The fishing was good, although it was awfully early after a late night of mousing and whiskey under the dazzling Perseids meteor shower. Sam sat on the bank of the river in the haze of the warm and humid August morning. He sipped tea from his thermos and nibbled on unsalted raw cashews as he considered the morning.

In-between there were plenty of smaller fish caught, many of them wild brook trout. To make up for what they lack in size, most of these small fish come from the most intimate, beautiful creeks in Michigan

Fishing is like eating M&M’s. It’s a truly non-satiating activity. Give me a little, and I want more. When it’s time to go home, I can’t help but think of the next time I will be able to steal away to the river.

When it’s cold enough to wear a woolen flannel and the skies are bright blue, I think of my friend Dick Bolton. Dick passed away a few years ago too darn young, but he left a handful of us with a better appreciation of the great outdoors.

Bigelow Creek is a humble spring creek. It winds through the towering white pines and angular oaks of southern Newaygo County.

The next best thing to fishing on a 30º day is scouting for summer fishing locations.

Creation of wild brook trout in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, Michigan