Looking Back and Dreaming Forward

I live in a part of the world where there are four distinct seasons and we are now in the middle of the one that is least conducive to fishing - unless you enjoy fishing through a hole in the ice, which I have never found appealing.  So at this time of year fishing for me is defined by: 1) vicarious enjoyment of those still able to cast a line, 2) reminiscing about the past year, and 3) planning for the coming season.I thought I do a bit of all three as a wrap on the past season and as a precursor to the one ahead.Fishing Highlights of 2009Depending on whether you use my definition or my wife's, my approach to fishing is defined as either intentionally opportunistic or fanatical (my wife's opinion). I keep a record of every outing for posterity and for future reference.  This past year my records indicate that I got out fishing 31 times this past year.  By many people's standard, that probably isn't too frequent but I am pretty pleased.  Actually, I thought I had done very well by my standard until I looked back at 2008 and found I had managed 38 times out that year.Fishing for me is a mix of a couple hours after work, a few full day trips, hopefully a few hours on non-fishing vacation trips, and a couple multi-day trips. Looking back on the past year there were several highlights:

• Extended the fishing season into February with a trip to the Salmon River in New York
• Fished several new trout lakes within a couple hours of home
• Along with a couple fishing friends discovered of new section of a familiar river that proved to be hot for smallmouth bass through the summer
• Fished with my son Matt in July
• Managed three trips to Kenauk - one in spring, one in fall, and one borderline winter

Favourite FlyWhile I like to vary things up in the fly department, I probably stick with a particular fly longer than many of my fishing buddies - probably because I am lazy.It seems that each year one fly stands out as my go to fly.  This year it had to be the Crystal Chenille Bugger which I was introduced to early in the season.  It is tied sparsely with a product from Wapsi called polar chenille.  The chenille comes in several colours including black, olive, white and rootbeer  The tail is supposed to be rabbit but the picture shows a rootbeer version with a marabou tail because I didn't have matching rabbit on hand at the time.  Overall, black had to be my colour of choice this year.Blogs I Have Enjoyed This YearI enjoy the second hand experience of other people's fishing adventures.  It always amazes me the skill some people have in telling a story.  Some of the blogs/websites that I particularly enjoyed this past year include:

Creek Addict - great tales of fishing adventure and fly tying tutorials

TroutLegend -  with a Northeast US focus, this is a full fledged website (formerly known as Chrome on Chrome) with blog, forum, guide service and Trout Legend Magazine.

Chi Wulff - reports from out west (Montana, Yellowstone and the likes), don't miss the Friday Feast posts

Proven Patterns - great fly patterns and excellent photography

The Caddis Fly - all about Oregon fly fishing.  I am unlikely to get there any time soon but I always enjoy the posts

The Urban Fly Fisher - great reading from across the pond

Because I also enjoy photography, I became a regular viewer/reader of Catch Magazine after its debut in late 2008 and JayMorr Flyfishing and Brett Colvin's Fly to Water leave me envious of their tremendous photography skills.There are others but if I post more someone might come up with an explanation for why I am not on the water more frequently.Plans for 2010Nothing is cast in stone when it comes to my fishing plans but I would like to surpass last years number of fishing outings.  I would like to take advantage of the nearby fishing opportunities and get out more often after work.  The twice annual trips to Kenauk seem to be taking shape with the spring trip scheduled for the end of April.  Hopefully a fall trip will also work out.  A few other things in the works:

• do more winter fishing
• explore some new local lakes
• fish some of the upstate New York rivers and streams
• a trip to western Canada that includes some real fishing time

Beyond that, the plan is to enjoy whatever opportunities arise to the fullest, recognizing they are a gift that should not be taken for granted.All the best to you in the new year!