Friday, June 13, 2008

Damselfly - Time For A Try

"In that eternal search for evidence of a just and beneficent God, we present for your consideration a simple insect, the damselfly.

At precisely the time when rivers are overflowing their banks and the high country remains wedged in snow and ice, this compassionate being sends relief to frustrated fishermen in the form of what may be the perfect bug.

For a period of about a month during late June and early July, it is the thing that drives fish wild in shallow lakes and ponds. Fish that appear obstinate at other times of the year suddenly play the grand fools when damsels begin moving about.

There can be no better example than that morning a couple of years ago at North Delaney Butte Lake, where a population of very large brown trout embraces a proud reputation for all-around mulishness. Expecting the usual difficulties, an angler wading deep and casting long into the lake suddenly is aware of commotion behind him.

He turns to see several big fish wallowing like pigs in shallow water, caution thrown to the wind in a feeding frenzy. There can be no doubt as to the cause. The proof is creeping up his waders, down his shirt collar, into his hair.

Through blind luck, he has wandered into the middle of a full-blown damselfly hatch. Never before or since has he found so many big brown trout so easy to catch..."

Read more of Charlie Meyer's great article here.


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