Artist’s Evening on the Lake
My studio overlooks the lake and contains easels, drafting table, flat files, office and a spotting scope. This wonderful, worn scope was a gift from our children years ago and is used daily. Whenever I take a break from work, my first stop is to check out the lake through the big zoom lens. I’ve watched waterfowl hatch, muskrats build nests, Bald Eagles soar, float planes take off and land narrowly missing unpredictable jet skiers, boats of all kinds some with big loudspeakers creating giant waves drowning fly fishermen floating in one-person tubes. But the best watching of all are the early morning sunrises and evening sunsets.
Lately I’ve noticed increased success among the fishing contingent, towing full stringers of fat trout. I love to fish. We’ve tried to squeeze a few late evening dusk trips into our hectic schedule. So far I’ve been skunked, I haven’t allowed enough time for a good try, but just being on the water at that time of day is refreshing and reward enough. Just before dark most activity has ceased, and a peaceful quiet surrounds the boat as we watch fish surface all around us creating moving, expanding silver rings on the water. Ducks swish, flapping wings overhead moving across the lake to land in the cove, a loon calls. For me this is what fishing is really all about, the experience outdoors on the water immersed in nature, catching a fish is a bonus.
Gail Niebrugge, Pointillism art