When to fish...

First we must determine for ourselves what type of fishing experience we want. For the purpose of this essay, let us decide that we will travel one hour to our treasured stream. What will we endure during our fishing? Would we enjoy it if it rained lightly, heavily, intermittently, steadily? Would we, in fact, enjoy the experience just as much, no matter the weather -- why we might even enjoy it more as the foul weather would be a perennial marker of that day for years to come.

So, let's set weather aside as an impediment to an enjoyable day fishing. What about catching fish, is that good? Well, for thousands of years prognosticators have claimed to know the best times to fish. A.A. Luce in "Fishing and Thinking" (a must read) protests that such declamations are balderdash...and then proceeds through many pages to explain why it is a waste of time to fish when the wind is from the South, unless it is dry... and so on. John Alden Knight was the forecaster when I was a pup; he developed the Solunar Tables and would tell you months in advance exactly when the fish would be biting. Some swore by this method and still use it (see Solunar Tables). But suppose you follow the tables and they say fishing will only be fruitful from 9 - 11 a.m. ? Will you only cast between 9 and 11, or will you still present something enticing to the fish and hope?

Because even with the best of forecasting, the best of fishing is the Hope. A still pond, a mildly leaky pram with squeaky oars muffled, the mist starting to lift off the water as the early sun burns through -- add some Hope and you have a first class fishing experience before you wet a line.

The modern fisherman says "Fish when you can!" I concur, but with a caveat, take all the time from the moment you shut your front door until you open it again (assuming you are not like me, who must go back for his fly reel) and count that as fishing time. Enjoy the drive, relish your hands shaking as you tie on the first fly (mine always do), and if the sun is overhead, don't feel you must be casting, just lie down in the grass with your feet in the water and watch your eyelids for an hour. I know from long experience, that on my favorite river, which runs North-South, after 10 a.m. on a sunny day until 3 p.m. there are only two places where the river curves and the bank and trees are high enough to throw shade on the water. One of them is the only long pool on the river, but most of its hundred yards are dead, you must fish the broken water at the head. So, apart from visiting these two spots, I have time for a rest and a bite to eat. Perhaps the modern fly fisherman might dredge up something with his sinkers and bobbers during the heat of the day, but even with that approach I think he would meet disappointment.

You've earned your day astream, so savor it.