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When spring temperatures arrive, the water calls

The first official day of spring, March 21, was pretty chilly in Western Virginia. But within a day that had changed. We got close to 80 yesterday and it looks like we'll be back there today.

I was stuck at my desk yesterday, something that happens more than some folks might believe. When I actually sit down to write I'm pretty fast, but it still takes time at the keyboard to knock this stuff out. Plus there's plenty of time on the phone and dealing with the 50-75 legitimate e-mails I get everyday.

Not that I'm complaining. The outdoors is the best newspaper beat in the world, at least for me.

In a few minutes I'm headed out on an assignment that has potential to be fun and interesting. I am meeting with an expert benchrest shooter at the range. I'm really looking forward to seeing this guy in action. Maybe he'll even let me squeeze off a round or two.

I'm going to try to hit the river later this afternoon. The trout trucks came to Glade Creek and the Roanoke River in Roanoke on Wednesday. I don't do a lot of fishing for stocked trout but when I do I prefer to fish a couple days after stocking. The crowds have always lightened up by then and there are still plenty of fish around.

I think I'll take my girls. They're probably still a little you for trout fishing but they always like piddling around on the riverbank. They also like throwing rocks into the water so I don't expect to catch many fish.

But that's not really the point, is it?

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About this blog

Mark Taylor holding a fish.

While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures.

Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism.

After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters.

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