Tuesday, May 11, 2010

As I drove south on Sunday afternoon I realized that I could pass by the Frost Valley YMCA, a rather remarkable place for environmental education situated on the west branch of the Neversink. I had met the head of the education program when I was doing my book, and I had always wanted to fish the river there—guests are allowed—so I figured that I would stay there for the night, since I knew they had rooms available. The weather was ominous as I approached the spacious grounds, but it was clear when I turned in to the main administration building at about 7 that the place really hadn’t opened yet. I finally saw one fellow walking but he couldn’t give me permission to fish so I gave up on the idea and went bike riding, the wind strong but the exercise needed. After that I drove back to Monticello to the Super 8.
Monday morning was glorious, a few scudding clouds contrasting the blue sky. My only task was to mail the photo disk to the editor of Kaatskill Life, and I took care of that in the Post Office in South Fallsburg. After that I went and played 9 holes of golf at Tarry Brae, a course I have challenged many times—it usually wins, I must admit. I was hitting the ball quite well and I enjoyed every minute.
Now it was time to head to the Neversink Gorge and see if I could catch a fish. In the past I found that in mid-May the trout usually became active in the early afternoon. I took a quick nap then got into my waders and walked down to the pool I had fished on Saturday. I heard black-throated greens and blues, and there were wild geraniums and field mustard along the bank. After trying a dry fly for a few minutes I switched to a black wooly bugger and very shortly caught a feisty twelve inch brown. I rested on a warm boulder for a few minutes reading the novel The End of Summer and munching on a granola bar. Then I went back down the pool and caught a solid fourteen brown. Two fish were plenty so I packed up my gear and headed back to my truck. I was driving slowly out when I encountered two hikers. They were new to the gorge and when I heard they hadn’t seen High Falls, I offered to walk down to the falls with them. They were both third year law students and they thoroughly enjoyed the stunning falls. They decided to hike some more and I offered to meet them tomorrow to give them a lesson in fly fishing.

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