04 June 0
6Hi from Baghdad,
The heat has finally driven me off the water. Yesterday’s official temperature was 117. That does not bode well. If that trend continues it will be into the mid-120’s by the end of the month. This is going to be a long summer.
So, we’re going to have to “adjust fire” on class. We’ll have to find a time in the morning that will fit into the instructor’s schedule. It would be great if we could do it inside! Joel will back me up on this…you could easily put two dozen casters in the front foyer [of the palace] and practice to our heart’s content. Unfortunately, it’s the main entrance and we can’t block it. Maybe I’ll check out one of the upstairs hallways or a balcony…yep, that just might do!
Dragonflies…I promised an update. The hatch is over now – too hot. But, for the last couple of weeks we’ve had a wild dragonfly hatch going on in a weedbed in the lake on the east side of the main palace. These are not the delicate blue damsels I’m used to from the Northwest. These are real, full-size dragonflies. The fish have been taking the nymphs and just emerged flies right at the surface at the edge of the weeds. That section of the lake is wired off so you can’t fish there. But it’s a great show and a lot of fun to watch. The most active attackers are the asp. They are really aggressive and will jump out of the water for an escaping fly. The carp aren’t built for that but they will work the surface right at the edge of the weeds. When the action is hot…it looks like a bunch of goldfish chasing breadcrumbs. The water really boils. Like most hatches, it changes a little bit from day to day…and now it’s completely over. But, it was really a hoot to watch while it lasted. We have a great damsel hatch on the lakes near my home. I’ll send you a report from Montana when I go on R&R.
Bob should get “Fish Fear Me” tattooed on his casting arm. Here’s another nice asp he nailed at Lost Lake.
//Bill
Copyright © 2006 by Joel Stewart. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/26/06 17:32:13 -0400.
