A Snowy Paddle

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The week started with a few inches of snow.  It was nice to look at, but I just had to go out and paddle about and take in the scenery.

The sky was grey.  The water was dark in the cold, dim morning light.  Every bit of color seemed to be sucked away.  Only the vibrant mango color of my boat a let me know there was still color.  There were a few flakes being blown about.  They stung my face as they landed on me.

The fall winds have knocked over the cattails.  In time they will be wind battered and will turn to fluff.

The snow and frost coated Squirrel Island.   I have not seen any wayward squirrels on it this year.  I guess they learned their lesson and remembered to get off the island before the ice melts.

I paddled up Sucker Brook and finessed my way through the bridge.

The brook narrows considerably here.  There is also very little current.  If there is going to be ice, this is the place I would see it first.

As I expected, the ice was starting to form.  It will be too warm this week for it to last, but I will come soon.

I paddled back out to the river and upstream by the stand of aspens.

There always seem to be mallards in this section, and I spooked a few.

The sun was breaking through the clouds and I could see the bottom on the river in the shallow areas.  There was still green of the horsetail and milfoil.  Little minnows were about, though I have not seen any signs of larger fish (nor have I caught any lately).

I start to head back.  My feet are slightly cold.  I notice that mt hand are comfortable where I have been holding the paddle shaft.  If I move them up or down the paddle I can feel the cold.

Overhead the geese were migrating.  Where they go, I am not sure.  Many stay all winter by the open water of the Finger Lakes.  I noticed a lone great blue heron overhead.  They will be gone from these parts very soon.

I paddle by the Crescent Islands.  The weeds have died back and now the paddling was much easier in the shallow, slow moving water.

The water is now very clear.  You can easily see many feet down in the river when the sun is at the right angle in the sky.

I am always surprised now well mallard hens blend in with the brush and trees at the shoreline.  There are so many time I paddle right by them, oblivious to them until they get startled and take flight.

The snow was already melting.  It got to 60 degF this week.  It will be some time before I see snow by the river.

First Year

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It's been one year since we  moved into the River House.  One year of observing the water and the life about it.

A leisurely paddle upstream to see what is happening.  As one would expect, it is very quiet.  There is very little boat traffic.  The leaves have fallen and many of the birds have moved to other places.

I paddled up one small brook and came across a pile of stick and twigs.  Definitely signs of beaver, but no lodges (as the water level is dropped over 6 feet om this stretch of the canal, there is no practical way for beaver or muskrat to have safe lodges and dens).

The pair of white farm ducks was paddling around just downstream of the Waterloo locks.  I see this pair all the time.  Many of the new 'friends' I've made this year.

As the leaves have left the trees, I noticed the remnant of a wall / chimney.  This may have been part of an old factory.  This is on my list of things to research (time to get out the old topographic maps to see what was there).

The osprey are long gone. I hear a kingfisher off in the distance, but they will soon be gone.  The blue heron are still around, but will also be leaving soon.

We are entering the quiet time.  The mallards and Canadian geese will be about, but they too will leave the river once it ices over.

The aspens stand silent.

On to the next cycle . . .

Fall Paddle

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An early autumn paddle.  A cold front had pushed through.  The rain helped to push the water through the canal.  The jewel weed was still in bloom, but it won't make it through the first frost.

I paddle along the shore.  It is quiet.

The lock is seeing the end of the boat traffic.

There are a few boats at the marina, but they will soon be gone.  By November, my kayak will be the only boat around.

The sumac always let me know when autumn starts.

The old mill is being turned into a museum.  I am glad to see this space get reclaimed.

I paddle home.  I pass under the Ovid Street, Bridge Street and Rumsey Street bridges.

I expect there will be more quiet paddles as the boat traffic leaves.

Late Summer

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Just a few images from the end of the summer.

The smallmouth bass action has been pretty good.  Not super huge fish - most in the 1.5 to 2 lb range.

I can catch smallmouth bass all day.  However, they seem to stop by 10:30 in the morning.  I get the most action on F3 Rapalas.  I catch more on Rapalas than just about anything.  I guess they work for me.

As the sun rises, one can see the weeds and grass.

This will all die back as the cold weather hits.  Fishing will start to slow down soon.

Bassin' Around

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I typically set out in the morning when I go fishing.  I like the quiet.  The boat traffic is light and the water is the calmest.

More often than not, the kingfishers are about.  Their rattling call sound like laughter.  Kingfishers are amazing when they dive for fish.  I guess I don't measure up to them (hence the laughter).

The duckling are now nearly grown.  We see them still banding together along the shoreline.

The consummate fishermen in these parts are the great blue heron.  The wife and I love sitting on the dock watching these stealthy birds stalking fish.

A few mated pairs of ducks are about also.    We also see the Canadian geese from time to time with their families.

The osprey did rebuild their nest and had 2 chicks.  They will be leaving the nest soon.

There is the wing of the other sibling . . .   I never see both birds sitting up on the edge of the nest at the same time.

As I paddle about, the painted turtles are all about in the warm weather sunning themselves.

Fishing has been pretty good lately.  I have had to expand my search area as the weeds are really starting to fill in by the islands.  I have had to fish top-water poppers and rubber frogs in the weedy areas, though other top-water crankbaits and shallow-running Rapalas are still productive.

Like I said, the weeds are pretty thick in places.

The rocky areas near the  bridges and the bridge piers have been good spots for smallmouth bass.  The wife and I also spend a little time casting small Rapalas for panfish from the dock as the sun sets.

Even if I don't catch many fish, it is always peaceful and quiet on the river. . .