The 2015 fishing year ended with a feisty lake trout engulfing a swung baitfish pattern in search of steelhead. I know its cliche but the years seem to be slipping by at an ever accelerating pace. Its only natural to be reflective at the end of one year and beginning of the new. Looking back, 2015 certainly was a full year. Many miles traveled with some success and an ample amount of disappointment.
The highlight of the year was the opportunity to fish and spend time with some of the top anglers and guides in the world of musky and steelhead fly fishing. While the experience was enriching it was also enlightening. I am always amazed at how easy it is to become complacent - to settle into a rut with a particular fly pattern or presentation. Fishing with these talented anglers left me questioning some of my methods and forcing me to take a new look. I found myself rethinking things that I had previously concluded upon and leaving my mind open to trying some new tricks.
With that mindset I head into the new year with a list of new techniques and flies to put to good use while breaking away from some established conventions. The lesson learned is to look take a fresh look, even on waters that you have fished for for years and know intimately. It is this very quest that has kept fly fishing new for me for more than forty years. I can hardly wait to get things started for 2016. Happy new year to all!
The highlight of the year was the opportunity to fish and spend time with some of the top anglers and guides in the world of musky and steelhead fly fishing. While the experience was enriching it was also enlightening. I am always amazed at how easy it is to become complacent - to settle into a rut with a particular fly pattern or presentation. Fishing with these talented anglers left me questioning some of my methods and forcing me to take a new look. I found myself rethinking things that I had previously concluded upon and leaving my mind open to trying some new tricks.
With that mindset I head into the new year with a list of new techniques and flies to put to good use while breaking away from some established conventions. The lesson learned is to look take a fresh look, even on waters that you have fished for for years and know intimately. It is this very quest that has kept fly fishing new for me for more than forty years. I can hardly wait to get things started for 2016. Happy new year to all!
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