The Wonderful Days Of October
The bright, brisk days of October bring new energy and vigor for doing yard work, finishing painting tasks from summer, or moving lawn furniture inside. Crappie fishermen, like I am, are drawn to fishing waters.
Most any crappie lake will do. An overnight at a nearby campground makes an October crappie fishing trip even more special. Whether at camp or on the water, I glory in the beauty of October.
The lakes are quiet, with only the whisper of falling leaves, the sounds of an eagle high in a tree, or the occasional motor from another boat with other fishermen out enjoying October too. The crappies are usually hungry. They are storing up for the winter months that are coming.
At night back at camp, sitting close to the campfire holds an attraction that is hard to match. Barred owls, up and down the lake, talk to each other about their plans for the evening. The flames dance and flicker. I shift my cool side to the fire and ponder my place in the world. October is the soul of treasured memories.
The surrounding woods are ablaze with colorful leaves that reflect their beauty into the water as a double treat. The smell of smoke from burning leaves, campfires, and chimneys drifts through the air.
Deer near the water are feeling an urgency to mate and move restlessly. Bucks vy for dominance and fight. Their antlers clack and scrape. Migrating geese continue their journey south across the autumn skies.
I pause from reeling in crappie and watch leaves flutter through the air before landing on the lake’s glassy surface. My eyes pick out a leaf still clinging to a tree above me. It moves with the gentle breeze until a gust of wind causes it to relax its grip and start its dance to the water. When it lands, it lies there as if resting and then floats away. I watch as long as I can. I wonder how far it will travel to its final resting place.
With the leaf gone, my eyes turn to the beauty of the trees reflecting in the water. My mind wanders back to all the memories made on this lake with my sons and grandkids. I smile and look up and thank God for that.
Leaves continue falling and now cover the water like a multi-colored blanket. I soak in the beauty of it one more time. I have my limit, so I start the motor and head back to camp to pack up and head home.
When I am not out bowhunting for deer or fall turkey hunting this month, I will return many times to this lake to have plenty of crappie in the freezer for winter. I love retirement. It allows me plenty of time to savor the great outdoors every day I possibly can. That is especially important during the wonderful days of October.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
“October had tremendous possibility. The summer’s oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures. They made me believe in miracles.” ~ Sarah Guillory, Author
