. And it’s busy already. I reccomend week days. Use those sick and PTO days. Not enough Americans do. They go unused in mass each year we get further from 2020. That’s your time. Use it to come fish if you’re an angler. Get a half day in and just hit the good times. I’ll take care of it just reserve a day.

We are going to get creative with floats, avoid boat traffic, leave the boat overnight to get easier access to different stretches, get out of the boat and really work water, teach, we are going to teach a lot this season. I’ve got a good chunk of clients that have become excellent anglers, its time to level up and learn harder stuff, target more challenging fish, have me hold hands less and let anglers dissect and analyze water prior to fishing, get it done in one kind of thing.

The new anglers bring em on. I’ve seen a slew of just shit habits and crap casting and poor knowledge over the years. Too many anglers that have had guided experiences and come out with a lack of basic skills. Not over here in my boat. While I’ll always out you on fish, and give you opportunities, you will step out of my boat with a better understanding of fly fishing for trout. You won’t need me to catch fish after a day with me. I’ve got plenty of clients that can attest to that. You come fish with me because you’ll learn more and I’ll help make you excellent.

But if you’re intimidated by costs, the guided experience, my beardy face, the industry, the cast, whatever it may be, that is holding you back. Reach out. Let’s chat about it. I own this business, just me. I run it how I see fit and fly fishing should never feel like you need a password to get in. Kids are always welcome, too. I’ve even had babies come out with parents! I am one of a handful of guides that teach the younger anglers around here. Got three kids myself who fish and row. I accommodate anyone who wants to learn the craft of fly fishing. My boat and the river are safe spaces, and I want to see more new anglers along the banks.

It’s here’s anglers. Let’s go. Book trips, make plans, get outside…play. Keep your lines clean, stretch out those leaders, organize that fly box, dust off that whip stick of a rod, lace up your boots, strap on your wading belt, grab that net…seriously don’t forget it or buy it if you don’t have it, and get after it anglers. It’s time.

March has open dates. I really recommend weekdays to avoid boat traffic, but that’s kind of known here on the Yak. I hope to see you riverside, wave, holla, say what’s up I’m around. You’ll see my boat here driving up and down the river roads like always!

Tamarack

The early season is here. Late January ushers in trout fishing. It’s slow, it’s cold, but it beats sitting around doing nothing. I’ve been prepping myself for the guide season in January and February for the last nine years. I get to fish for myself a lot more in the early season and spring before things get crazy. I had started guiding by this time last year and am grateful I am able to take my time getting back into the rhythm of things before having to guide and produce at level. This will be my last winter here on the homewater. I’ll be in warmer salty-er pastures come late October.

Fishing this warly in the season isn’t my favorite. I’ll be straight up. It’s tougher, it’s fing cold, and the fish don’t have food on the brain yet. Water temps are still low enough that trout metabolism is at its literal minimum. Trout are not going to expel energy for much until water temps rise up closer to 45 degrees and above. This means trout are in winter lies. Or the slow, deep water. They are bunched up in big pods, basically doing the equivalent of hibernating in trout form. They eat but they don’t move much. Literally has to be in front of their face. A good early season is 4 to 6 nice fish to the net. That’s a good day before March.

There isn’t much food, and there is no need for trout to move for it or seek it out anyway. It’s funny how nature works that way. As water temps crest 42, the river bed starts to wake up. Caddis and stoneflies start to move about slightly. Mayflies perk up under rocks. They aren’t really doing much. Just taking their time coming alive. As things start to warm above 45 degrees underwater, the place comes alive even more.

Bugs begin feeding, moving around- stoneflies, skwallas, and salmon fly nymphs begin to migrate from the deep boulder gardens towards the bank to become adults, mate, lay eggs, and die. During this migration, they feed and are fed upon ravenously. This is when trout season officially commences. Usually, this is late February or early March. It can take 10 days to 3 weeks for the river to wake up. It also moves upriver, this warming trend and river coming to life. It starts here in the LC and slowly works its way upriver, and by late March or early April, the whole watershed has spring in full swell.

As this happens, trout do two things. They become hungry, and they begin to move about more. They become food responsive dictated by their environment. They seek out food as their metabolism increases with each increment of a degree in warmer water temps. They begin to behave differently. As many this season are of spawning age. This means they also do another thing. As water temps get closer to 50, trout begin to focus their behavior on spawning. They forgo a lot of normal trout behavior during this time. They become ravenous for food prior and post spawning. They also move about the river more during this time. Moving towards spawning areas but also general movement towards feeding areas, shelter, and the normal trout movement.

Moving means spent energy, which makes trout feed. They seek out and move for food during this time with reckless abandonment unlike any other time of year. They need to eat for the process of spawning on top of everything else. This means they become ‘stupid’ for flies. What it truly breaks down to is trout become incredibly respondent to food because they have an appetite that survival depends on. Not just their own survival but their genetics and offspring. The desire to reproduce makes trout seek out and hunt food, eat opportunisticly and ferociously.

Sexually mature fish are larger, and springtime is your best chance at getting shots at them. Doesn’t matter what you throw, they wanna eat. Dries, nymphs, streamers, it’s all on the menu. These fish are harder to chase later in the year. After a season of anglers throwing flies at them, each generation of fish gets ‘smarter’ to the fly. PHD trout. The Yakima is known for it. And with how much pressure these fish get, anglers with skill and with good instruction can excel on this river. Again, this is a behavioral response to all those casts and flies each day every day from March to October. The fish aren’t as sensitive or ‘smart’ to anglers in the early season, and the conditions described above as well as weather and river flows and temps are all at the anglers advantage during the spring.

Phd trout is a real thing here, and it happens as fish age and fishing pressure get to them. Fish literally caught 100 times over its life. Sometimes more. In the course of a single Yakima River trout life, they can be hooked into 500 to 1000 times. If you had fake food hooking your lips every other day for 5 to 7 years, you’d learn to be wary of food, too! This fishery breeds those kinds of technical fish. It’s also where my guiding and skill set really come through. Being able to teach and educate anglers and clients is the bread and butter of my guiding, and this river can turn you into a really, really good angler.

I’ve been saying this for a few seasons. Since 2020 when these fish had no pressure. It’s been getting really friendly and chummy out there with the Yakima trout…which means it’s about to get really technical. The Yak cycles like this. I’ve seen it over the course of guiding and over the almost 20 years fishing here. These fish are getting smart. And that’s when this river makes and breaks you. If you can trick them here, anglers, you can trick trout anywhere. The Yakima is still in my top 5 for technical PHD Level fisheries. It’s up there with Silver Creek and the Ausable.

Tis’ why I do love the Yakima and will always fish and guide its waters. No matter where guiding takes me. The Yak will always be the homewater. And aside from January, I do love the spring. As February warms up the basalt cliffs of the Lower Canyon, I get to frequent the slow, quiet banks of the river. There aren’t too many people, an angler or two here and there. A boat or three on the weekends. Eagles stoic, sitting staring at the quicksilver water. Gray and ever moving the glare against the low angled sun. Each morn, the light begins a little earlier, and each eve, the sun lingers just moments more. Every day, I watch the lower canyon try and break free of winters grasp. A snow flurry clutches onto the hillsides, reminding everything that it’s still early. Not yet… but soon. The quicksilver waters inviting, and a wild trout soon to be eager for food.

See ya riverside anglers

Tamarack

Split the cost of a full day with another angler. I’ve set up blocks of dates in March and April with a waitlist for anglers to get on the water for $250 a piece.

Sign up with a $100 deposit to reserve a spot on the waitlist. As they fill you’ll get confirmation of your day and fishing buddy. Only these dates in March and April.

March 20th – 23rd

April 16th thru 22nd.

If they don’t reserve they are open to regular scheduled trips.

Sign up to save. But only if you fish well with others.

The season is booking up fast. Get after it anglers.

See ya riverside anglers.

It has begun anglers. Fishing started Monday with my dumbest missing 4 solid fish on the nymph. Worked the kinks out in the LC.

Camplife has also commenced. Living down by the river until October now. Stoke levels are high. It feels good to be back at it after the off season. The shuffle back to guide mode starts and I get to fish every day I want until March.

Kristen and I hit the river again today. Sunny did a longer float from 10 to 4. Had a wonderful on streamers. Black dark ones with the off color and slightly high water in the lower canyon. 4 fish to net with 3 more missed. Slow swung on the 6wt. Aww ya. I much prefer a streamer eater over the nymph, and when I think winter fishing, I think streamers slow swung and stripped to trout. Juicy.

The first fish of 2023 landed, and I’m back at it. Boat feels good under me. Mine will be riding the river next week. Feels good to shake hands with a big wild Yakima Rainbow. It’s been since October.

Trips are coming in with dates filling up in March and April quickly. Think 3 and 4 months out when booking for prime dates and weekends.

March 12th Kristen with Streamside Coven Co. And I will be hosting a Spring Educational Clinic for $175 per person. $65 additional for gear. We have 5 spots left open. Learn the ins and outs of spring fishing to dust off for the season or to get into fly fishing for the first time! All skill levels welcome.

Come on out anglers 2023 is here! So Troot Yo’Self!

Tamarack

The days are getting longer. Light lingers after 5 pm now. The sun breaks the day a smidgen earlier each morning. The start of my 9th full-time guide season here on the Yakima is beginning. The early season and spring fishing have become some of my favorite times of year to chase trout.

Things are slow to start. As am I these days. After thousands of river days, I take my time more now. Last season was the busiest I’ve done, I started guiding in late January and had out over 40 guide days on the calendar before April ended. This season is different.

I’m limiting my guide days to 150-175 in 2023. 41 days are already booked. I’m also not guiding until March.  Last year’s early season trips were work, it was cold, and I wanted to fish. This season, I’ll be fishing the  pre season. Compacting my guide days to when I know it will give anglers the best opportunities at fish.  But also waiting until the river is more teachable. 

March is when things really start sounding off. The time leading up to then can be very productive but also very unpredictable. It takes more feel and instinct in the pre season, in my opinion. Learning and feeling how the river is changing, how the fish move daily and over the course of the season. This is hard to teach. It ends up being that fishy sense we guides and experienced anglers have. In all reality, it comes down to time and consistent days on the river.

Each day I go out in the pre season, I am learning, listening, and observing. The river tells all when you’re out on it every day. And I spend almost every day riverside. I also need time to get myself physically and mentally prepared for the upcoming season. I’ll be 37 this season, and each year, more care is taken to make sure my body is in shape. What I do for a living is incredibly physical, and not all rowers are created equal, I’ve worked very hard to be one of the better oarsman around, and that takes its toll on the body. Jumping headfirst into guiding isn’t how I roll anymore. I ease in.

That also helps me prepare mentally. Last season showed me that I can burn out on the people side of guiding.  I do get fatigued from teaching and interacting with people. The job is mostly people at the end of the day. So, easing into the season for myself and taking time to settle into my own river rhythm before I start guiding and having the pressure of producing is important. Which really just means getting to go fishing for me.

The offseason has been quite uneventful and easygoing. Exactly what you want out of the winter months. Financially, this was the easiest offseason to get through. The early bookings have been much appreciated. After 8 years in business, the career I’ve chosen has really started to work the way it’s supposed to. My clients are to thank for that.

Last season was nuts. I ran 207 trips. Over a dozen double days, I added 44 new clients to a roster of over 250. Over 1000 river miles floated, some 240 days on water.  I fished new water last season both in my backyard, Idaho, and Michigan, and I boosted my business to a point where I will finally…finally be able to break into the Southern Saltwater Area and guide new states and water moving forward. It’s been a long time coming, and the stoke for this season is very high. Moving towards not just being your local fishing guide.

I’m really looking forward to getting started. I will be living riverside in the LC within the next 10 days. And back to that trout bum life.  Transitioning out of hibernation and back to fishing.  Waking up with the river. It’s also been about 8 plus weeks since I’ve touched a fish. I finally started feeling the urge to chase fish this past week. The only reason I didn’t go out was because I got sick. 

Here we go anglers. I start dusting off the gear and prepping for the season. It’s already filling up.  There’s 109 days open for the Yakima from March to May 10, July 5th-October.

March is filling up quickly with only 8 more days left open. April isn’t far behind. I’ve never booked out this far in advance, but that is the trend in our industry right now. All the guide outfits are booking dates out way in advance. There is a huge push in outdoor recreation right now. Campgrounds are already reserved for summer dates. I can’t stress enough that making plans way ahead of time is important. Things will be full, hotels, campgrounds, and even the river will be busy as last year if not more so.

I invite you to come out for a guided trip this season.  Spring fishing is some of my favorite and gives anglers the advantage and best shots at those big ol’ trout. Which we will touch on in the next blog post.  I hope to see you riverside this season anglers.

Tamarack

I’ve been sick with what appears to be covid the past several days. Flies and orders are shipping out just got knocked down for a few days here.

Tamarack

We are coming up on the halfway point of the off-season for us guides. The winter has been pretty chill so far. I spent a good chunk of the start of the winter in Michigan, which helped get me through the first part, which can be the toughest. The body and mind want to keep going, but mother nature says otherwise. It’s takes a while to come down from the season and rest and settle. Traveling makes that process easier. Also, sharing the offseason and living the trout bum life through the offseason has been something I’ve always wanted.

The business takes care of itself, and finally, post covid is allowing me to live close to the way I want. Less stress, slightly financially comfortable for once, and a 2023 season filling up with trips before it even starts. For once… being content…its nice. Takes some getting to used to…my generation has issues when things get comfy…we aren’t sure how to operate.

December brings about the midpoint of the offseason. The offseason shuffle. We hit the winter solstice this week, and slowly but surely, the sun starts to shine longer each day as we move towards the thaw. January will bring more snows, thick ones, and it will get cold. But then it breaks in mid Febraury and gives us a taste before the river takes its time waking up throughout March.

With no pressure to work prior to March this coming year, I get to ramble into the trout season at my pace. I don’t know if it’s how long I’ve been doing this, or if it’s my age, or just how this winter is going, but this offseason has been one I’ve looked forward to and now that we creep up to the downhill side of it things start to change.

The first thing I notice is the sun. It starts to wake up earlier, and my body starts to reset its internal clock to match. The days start to get longer, and as someone who spends 80 percent of their time outdoors, you feel it. As we get through January, the itch to get out increases. The days have a other hour to them by then. When February hits, the sunny, warm days are usually fished. If it gets close to 50 degrees, it’s fishy in February. As a guide, I have to perform and produce when guiding starts. So, I typically spend February prepping for the season. Get the chops back up. I haven’t touched a boat in 3 months by February. So, each week, wading and rowing are important no matter the fishing just to get back into shape for the year. If you don’t, the chances of hurting yourself in March are much higher.

Spending 10 to 15 February days on the river gets you ready. Fishing in the cold works the winter insulation off the body, gets the muscles fired up and working slowly. I get familiar with the boat, work, out any kinks or maintenance issues, give myself time to check gear, establish what needs replaced, and tuned up. All part of guide work.

I also get a chance to feel out the river. She tells you a lot as she’s waking up. I feel out when bugs hatch, I’m able to determine fish movements, water temps start to change, food starts to move, fish start thinking about spawning. All these things start to show themselves and give me a picture of what the river is going to do as we move into the spring. When you pair those 15 days, with a handful of years of experience, watching the snowpack, 10 to 3 month weather forecasts, air temps, river flow, and barometric pressure predictions, and you can get an idea of what goes into guiding and how I prep for the season.

As the winter subsides, the brain wants to be in that space again, constantly troubleshooting and prorblem solving. By February, I’ve had a long enough mental break. I want to be moving again, both physically and mentally. The cabin fever and sitting still, 4 walls, feeling trapped, it’s ran its course, and it’s time to get back into the guide life.

The holidays approach, and I take a little break from the social media stuff. I tie through the next 5 to 6 weeks. I’m doing holiday stuff. I even have a trout bum Christmas tree. My kids will be here for New Years. I’m planning a trip to Florida in January or February prior to the season starting. Not a bad offseason anglers.

With March and April dates filling up quicker than any previous year, I’m stoked to get to the 2023 season. I’ve got a goal to book 75 to 100 trips before the end of April. Fill out the schedule. I know there’s enough after doing so many last year. I love spring fishing more and more each year. It’s less crowded, and it’s consistent fishing compared to summer. There are big trout all colored up from the cold water and the spawn coming. There’s BWO and March Brown dry fly headhunting, and aggressive streamer takes. Plus skwallas.

As December rolls through, I wish all of you a Happy Holidays. Thank you to everyone who continues to support your local trout bum guide. Enjoy time with loved ones and those you hold close and dear. Be kind to one another. I’ll see you riverside after the thaw anglers.

Tamarack

The guide life is fast-paced. At least the way I do it. I live almost every day on the water. From February to October. And eventually, during the off months, too. There is little time for much else during the season besides guiding. All that guiding encompasses the physical work, the mental work, the patience, the driving, the lack of sleep, the grind a guide goes through to perform, produce, and entertain. It’s a lot, it’s fast, it’s constantly changing, and leaves little room for much else when it’s guide season.

The off-season becomes important for that slow down of things. The waking up late and sleeping 10 hrs a day. The lack of movement, there’s a lot of nothing that goes on. During the season, I’m never sitting still. Always moving doing something. I take my time in the mornings and evenings, enjoying the actual time I have to just settle, hover, and enjoy it. I don’t get that during the guide season. Things get done at a lieusure pace in the off-season. I worked hard to be able to enjoy 8 weeks of things moving a little slower.

It’s important to rest the body, which I am still feeling little tweaks and strains from physically. And I do. But also resting the brain. It’s a lot to dial in trout, teaching, coaching, setting lines, rowing, managing, talking, observing, and all that fun stuff. So, resting the brain is necessary. It’s also a time to reflect on the business, see where it can improve, change things, expand, and think about different ways of sharing fishing through guiding. It’s a time to think creatively and get outside the box to keep things fresh and growing.

The off-season is also a time for me. I get to fish a lot, but I give my all to guiding, so this time of year, I take time for stuff I like. I still play a decent amount of video games, I tie flies for work and pleasure, do some reading, Netflix, and chill. It looks like a whole lot of nothing from the outside, but there’s more going on during the off-season than it appears. And I work. I’m a small business owner. I work most days for a few hrs. It’s not near as much during guide season, but this winter has been busier than usual. I’ve never had 30 days booked this early. And I live off of guiding and selling flies. I don’t do other work. This is it. Full time career choice. So it’s nice that the hard work is paying off and allowing me to live the lifestyle I set out for. The off-season has given me time to think on that part of guiding.

The slow down, the quiet, the chill. That’s the offseason for me. It’s not always easy, and sometimes others think I’m aloof, don’t care, or am lazy. But it’s not that. It’s just the time I get for me, and I take it seriously.

Skwalla Special Dates are booking up! $375 5hr 2 people float trips for March.

April dates are filling up, too, for those juicy March Brown Mayfly days. I’m only booking 150 guide trips on the Yakima this season. I’ll be gone May and June during high water.

There’s a plug for work stuff. We will also have new wading options and clinics this season!

Till next time anglers.

Tamarack

The desire to explore, to discover, to experience. A very important piece of what makes us human…our ability to wonder. To be curious. Our travels take some of us to water. Water is an integral part of what makes us human. It’s necessity, its ability to bring us peace, sustinence, strike fear, bring forth industry, be tamed to an extent, water is filled with wonder and connects us all.

Water. In a river. A river that flows from high mountain tops. Trees like a think blanket abide here, with just the stone faces of the mountains peeking from their evergreen slumber. Small waterfalls and brooks feed the start of our river. A small tarn seeps nearby, the bugs buzzing above its glassy surface. Boulders break up the river as it cascades down the mountainsides, the tree roots gripping and grasping along its banks. The river is fast, a torrent in places, angrily pummeling the rocks, the stones stoic, and steadfast as they bathe in the cold mountain water.

A cacophony of current, rapids, riffles, and swirls, with the sounds of insects humming, birds singing, a deer snaps a twig as it walks through the brambles along the bank. The river singing, breathing, hosting life in all directions, with everything it touches. It connects us all. A muskrat builds a small dam, fish frolic, and dance among the bubbles as the river carves its path downward and forward. An otter peeks its head, an Osprey chirps from its perch. It is not quiet, but the sounds of man absent. The sun warms the woods, the forest smelling of pine pollen, sap, warm dirt, and that distinct smell of a river rolling through.

The temperature of the air is cool along the corridor through the forest the river creates. The heavy conifer branches create a canopy the sun just breaks through, the rocks along the river cold holding onto the early morning, wet with dew, as if perspiring away the morning hours. An elk passes through the current on its way from one ridge to another. Drinking lightly from the water before cautiously walking into the woods. A squirrel chatters, a fish jumps for an insect, the river continues on.

Our river slows and widens, and a small, sleepy town sits along its banks. A valley forms, food is grown, as are animals, water feeding the town as it meanders now, grass thick like animal fur along its edges. Cotton woods hold tight and give the river shade from the warm sun. Beavers swim and tinker away at dams, fish abound, and the river grows. Another river joins ours further from the sleepy little town. The river spands the valley in places, wide and shallow, with riffles between sweeping bends. The water slows more as we meet a small man-made dam. Drawing resources from the river to feed industry. A lake forms, we see boats, people playing and enjoying the river.

The river continues on flowing from the dam into a canyon. Sheer walls of red stone hold the river in place. Slow and deep, the river rolls onward. Bighorn sheep looking on and down at the river from the steep walls they call home. An eagle laments as it is spooked from its perch by the sound of a car driving by. A road follows our river, above the canyon, looking out at a vast valley. The river and road twisting and turning in unison as they streak across the landscape. Eventually, our river is alone again on its journey. Flowing through shrub and sage land. It meets fellow larger rivers and joins in a journey oceanward. Breathing, flowing, giving, and changing as it moves further towards its end.

We all have a river. That river. Our river. Mine looks like this when I think about it. Each of us has our ideal water that brings us that sense of connection. Something that fills us. I have bore witness to many types of water. Our ideal water can change as we discover, explore, and seek out experiences and connections through water. When rivers are running cold, with ice and snow, fish sleeping, and the life a body of water brings; the song a river sings are more subdued. Muffled by the winters embrace. Think of your ideal water. Imagine new things to discover and explore. Seek out adventure and new experiences to chase when the thaw comes.

Tamarack