Even after 22 years I am always a little let down in September the frantic pace of summer is gone and the fall flurry has not started. So I have this window of time with excellent weather and a fairly low number of trips. When you run a small business of course the first thing you feel is guilty. “I should be out there guiding someone every day” then reality sets in there is still plenty to do.
I had forgotten what a great experience the fall run of fish can be. This morning in the drizzle with the leaves definitely starting to turn in the background and we had a steady stream of fish in the expected places. The best part about these fish is not only are they actively feeding but they are bigger and certainly stronger than they were a few months ago. I am guessing that the rain of yesterday has started the young alewives seriously heading out to sea and the stripers are lined up to take full advantage of that migration.
I spend time regularly thinking about the business of being a guide. Not only because that is what I have for a business but as I think about teaching others in my seminars I pretty carefully think thorough what it takes to make it all work. After 22 years at it I have a pretty good idea of what a successful guide looks like, From this perspective it has been very interesting to read the comments on the Plum Creek zoning plan submitted by various environmental groups, which I am doing as part of my role representing the Maine Bowhunters Association.
