The world is changing. Summer is clearly in the rearview, and you can see it leaving in the trees. It happens to some earlier than others. The poplars, namely, start to turn and shed, covering the ground with their golden slips sometimes as early as late-August—creating an aesthetic that early season bushytail hunters know well, while confusing the eyes of the chanterelle hunters of summer. The sycamores of the creekbottoms and river valleys turn brown and crispy in September

The world is changing. The leaves are turning. Consecutive cold fronts are cooling the rivers, and the smallmouth and musky are in transition. It's farewell to summer, and welcome to fall. The second half of the summer season was a productive and challenging one. Consistent bouts of high water and rain had us on our toes day-to-day, but chasing ideal conditions kept us on big fish, most days. A week of seasonal summertime conditions in late-August brought the most consistent