Nature can only be a female!

Not only have we seen an increase in the number of Baggots and Rawners, but also noticeable has been the number of, what old ghillies described as “Christmas fish”, those are clean fish [due to spawn this year] which have obviously been in fresh water for some time. I was first alerted to those right the beginning of the season when reports from the Dee suggested good numbers of fish on the opening day. On closer inspection of the photos I could see that many a good many were those “Christmas” fish. How significant is this? Well, all the older guys I have spoke to felt this was never such a good sign, whilst other felt it heralded a time of change.
Looking at the two fish in the photos, although obviously both fresh fish, its plainly obvious one has been in the river longer than the other. I always remember my first Knockando fish being one just like that in the photo, slightly coloured, but a really nice new fish. Baggots, Rawners and indeed Christmas fish have always been present in our rivers but not in the numbers seen this year. For me, it’s yet another obvious example of nature having no yardstick. I smile with a sense of wonder as I watch her, like a master playing chess with his apprentice, throw up yet another conundrum for those poor blind philosophers, an enigma, to further torture their mind and souls. For others, such as myself, I look and listen for simple clues, for like the good teacher; she shows us only what we need to understand! What a wonder she is. So its official, nature is of the fairer sex, fact! Why? Only a female can make man with perfect eyesight appear blind!!!