This winter, I had the opportunity to fish in some far off, for me, and unfamiliar ecosystems. It was a blast hooking tarpon and redfish, seeing where cyclids live how snook in ponds are spooky. Tasting the salt air on your lips and protecting myself from sunburns but I finally got back to what I am used to this time of year, and I realized this weekend that it’s what I truly enjoy. While the March sun was strong, the north wind coming down the river had the bite of winter still on it and the morning slush of the river had us waiting for an early spring day warming. We did what people in our area who chase running fish call “trib-hopping” Moving from stream to stream trying to catch the “Run” just right. While it was a bit early for these runs to be fully established, rumors and innuendo pointed to fish in a few creeks. Once the slush cleared, 3 of us took our turns getting our swing on. The fishing turned out to be quite slow, the only excitement of the day, a small pull on the end of my line which turned out to be a small brown. More than enough compensation for a spring day’s walkabout and rumor chase.