An Outdoorsman’s view on the River

Tuesday was the second day of autumn. I arrived home from work with a dozen chores which needed to be tackled. One look at the river and that line of thinking was swept away by the river current. I shed my work cloths and boots, trading them for shorts and sandals. I was in the boat and on the river with no second thoughts or feelings of guilt. I could not believe how perfect a day it was to just relax. A few perch came my way, not enough to bother with. There was not another boat in view as I watched the sunset and felt the rapid cooling after the suns departure. That is kind of how the rest of my week went, carefree and casual.

Each day was warmer than expected for this time of year.  I watered flowers on Friday afternoon (for the weekend) and encountered a surprise. A salamander was resting on the yellow cap of a water outlet. It seemed to be relaxing in a cool dark place and was not upset with me spying on it. It allowed me to get quiet close for a good photograph. Various flights of migrants were heading south, pausing here to fuel their boilers. Grackles and starlings gathered in the tops of oak trees. They looked to be organizing matters for the journey ahead. Kingfishers have increased as well and I have been seeing them all along the river. The delightful song of summer birds will soon be a distant memory for us in the North Country. The colors will be leaving eye level and captivating us in the tree tops.

My bride’s flowers are still going strong. This week the pink hibiscus is the center piece of the yard. My pap planted some long legged yellow flowers that are naturally prolific. I dig them out and the next year more return. Bumble bees of various sizes are gathering the pollen from them, in a rush to beat the first frost. We ducked the first frost along the river, which was a relief to me. I had a late planting both green and yellow beans in blossom. They were protected by the river and I have been picking beans every other day this week. Those babies are going right from the bush into freezer bags. I have decided to leave the beans intact, opting to keep the ends on them. I am hoping that it will help to keep them ‘summer’ fresh and full of flavor.

Some fish came my way this weekend. I purchased some crawfish to try a favorite spot for smallmouth bass. I only used one crab on Saturday morning and it lured in a dandy 19” small mouth. She was a strong fish and dug deep into the river current. It took some patience and time to revive her. She swam back into the depths of the river in good shape. Later I jigged up 12 perch all over 9” in size. I caught them on a 3” rubber minnow which they could not let go by. It worked again today as I brought home another 24. That was my goal when I started out. I did very well until I caught the 23^rd. Then it was one small perch after another, nothing was over 8”. I began to think that by the time I was done my son would be married and the ice would be on the river. Finally one more came to fill my goal.

Over the last few seasons the perch seem to pickup as the leaves on the trees begin to change colors. I don’t know if the water temperature is what makes them active or if the minnows are on the move. Either way it is always amazing to be a part of it. I noticed a sugar maple this week, reluctantly giving way to autumn. It had predominantly green leaves and then yellow and finally gold leaves. The colors were bright and crisp, not unlike the days ahead. As the leaves on the trees change so do my priorities. The first of October will be the beginning to my days afield. I will have company, old pals who enjoy the fall as much as me and for just as long. We will log some miles, poke around admiring the view and perhaps bring home some fine table fare.

After a day of rigorous activity will come a hot meal and long conversation. My pup Zoey will be curled up on a lap or in a chair, with her own memories of the day. The bird season is first on the autumn agenda. Pheasant, turkey, woodcock, grouse and then waterfowl will be open by weeks end. It all goes by too quickly. With so much to do it can be hard to decide what to look for on a given day. Many times I will start out with the dog and encounter all of the species. She will not swim, so ducks are out when she is with me. She is good at finding and flushing grouse, the problem there lies with me. If I hit one of those maze flying rockets a year… it is a good year. Woodcock I do much better on, the dog will find a downed bird but will not pick it up. Even when she sits right over the top of one it can still be hard to see.

Just a few weeks after the bird season is underway, deer season comes into play. They coincide here in the north and I have to choose the best times to chase birds. I will wait until mid-morning or early afternoon when the deer hunters are out of the woods and my shot pattern will not cause a problem. Then there is the matter of me getting some venison for myself. I plan on filling the two deer management permits I have and perhaps the buck tag as well. I may even get my muzzle loader out for the early season, to secure one for the freezer. With the prices on meat, especially beef, I will utilize the renewable venison resource to the best of my ability.

Winter will arrive and I will have my summer beans, various fowls and venison to dine upon. Yummy stews from the crock-pot, rare red steaks on the grill and home made sausage for breakfast. Some roasts will be in the mix and a few of those will become corned venison. Just the thought of all that fine eating is reason enough to get out of bed before daylight! I always dream big just before the season, how much of comes true is yet to be known. I’ll climb my hills, paddle my streams and cross over into winter… a happy man.
 

Mike LaDue