Pete has gone trout fishing in southeastern Minnesota for years on the day the season opens in April. (Other species like walleye and bass don’t open until May). There is a special place that I don’t dare share where the brook trout are plentiful and camping is close by. In previous years, he and his friend Ron have been snowed, rained and sleeted upon, and even flooded out. These conditions can make for miserable tent camping.
Barred Owl
Generally, his walk is a couple of miles in to his favorite place to fish and nothing much is budding along the way. A couple of years ago he managed to spot this wise fellow in the bare branches.
This year is completely different. I know I’ve been harping about how unseasonably early our Spring is this year, but it’s just such a pleasure to have a civilized end to our interminable winter. I thought you’d get a kick out of what he discovered growing along his walk in the woods last weekend.
Goose on the Nest
He almost passed this nursery by, so well disguised was our mama goose. But she raised her head, hissing, and then attempted to lure him away from her nest. Soon she and her mate will have a flock of downy goslings to teach the ways of the forest.
Eight Eggs
Don’t you love how the parents have tenderly nestled their treasure in the softest down cushioning they could provide?
I took the title of my post from a D.H. Lawrence poem, The Enkindled Spring:
This spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green,
Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes,
Thorn-blossom lifting in wreaths of smoke between
Where the wood fumes up and the watery, flickering rushes.
I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration
Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze
Of growing, and sparks that puff in wild gyration,
Faces of people streaming across my gaze.
And I, what fountain of fire am I among
This leaping combustion of spring? My spirit is tossed
About like a shadow buffeted in the throng
Of flames, a shadow that’s gone astray, and is lost.
Oh, by the way, our anglers both limited out so we’ll be feasting on brook trout in the near future. 
Photos: Peter Wuebker
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Peter and Betsy Wuebker are location-independent professionals who share what they know about travel, simplicity and integrating work with life. 
Brookies are the best! I haven’t been fishing in years, so I think it’s time.
The mama goose and nest were quite the find and photo. I’ve always found Canadian geese incredibly striking and once tried to convince my mom to raise some, but she thought it would be illegal.
.-= Lori Hoeck´s last blog ..Think Like a Black Belt in newsletter form =-.
I’d love to go fishing at least once. We went once when I was young but we fished from land. I’d like to go out on the lake. Sounds like neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet… will stop Pete
.-= Davina´s last blog ..Are You With Relationship? =-.
Hi Lori – I agree, they’re delicious! Yes, isn’t that nest something? It kind of made me forget how obnoxious our over-population of Canada geese can be in the city. I do appreciate some of their behaviors – like their devotion to their mate and broods. Thanks.
Hi Davina – Well, come on down! We’ll take you! You’re right, virtually nothing will stop Pete from fishing any time he can, in any conditions. Some of our best times together have had fishing in the mix.
I plan on going myself in the next week or so.
My buddy and I have been going to our own secret lake. That takes three hours of hard paddling and brutal portaging to get to.
The power these magical, shiny purple-green-silver fish must have…to make grown men go to such extremes to find them!
Great photos! That owl is really eerie. And the fishing stories are very interesting. The camping, not so much.
Hi Betsy .. lovely pictures – the owl – he does look wise doesn’t he .. wonderful colouring. Eight lovely looking eggs too – soon to be baby waddlers learning their craft.
Sounds bliss .. just fishing & then just eating – so fresh .. lucky you!
Our Spring has only really in the last week or so started springing & now after the cold arctic wind has stopped .. it is definitely warmer and the greening is coming ..
Thanks loved the pictures and story of verdancy and profusion starting ..
Have a great weekend .. away from the loved one – but I suspect you’ll have loads to do?! Cheers Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Pevensey Castle, Normans Bay, smuggling and family remembrances … Part 2 =-.
Ahhh, leave it to D H. Lawrence to weave gyrations into even a poem on spring.
Pete must’ve loved the contrast fron last year, foliage-wise.
Does he bring a compass, or a GPS? I’ve been od’ing lately on “I Shouldn’t Be Alive.”. Do you watch that show? Fascinating. Hard to watch, but always rewarding and extremely educational. People can get turned around and lost so easily. I worry about people.
Another good show is Man Vs Wild.
Umm, umm, trout hubby’s favorite! With lemon and butter??
Xo
Loved the poem, the title and the pictures surrounded by Betsy’s great words – tying it all together in one magnificent post….delightful and I say a hearty thank you…
Spring is really quite a soggy mess here after the driest winter in decades. I needed to know that it was blooming forth some where…Thanks
.-= Patricia´s last blog ..Oh for the Beauty of the Earth – Earth Day 2010 =-.
Hi Betsy,
You’re making me hungry. Fresh fish is SO good. Yummmm…
Your story of Pete going fishing reminds me of when I was a kid and my dad would go out real early in the morning. He’s often be home from fishing before we went to school. I can’t remember all of the different kinds of fish he caught, but do remember rainbow trout. We knew what was for dinner on those days.
Thank you for reviving a fond memory.
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Bloggers Rehab – Need To Go? =-.
Hi Jannie:
No GPS or compass. On this trip, we’re never far from civilization and you can follow the creek back to camp.
I am hoping to open the trout season next year on Minnesota’s North Shore. both those tool will be required for a trip into real wilderness.
Love this post, Betsy and Pete! Is there a companion piece about male bonding on trips such as these? When you talk about miserable tent camping, I am not interesting. But I know males are or don’t care.
Mary
Yummy fish! I learned to fish on our farm with my dad and siblings. We used to catch a lot of sunfish and let them go. I love spring time and anything in nature. I think I like Pete!
This post was definitely a feast! The splendid photographs and sumptuous storytelling was exactly what I needed to cap off an insanely busy day. I swear I could actually feel my blood pressure drop several points. Nature is an infinite source of inspiration and wonder. Thanks for sharing your piece of that here.
.-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..The 8 dumbest business decisions: Mistakes they’d like to take back – MSN Money =-.
Hi Friar – Now that’s a remote spot – hope you post photos of your catch! I don’t think it’s extreme as much as it is acknowledgment of all the benefits of fishing, the least of which is the catch. It’s more about getting centered, according to my husband. There’s something about the sound of the water lapping against the bow that proves that, eh? Thanks.
Hi Dot – Yeah, I thought I’d convinced myself that winter camping was something I’d like to try. We did camp an autumn ago when the overnight temperature hovered around freezing. I was reminded why God invented hotels.
Hi Hilary – Yes, old Pete returns home with trepidation, as I usually redecorate or change things up around the house in some fashion. One year it was removing wallpaper that spawned an extensive remodel of a bathroom, another it was painting. This time I confined myself to the sewing machine and slipcovering the sofa cushions.
Hi Jannie – You’re right, the contrast from previous years is amazing. I love all the wilderness shows – even Ice Road Truckers and the one about Extreme Logging. LOL! It’s escape fantasy isn’t it? Yes, a little butter in a seasoned pan and you’re all fixed up.
Hi Patricia – Funny how we’re having things quite dry this year in contrast to you. The blooms are spectacular in my garden at the moment. I am hoping to get some shots before a stray hailstorm does them in like two years ago. Thanks.
Hi Barbara – Yeah, our Michigan roots are showing, aren’t they? My dad taught me to pan fish when I wasn’t even in kindergarten. He would have told you he was the luckiest guy in the world in that he got to go fishing pretty much every morning of the last ten years of his life. I can’t think of too much that would be better, can you?
Hello Dear – If you open trout season up there next year, I’ll be with you. My vote goes for the fishing platform on that little lake we love off the Gunflint Trail. I forget the name of the lake, but I could get there blindfolded.
Hi Mary – I wouldn’t ever speculate on the male bonding thing. We know it happens around the campfire, and hopefully they’re so tuckered out the snoring doesn’t wake them.
Hi Tess – Oh yeah, sunnies, bluegills and perch. Panfishing with a bobber is my favorite. I know you’re headed to Michigan soon. And there’s lots to like about Pete, for sure!
Hi Karen – Welcome to PassingThru! That’s one thing about fishing – it’s great for lowering your blood pressure and saying good bye to whatever else is vexing! And spring – well, I love it more and more. It’s definitely leaving summer in the lurch as to my favorite season. And that’s saying a lot! Hope you’ll stick around these parts!