Some say skunks make nice pets - as long as they don't spray.

 With a forecast calling for rain/snow on Thursday and Friday, I decided to take advantage of the nice weather predicted for today and tomorrow.  Drove down to camp with the new lawn mower this morning, unloaded it, put away the mower and the weeks supplies and had lunch.  Before setting out I checked the water temps for the past week and headed for a place that had the warmest water. It paid off, sorta. 

Was streamside about 2:00pm, a good hour before the standard start time for early season bugs.  Didn't even have to wait, there were already a few mayflies hatching.  Sat down streamside and watched the hatch increase to a point where I really expected the fish to start feeding.  He did!  One fish rose, came up a second time but did not eat a fluttering dun and then came up a third time to refuse my offering.  That was it!  Sometime during the afternoon a skunk took the opportunity to sneak into my waders where he still resides.  Things quieted down about 3:30 and I spent the rest of the afternoon driving around looking for bugs and risers.  Found micro caddis hatching everywhere but never saw another fish rise. 

During the drive I noted a marked reduction in both the number of boats and fishermen from the 9th when I was last on the river. Friday there were 9 trailers at Buckingham, today one.  Shehawken had 6 trailers Friday, today one.  Clearly the weekend brought no joy to those looking to catch fish.  Without a big influx of Alewives from a  reservoir spill, streamer fishing loses it's effectiveness fast. The lack of bugs and surface feeding fish to cast at makes for a long and expensive boat ride.  Most fishermen have wisely decided to sit home and wait for word of good bug hatches and feeding fish. If the weather cooperates, it won't be long.

In the meantime I'll try to get the skunk to leave peacefully.

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