Author Archives: rivertoprambles

About rivertoprambles

Welcome to Rivertop Rambles. This is my blog about the headwaters country-far afield or close to home. I've been a fly-fisher, birder, and naturalist for most of my adult life. I've also written poetry and natural history books for thirty years. In Rambles I will mostly reflect on the backcountry of my Allegheny foothills in the northern tier of Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York State. Sometimes I'll write about the wilderness in distant states, or of the wild places in the human soul. Other times I'll just reflect on the domestic life outdoors. In any case, I hope you enjoy. Let's ramble!

Welcome to Paradise

Posted on October 17, 2019

Luckily there was no pearly gate to pass through, just a sign that read “Welcome to Fisherman’s Paradise,” a warm welcome to Spring Creek on a cool October morning. Luckily for me, an entrance to one of America’s most storied … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beer, Bellefonte, environment, Fisherman's Paradise, fly-fishing, limestone creeks, nature, PA, pollution, Spring Creek, State College, stream remediation, technology, Walt Franklin, wild trout, writing | Leave a comment

Shape-Shifter

Posted on October 7, 2019

My evening climbs up the seasonal roadway typically did not produce unusual wildlife sightings, but a recent walk proved to be exceptional. Before I reached my spruce and pine grove on the east side of the gravel road, I saw … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Asaph, bear, cougar, fisher, fishing, hiking, homestead, narratives, nature, poetry, psychology, shape-shifter, UFOs, Walt Franklin, wild economy, writing | 23 Comments

The Caddis Hour

Posted on October 2, 2019

The Caddis Hour is not so much about fishing as it is a state of mind. I visited a stretch of Genesee River that I probably hadn’t waded in a decade. It was mid-morning. River pools, low and thirsty, were … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birds, blessings, brown trout, caddis, Chester Rods, Earth, environment, fly-fishing, Genesee River, nature, poetry, populations, psychology, Time, wildness, writing | 12 Comments

Fall (The Starred Horizon)

Posted on September 24, 2019

I spent most of Sunday morning in the comfortable waters of the Allegheny River. I had little reason to move. The weather was perfect and the fish (both hatchery and wild) were rising in a long deep pool. For the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Allegheny River, autumn, environment, finicky, fly-fishing, hatchery trout, matching the hatch, nature, personal narratives, salvation, selectivity, trout, Wiscoy Creek, writing | 11 Comments

Gray Hair and Grizzly Hackle

Posted on September 18, 2019

Ever since I joined several outdoor organizations and started to attend their regular meetings in the 1990s, I’ve been hearing a general complaint: Look around this room. Our hair is gray. We need some younger people, bright new faces interested … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged activism, brown trout, commentary, community, environment, fishing, nature, poetry, Slate Run, society, Time, Walt Franklin, writing, youth | 16 Comments

Just Good Fishing

Posted on September 12, 2019

The cooling temperatures of late summer and early fall brings a spike in fish behavior and in human interest on the stream. Although I’m anchored to another academic year, I try to focus on the local streams and overgrown trails … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged autumn, cardinal flower, fly-fishing, good fishing, headwaters, nature, origins, poetry, roots, sense of place, Tricos, wild trout, writing | 16 Comments

Evening Frenzy, Morning Calm

Posted on September 4, 2019

Slate Drakes (Isonychia) emerged from evening riffles, and the trout rose hungrily to the surface of the Genesee. Browns and rainbows up to 17 inches long provided a busy outing. In the same stretch, two nights later, there were differences. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cedar waxwings, fly tying, flyfishing, Genesee River, George Skues, Isonychia, soft hackles, traditions, trout, Tup's Indispensable, writing | 14 Comments

Thinking Like a Creek

Posted on August 26, 2019

1. Stumbling from the lean-to late one night, relieve an aching bladder. Stars shine brightly through the broken canopy of Baxter wilds. I think of The Maine Woods by Thoreau: “In the night I dreamed of trout fishing.” Silence, like … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged fly-fishing, home, nature, ocean, philosophy, poetry, reading the water, small streams, Thinking Like a Creek, travel, Walt Franklin, Water, writing | 11 Comments

On a Small Island

Posted on August 21, 2019

Small islands have been inspirational for me since my long-gone days of bumming through the quiet waters of the blue Aegean. Most recently, I helped my daughter move from Providence, Rhode Island to neighboring Warwick, on the west side of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged biking, Block Island, exploration, fishing, islands, nature, poetry, Providence, Rhode Island, striped bass, travel, WaterFire, writing | 16 Comments

“Walt’s Lure” (Rangeley)

Posted on August 12, 2019

One allure of Rangeley camp in northwestern Maine was bird life. The wild shrieking of loons at night brought vivid images from lakeside to the closeness of the tent. It was often accompanied by hoots and chortling of various owls, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birds, camping, fishing, Kevin O'Malley, Magalloway, Maine, nature, Oquossic, orange fish hawk, Outdoor Heritage Museum, philosophy, Rangeley, travel, Walt Franklin, writing | 12 Comments