Memories Of Sweet Fern & Brook Trout

It never ceases to amaze me how fast summer travels past. As a schoolboy, I had a tendency to fish summer away. Every chance I had I would hop on the bike and pedal to some remote, brook trout laden water. Beaver ponds were an especially productive wild trout haunt of mine. I have many fond memories of fishing these waters with my cousins, passing away summer vacation.

I've read that smells are more deeply engraved in one's memory than visual memories. Even today, every time I smell sweet fern it brings back a multitude of memories of trout fishing and summer. Anytime I walk through a patch, the smell of the crushed leaves draws me back into the mists of time.

Memories of August, beaver ponds teaming with brook trout, and patches of wild blueberries all come to mind when I get one whiff of sweet fern. In those days it seemed like every other cast produced a ten-inch brookie. Even though it took half the day traveling to and from our fishing destinations, it was well worth it. Those summers during junior high still represent freedom to me.

My only worries on those summer days were being vigilant so I didn't step on a rattlesnake and making sure that I was home by suppertime.

Eventually, summer would wind down with the end of August, and the start of school would be around the corner. It wasn't that I minded school so much, on the contrary, I actually enjoyed learning, but it sure cut into fishing time and summertime freedom.

Nowadays, I'm not so much of a fishing addict anymore. I guess I've just slowly grown used to not running off every day in pursuit of wild brook trout in some remote headwater stream. So when summer starts to wind down, I no longer sense the ending of what back then seemed like a limitless freedom.

Now, the end of August brings with it the promise of milder temperatures. As the first few maples start to lose their conformity with the rest of the green landscape and the black cherry trees start to drop some of their foliage as they turn red with ripe berries, a sense of excitement creeps into my body.

I know it won't be long until the elk rut is in full gear and the whitetail bucks begin to lose their velvet. With the cooler weather, it will be easier to climb the hills and get some scouting done. It won't be long until hunting season arrives.

But anytime my wanderings take me through a patch of sweet fern, my mind immediately goes back to being fourteen and in pursuit of those summertime brook trout.

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On September 4 the Hemlock Springs Cultural Center in Keating Summit will be holding flyfishing lessons from 9 am to 4 pm. The session, "Flyfishing, A to Z," will be geared towards beginners and will be all encompassing, covering many different aspects of the art of flyfishing.

Don Perry, a local guide and fly fishing instructor, is teaching the Hemlock Springs session. Don has had years of experience guiding and flyfishing on local streams. He has instructed flyfishing at local youth field days and also had considerable guiding experience teaching novice fisherman how to fly fish.

This session will be great for the individual who has wanted to delve into flyfishing, but just doesn't know where to start. On September 4 at the Hemlock Springs Center attendees will learn what they need to buy to get started and how to properly use their new flyfishing gear.

Lessons will cover everything needed to become a successful flyfisherman. Fly rods, reels, lines, and leaders will all be covered by "Flyfishing, A to Z," along with the techniques used to fish dry flies, wet flies, streamers, and nymphs. Beginners will start out with learning the fundamentals of casting a fly rod.

Along with the proper flyfishing techniques, attendees will be taught the basics about identifying aquatic insects and matching the hatch. There will even lessons on the fly tying basics. Free meals and refreshments will be provided for those who attend the six hours of instruction.

For more information visit www.hemlockscenter.org or call Bonnie Wood at 814-642- 9341.