Weather makes you think of summer

Outdoors in Alaska, by Howard Delo

Two things usually seem to happen to me this time of year. Both are weather-dependent, but one seems more temperature related than the other. I genuinely look forward to one. The other I could live without.

The dreaded event is tied to the warming temperatures and the increased coughing and sneezing that seems to be everywhere. People's reluctance to stay home or keep their kids home when they are ill is normally how I catch the crud.

Yes, I'm talking about the colds, flu, strep throat and various viral infections that seem to run rampant this time of year. When I catch one of these maladies (I am currently nursing a sinus head cold with a sore throat), it seems to hang on forever. When you feel like this, two to three weeks can seem like forever.

I am proud to announce that I have been religiously following my own advice and staying home during the worst of this latest bout with disease. Well almost, as long as you don't count my attendance at a meeting with the Frontiersman editor recently. I did warn him I was "coming down with something," though, so if my name becomes "Typhoid Howard" at the paper, I can always say I warned them.

The second and obviously more enjoyable event that also occurs is a result of the lengthening days, with increasing amounts of sunshine, and the moderating temperatures.

Usually, I'm still caught up in the mindset of wanting to get out a few more times with the snowmachine to go ice fishing. I'm thinking about at least one more trip to Finger Lake for landlocks before the ice starts to rot or that final expedition for pike in one of the remote western lakes. Then my wife, Debby, starts mentioning how the end of winter is fast approaching, the snow is starting to melt, and wouldn't it be fun to go fishing.

That triggers my thoughts about checking out the king salmon gear and shoveling off the riverboat. I start anticipating the coming open-water fishing season for salmon and trout that is "only" two-and-a-half months away.

Actually, to tell the truth, Debby is the one who gets really caught up in this preseason anticipation. She loves to go king salmon fishing and merely tolerates my riverboat driving to get to some good fishing spots.

The fact that my copy of the Cabela's Salmon, Trout & Steelhead 2004 catalog showed up in the mail a couple of weeks ago just adds to this delightful dilemma.

I'll wander out to the garage and retrieve the rods and reels from their winter retreat in the corner, next to the freezer. After a thorough dusting, I'll check ferrules and line guides, and the overall general condition of both the rod and the reel. I'll make sure I had backed off on the drag setting and inspect the reel for proper lubrication. The line gets some scrutiny for any nicks and receives a tensile strength test. This step is critical. A couple of years ago, I watched a married couple (not us) hook-up and loose five kings in less than an hour because of old, rotten line.

Next, I dig out the tackle boxes from their winter resting places and begin a systematic inspection of favorite lures and terminal tackle inventories. The dip net is inspected for condition and any previously unnoticed holes are patched. This is when my shopping list usually gets started. New replacement hooks, split rings, single-hook riggings, snap-swivels and all the other necessary doodads are inspected, counted and, if found lacking in numbers, added to the list for purchase.

After refreshing my memory on the equipment on hand, I then start the serious business of reviewing the catalogs for new lure styles or some new gimmick to make these fishing adventures just a little better.

There are probably worse ways to spend time while recovering from the crud.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist. To reach him, call 352-2268 and leave a message.