by Steve Galea

If you live with an angler, you probably have a sense that the fishing season is drawing near. This is very likely fueled by the clues that you might see in and around the house.

For instance, Jenn has recently noticed that there are four fly rods tastefully adding to the decor in our living room. And, for added flourish, there’s also a trout net on the dining room table.

Keen-eyed as she is, she has also observed that, more often than not, I have feathers and fur in my beard these days from tying trout flies.

Of course, Jenn is an old hand at this. She is now so experienced that she can tell me what fly I am tying solely based on the remnant materials in my beard. The other day, for example, she noted that I was tying another batch of marabou muddler minnows. Then she went so far as to ascertain the hook size after examining the size of the deer hair clippings.

But Jenn has endured many trout seasons with me, and I would expect no less. In fact, she is such a veteran at this that she never so much as bats an eye when I use my old wicker creel as a lunch box.

Those new at this, however, are not so well-versed in the clues. So, as a public service, I will go over a few in the hopes that this will clear up some misunderstandings before they become larger issues.

For instance, if you find live bait in your fridge in Styrofoam containers that look alarmingly like the kind used to hold take-out food, it is probably not because your angling half has decided to follow some new Internet diet. 

I say probably, because you can never rule stuff like this out these days, especially if they are “adventurous” eaters. Having said that, it is more likely that those worms are merely being kept fresh for an upcoming fishing trip.

Similarly, if there is an awful smell emanating from your basement, it is likely due to your angling spouse “airing out” his or her waders, which is another key indicator that fishing season is upon us. And, if no waders are in sight, don’t be alarmed. Your angler is probably just cooking up a catfish stink bait.

There are other less subtle clues too. Chief among them is a new fishing boat in the driveway.

Also, fishing will seem to slip into every conversation. For instance, not that long ago we were at a social gathering and one of my spouse’s friends blurted out that she plans on “hooking up with my man as soon as he gets home from his business trip.” So, I naturally assumed they had a fishing trip planned. Which was a harmless assumption, until I asked if it would be OK for me to join in.

The point is, for the observant spouse of an angler, it is not all too difficult to ascertain when the fishing season has arrived in earnest. All you have to do is look around and make the right assumptions based on the evidence before you.

By the way, my wife’s friend said no, perhaps a little too forcefully. Which means, unless I’m way off base, they’ve got a pretty good spot…