Outside the inch-thick ballistic glass windows of the Trout Underground/Man Cave World Headquarters, snow is falling.
A a couple inches of it. At the very tail end of April.
The birds are pissed.
It’s the kind of absurdity you can only laugh at, which is a good thing, because I laughed so hard I dropped the revolver I had pointed at my head.
And I’m not the only California fly fisherman with a growing distaste for snow.
The white stuff’s like the irritating house guest who just can’t quite grasp the hints tossed their way: It’s time to leave. Really.
Meanwhile, the Underground’s been huddled deep in The Cave, working night and day in a desperate attempt to support Little M’s toy addiction habit.
It’s not necessarily a bad time for the 24 Hours of Work thing; the Upper Sac’s running better than 5000 cfs, which renders large swaths of it unfishable.
Still, all work and no play pretty much makes TC a dull, irritated, ill-tempered boy (try me).
And – as some of you have noticed – the Underground’s been running slowly enough that another move to a different web host is probably on my horizon. And we all know how that went last time.
And once all this damn snow stops falling and gets busy melting, there will eventually be fishing. Lots of it.
See you at the 50 Hottest Victoria Secret Models of All Time Weather Channel, Tom Chandler
Update: A clear sign of the coming apocalypse: It’s hailing. Hard. I’ll update this post again when the earth opens up and locusts pour out.
Think how happy you’ll be come late July when the water comes down to fishable levels!
Don(Quote)
Don’t ya ever travel to other parts of northern california ? Theres plenty of fishable rivers right now in the sierra’s.
shon(Quote)
Not with a new kid and two (not one, but two) web site projects to launch. I’m staying home…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Snowed a little in Salt lake today too- didn’t stick , but I sure was annoyed seeing white at the END of April!…..
Brett From Utah(Quote)
A couple of inches? Oh my.
This incessant whining about the weather is rather unbecoming.
Besides, we need the water.
Odd it is, I’ll grant you. Hail, thunder and lightening nearly all day here in Grass Valley. 70 degrees predicted by Saturday.
Good luck with the toy thing, I never did figure it out.
John(Quote)
John’s right. We do need the water. And we know that you know it. And we know that, even though you know it, it doesn’t matter. You’re losing it. For good reason, we all agree!. But, lets be honest (think your wife hasn’t noticed?)your kid?), you’re losing it. Sure, it’s been a long winter, but–could you not be such a bitch about it?
Come on man, we’re counting on you to see through the pain and let us know when CFS, turbidity, temperature, and hatch appear to be coming together. We know you are essentially unable to be completely truthful with us, but come on! We’re mining for hints here, and you’re whining about being on the scene?
Brad(Quote)
Somebody who lives in a seaside town – who probably hasn’t moved a single shovel of snow all winter (let alone a 200′ driveway’s worth) might want to think carefully about calling me a bitch.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Shon, what’s the point of living NEAR perfectly good trout streams if you have to go and Travel to fish other waters. I’m with Tom, this snow shit has got to stop. Now.
WE don’t need the water, but LA certainly always will, I get that. But WE have to shovel it for now, and that’s what’s got us cantankerous. It’s all tongue in cheek. One day of sunny weather and the anti-depressants and booze go back in the cupboard.
Tom, as far as baby toys go, being frugal, I learned our baby was stoked just as much with innocuous objects like a tupperware bowl and a spoon, than some other fancy plastic $19.99 “toy”. I plan on reminding her of that when she’s a teenager with a credit card.
Dave(Quote)
“Plenty of fishable rivers right now in the Sierras”? Hmmm… maybe one stream, or two. A lesser man might ask one of those questions all fly fishermen really hate to hear; but I won’t.
Ditto Brad’s last sentence of his first paragraph.
I fish the Kern, but won’t be fishing it until, oh, probably the last week in June, maybe first week in July.
I’m booked for Father’s Day weekend at Hot Creek Ranch. Very good chance that it will be bad; too fast, too high. Snow in Mammoth right now. My best day skiing in Mammoth (when I skied) was one May twenty first about fourteen years ago or so.
Kentucky Jim(Quote)
We will gladly take any water in any form (up to and including hailstones the size of Heidi Klum).
BTW, why did they call them the hottest Victoria’s Secret models? Unless VS is selling black sand, iPods and clear air some of those poor girls don’t seem to be wearing anything they bought from Victoria’s.
fishskicanoe(Quote)
This is Thursday the 29th. Just to tell you that I heard this morning Route 5 over the Grapevine was closed due to snow. Sure it will not last long BUT…. It is OK as I m not going fishing anyhow.
Clara(Quote)
How’s ‘em birdies attitudes now?
Kentucky Jim(Quote)