It’s time to RELEASE THE CRACKEN as they say. All the snark you’ve been saving up in those long conversations with elderly relatives may officially be unfurled now, Ridicule is called for and fully sanctioned.

The author of this fine vehicle for pointing fingers is Rita Rowand from Virginia.

More than one way to catch a fish in Fauquier County

Riverside Preserve in Northern Fauquier County offers a great place to put a line in the Rappahannock River. Nestled off Leeds Manor Road near Orlean, the preserve is donated land now managed by Fauquier Parks and Recreation and is the only county park with access to the Rappahannock.

The Rappahannock offers many species for the freshwater angler to enjoy, including blue catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass and more.

Okay, so it’s a good fishing spot in Virginia. Check. She hops onto a crag and throws in her line and guess what happens next? You’ll never guess.

Soon, movement caught my eye. Something was approaching in the water: a large beaver swimming toward me. His legs paddled quietly upriver while his tail swung back and forth under the water. No sooner had he passed when a second beaver glided past, presumably searching for fish.

Good Lord. Who lets you write a column in the paper? Does everyone in Virginia think that beavers eat fish or are you just uniquely wrong?

Equally sizable, this one was possibly the mate. Beavers live 90% of their lives in the water, and I was lucky to observe these two, as they can be reclusive.

I was feeling pretty horrified until I read those lines more closely, the part about the beaver swimming by with his “tail swinging back and forth” and realized she was actually talking about on otter. Beaver tails never go back and fourth.

So maybe it was looking for fish.

But it wasn’t a beaver. And it wasn’t with its mate. Otters do not hang with their partners like beavers. It’s strictly get some get gone with otters. Oh and, as Robin of Napa pointed out. Since both species sleep on land, neither species spends 90% of their life in the water.

Without disclosing our location (sorry, folks!), I can report we recently pulled a few bass, with David landing a whopping 22-inch largemouth weighing nearly 5 pounds, while I only landed a smaller version of bass.

As I walked back to the car, the frogs were singing their summer song, and the fireflies twinkled. There was no place else I’d rather be.

We can only assume those were actual frogs and fireflies and not crickets and streetlights. But okay. I get it. You had a nice morning fishing. Next time watch this video, okay?

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