2013 has been a good year for me to gain some confidence and practical experience while catching a few fish along the way. Friends and family have gifted me the fly-fishing classics, but like the rest of life, reading without implementation means very little. So, I’ve been intentional to try out the tricks and tactics I’ve read about.
Time on the river is still very restorative and meditative. While still trying to learn as much as I can from as many as I can, I also am more comfortable with my particular style of nymphing and less concerned if others think it’s effective or “correct”…which is good timing because this time of year there’s probably anglers above and below your favorite slot. If you can tell whether my caddis is a size 12 or 14, you’re probably too close. But seriously.
Crayfish are productive, but I have stuck a lot of nice fish on midges and caddis pupae recently as well. Jan’s Pearl Caddis Pupae and Gilligan’s G6 is always a worthy contender.
The downside of being a lifetime fisherman but new to the fly game is that I can read a stream and find the fish but lack the experience to prevent things going sideways after the hook up. Each time, it seriously seems like I make a new mistake that I hadn’t before. A lot can go wrong between the take and the net. Hoping to close some deals.