Well, we had another little rain shower yesterday, best rain we've had for a long time. I don't have a gauge out, but it would have been less than a half inch. I see where the weather folks are calling for a chance of thunderstorms for the next 5 days.

The mailman told me the other day that we'd had less than 2 inches of rain during the past 2 months.

I'll give you an update on our streams and all.

Three weeks ago, my brother and I went out swimming. First time he'd been in the river this summer. We went to the spot in the South Branch where I'd found that biggest smallmouth bass.

We'd had a couple little rain showers, the water was up little bit above where it had been, but still about 2 feet below the normal water mark. And the water was a little bit cooler than before. Visibility was right at 10 feet.

Remnants of hurrican Ida passed over the area, for 2 or 3 days. Here locally, we had one steady rain that lasted about 14 hours. All together we had somewhere between 6 and 8 inches of rain. Other areas 15 miles away had another 5 inches.

Last Thursday, the South Branch and it's South Fork were both muddy, and up around 2 feet above normal. Visibility would have been less than an inch.

I've mentioned this before, our streams flow fairly swift. Remember that 180 pound chunk of sandstone that I dropped off the bridge a year or so ago. The current has washed it downstream about 25 yards.

But within 24 hours the water in the South Fork had cleared to where the visibility would have been back up to 3 feet or so. Visibility is back up to 10 feet now.

Our temperature went into the 40's the other night, I had 55* F at daylight today. Our swimming season is just about over for this summer.

Didn't find much this year, one rod and reel, 2 cell phones and a 15 pound boat anchor. And a golfball.

Well, swimming season is over for this year. Last week we had another 4 or 5 or 6 inches of rain, depending on the location. The rivers are up and muddy again, they'll be clear in 2 or 3 days. But our low temperatures have been in the 40's, three of the last 4 nights. I've got 50* now. This late in the year, the water isn't going to warm up.

So, time to put my swim gear away for a while.

One thing that I wanted to mention is that swimming is a lifetime skill, sport or hobby. I swim because it's relaxing, fun, quiet and peaceful. Now and then I'll find some good stuff too.

For anyone that has never swam with a mask and fins, it's pretty neat. I've posted pictures of my gear, nothing fancy. If you're interested, do a search: Mask and swim fins.

You can buy them in a package deal. After you buy a pair of water booties, you're looking at $100 total. If you take care of them, they'll last for years and years.