My Bags Are Packed I'm Ready To Go - - - -

 

Woke up this morning and checked the obituaries, didn't see my name so it appears that I've made it to 82.  Jean and I are still down here in the Florida Keys where the process of "summer proofing" our house is nearing completion. Our current plan is to head north Tuesday with arrival in Lafayette scheduled for two days later.

The fishing - The high point of the winter was learning how to throw a cast net, (to catch pilchards to use for bait). Experienced cast netters throw "pancakes", I threw mostly bananas and figure eights. By the time I finally learned to get the net to open consistently the wind started blowing and hasn't stopped. 

The Tarpon have started to arrive and for the last week there have been guides staked out on the most popular spots along the migration route whenever the wind drops below 20mph. There have been small craft warning for the past three days with winds blowing 20 to 30mph.

The bonefish have disappeared from the flats here in the keys and it's been three years since my last trip to the Bahamas. I miss the bone fishing a lot.

Have ridden my bike five miles almost every day and walked with Jean most evenings. She is doing well with her new hip but has shortened our evening walk by skipping one street. Her leg is a little shorter than it was and she needs to be fitted with a lift in her shoe. Somehow the lifts don't seem to stay in her sandals.

I haven't picked up a fly rod since last October and am anxious to get back fishing. If the reservoirs don't overflow, a couple warm weeks could get bugs hatching. If they increase the releases or the reservoirs spill things probably won't get going until late in April. If you go, let us know!

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