Valley Angler: A night of debauchery

It has already started and it will likely continue all summer long. However, over the next few weeks, we will experience the worst of it. Those who dare venture to walk along the banks of the Saco, in the early evenings, will witness astounding displays of lust that would put a Roman orgy to shame. Most of the good church going residents of this valley will never know what happens, on warm spring nights, on the river, unless they are fly fishermen. I am, of course, speaking about the mating rituals of the mayfly.

Every time I experience a big spinner fall of mayflies I am in awe — it never gets old. The spinner fall is the culmination of the mayfly's life span, when they both mate and die all in one event. Church goer, or not, most people never witness these natural events, perhaps it is only voyeuristic entomologists and anglers who truly appreciate these things. Fishermen have a hidden agenda for they know that even the most cautious trout will throw caution to the wind to feed on the dying insects.