The evening ended with a waxing crescent moon hovering downstream over the Rum River. Blissfulness was achieved at the trip s conclusion, but for a couple of hours preceding the contemplation of being, I was granted reassurance why sometimes the outward simplicity of slipping on tattered wading shoes takes precedence over trailering up the rig.
River fishing is an exercise in both appreciating and understanding the environment at hand.
Not more than 10 yards into the greenery came my first opportunity to sample nature. And by the time I reached river s edge my threatening presence caused a dozen or so amphibians to plummet, lemming-like, into dangerous waters. I quickly surmised that the bumper frog crop must be a dietary staple for river smallmouths, walleyes, and northern pike. Not to mention the belief that amphibians are a meter of an environment s overall health. Ostensibly, Isanti County is in awfully good shape.