Forest Fire In Winter?

      It must happen only in California.   Some Tahoma residents noted more smoke and haze than usual this past week in the lake basin.  How can this be?   Fire.
     State org. CalFire named the blaze the "Round Fire", located just west of Highway 395, in Inyo and Mono counties.  It's about 95% contained today.  It burned through about 3000  hectares of forest, consuming 40 homes and structures.  Tough time to lose your house: middle of winter.  The land area is about 1/5 th the size of San Francisco, so you know.   No injuries have been reported by Cal Fire.
We'll keep you updated as conditions change.
      The recent storm that washed over the entire state, mainly northern California, dampened the area, but didn't extinguish the fire.   Some snow fell above 7000', but below, there was little.  It's all in New England where they expect another foot to fall on the 5' already on the ground.  My, my, winters are getting rough on the east coast.  If I lived back there, I'd move.  Go West, young man.
     California rivers that empty into the Pacific are all flowing brown now.  But in 3-5 days, clearing streams and rivers will offer some opportunities for the fishermen among us.   Fisherman Frankie in Truckee might even run down the hill to get his lines wet looking for a nice steelhead trout, just in from his Pacific cruise.   Be there.
      Got a text from my buddy, Gary, said he saw a film this past weekend at the Throckmorton Winter Film fest that included a fishing film about an old veteran who used flyfishing as a bridge back to sanity after a horrific experience in WWII.  It's called " Mending the Line", which carries meaning for all flyfishermen and women.   Check it out on Youtube.