I didn't just dream that up. Here's what my peers in the guessing business are saying: NOAA Climate Prediction Center's forecast for March-May says there is an equal to better than equal chance that precipitation across the Pacific Northwest will be below normal. Springtime temperatures have an equal chance of being above normal, normal or below normal.

Awesome insight, so I'm guessing there's also an equal chance that fishing will be above normal, normal or below normal. And remember, you read it here first.

But here's my honest tea reading. I'm latching on to that "lower than average precipitation."

I also think the snowpack is going to work in our favor this spring. Most of the snow is up high, which hopefully means an orderly runoff. If we get more warm, sunny days, I figure rivers and reservoirs will quickly warm into those prime spring temperatures and stay there for a while.

In recent years, cold, wet springs have held the snowpack back like floodgates, and when warmer weather finally arrived, it released a torrent of frigid water.

I'm guessing reservoirs could be really good this spring because they won't be inundated by that rush of snowmelt that seems to give fish an ice cream headache.

I think we're due for a classic, Southwest Idaho spring with lots of prime fishing and mild, sunny weather.

I could be wrong, and please don't hold it against me if I am. I'm trying to be Mr. Optimistic here because spring is an awesome time to fish.

So call your pals and get your weekends lined up. We're heading for good times.