Along River Road
Saturday I put on an enjoyable 130+ miles on the Harley. Sunday I reserved for fishing with a friend from Pittsburgh. We met early along River Road to do some relaxing smallmouth fishing in the Clarion River.
Along River Road The slow current flows around my lower body
The warm river water saturates my cut off jeans
The morning sun plays peek-a-boo with the cloud cover
Still rising, the banks are shaded by forest greens
Everything appears to move slower in warmer conditions
The birds seem to beat with softer grace
Only the Damselflies show peppiness
darting about when not hovering in place.
Mid river casts needn’t be meticulous
Vicinity is close enough when fishing smallmouth bass
With long timed strokes the fly line unfolds
The popper falls, as if parachuting, upon the surface
Strip, strip, gurgle, strip, strip, gurgle
My frog popper moves as if in plight
Strip, strip, gurgle
The commotion entices a strike
The popper is assaulted from beneath
Water spurts, line tightens, a fight pursues
The calmness of the morning livens
The challenger soon subdued
As afternoon approaches the heat is felt
Sweat beads upon my forehead beneath my straw hat
I feel a cooler breeze against my wet brow
There’s a moment of hesitation before I cast
Deep throated Harleys rumble along River Road
Breaking the tranquil sounds of the river
‘Not today‘, I relinquish the consideration
My frog popper falls gently near the vicinity
of a shoreline rock formation
__________doubletaper
Nick's Sticks smoked well!
