Last year I had the privilege of writing a series of articles for the TenkaraUSA Blog. The first one released was titled "Signs of Spring" - This is a short look into a few points of the article.
"The days are getting longer and the weather is warming up. It’s almost that time of year where the transition away from colder days breathes new life into nature. Along with that, we move closer to those afternoons of watching a trout snatch a fly off the top of the water, inciting the excitement that we all seek. While we may not be there just yet, we keep our eyes on the creek, ready and waiting to cast some kebari onto the water."
With the changing of the seasons I wanted to highlight some observations and signs to look for as the fishing starts to pick up. While it can be different for all the regions, my secondary goal was to encourage the reader to make their own observation of those signs in their local area.
"Bees and other pollinators such as butterflies become more active with the spring, buzzing and fluttering around, collecting pollen amidst the blossoms. While you may find plenty of them close to the water, they also tend to be active around town or in gardens in your neighborhood."
Wildflowers and aquatic plants are one of the signs, and obviously high bug activity and hatches are often followed by hungry trout, but there are plenty of signs that can show up even if you're not near the water.
Between the flora and the fauna, taking a moment to observe the water and its surroundings can never do you wrong. As anglers, there’s always an appreciation for nature and the bounty it holds, be sure to take the time to take it all in.
As anglers, I think there's always a certain appreciation for nature and the experiences that we're able to have and share because of our time out fishing. Looking for signs around town and near the water can offer a closer look at nature, as well as giving us the high sign that the time of year that I imagine we all enjoy is nigh.
If you're interested in reading the full article, you can find it here on the TenkaraUSA Blog.