You wake up in the morning, sunshine peering through your window, birds chirping in the cool morning air, the smell of coffee brewing.

Sure beats working

Another beautiful spring day under way in New Mexico, and all you need to remember is that you ought to go fishing, rather than trudge off to work. This year's mild winter is almost over, the wildflowers are starting to bloom, and the run-off is subsiding, so call in sick and hit the water.

You owe it to yourself. Just think, all winter long these wild brown trout and holdover rainbows have been holed up in the deepest pools surviving winter. Now, with warmer weather, increased flows and active bugs, these trout will be feisty, and ready to eat anything that looks real. And that will be your dry fly.

The Jemez Mountains, northwest of Albuquerque and west of Santa Fe, are blessed with several small rivers and medium-size streams with all types of water. You will find high mountain meadows, fast riffles, tight banks, deep runs, and moderate canyons with classic pocket water all within a short drive of each other.

Choosing which water to fish presents a challenge. Do you walk along the Rio San Antonio, the Rio Cebolla, the Rio Guadalupe, or pull out the float tube and bob on scenic Fenton Lake?

Regardless of where you go, the fishing is likely to be fine. And even if you get skunked, like the old clichi goes, a bad day of fishing is always better than a good day at work