I was thinking...

This morning when the sun broke over the horizon I wished I were on the North Branch of the Au Sable waiting for slab cut bacon, fried potatoes, eggs and toast from home made bread to prepare me for the chess game with a trout. I had heard the Hendricksons were on the water but with morning temperatures around 48 there wouldn't be a lot of activity until it warmed up a bit. The weather folk had promised 70 degrees by 3 o'clock. Michigan in May can be anything from blizzards to balmy. And, it can happen quite suddenly.

When I finally get to Michigan this year it will be the beginning of my forty fourth year of fly fishing the North Branch.

Herb Ratliff May 11, 2016