New year, new ways

I would like to wish all of you a happy, prosperous, and healthy new year! It has been a whirlwind of a year, many challenges have come, and gone, some successfully met, while others still need work. I am happy to say that my fishing challenges were all happy ones with great days on the water (I managed not to drown myself playing in the river) and many nice fish caught and released to play another day. As many of us do at the end of the year, we try to reflect on the past 12 months and take stock of our successes and perhaps a few failures along the way.

2015 was a year that I took on some new styles of angling for trout and pan fish, as I wrote about previously, and I look forward to yet another year of chasing down our finned friends with some new ideas that, when time permits, I have been tossing around in my mind. The last couple of years I have taken a less complicated approach to my fishing. The Japanese have an amazing way of making “the art of fishing” very simple and uncomplicated. I really enjoy using the Tenkara method and Keiryu and Hera rods to catch fish.

Keiryu and Hera rods use floats and a simple fly or lure to entice the fish. These rods are unusually long. My Keiryu rod is 17 feet and my Hera rod is 25 feet. It seems strange to most western anglers to deal with such long and imposing equipment but in Asia and Europe, people have been using this type of equipment for decades. Now I am not saying that I am some kind of international ambassador to the western world of fishing, but I do believe there is much to be learned and appreciated when it comes to techniques and styles enjoyed by some of our long distance neighbors.

Of course, I have all the “western” style equipment and employ its use more often than not for the sheer practicality of it. However, it is fun to try new things whenever time permits. I remember the first few trips to Four Island Lake with my Tenkara rod where I received loads of attention from locals who were wondering who the guy was with the “long stick and no reel”. I quickly put any doubt of my fishing prowess to rest by bringing in fish after fish and they just watched in amazement. I think that is also one of the enjoyments of using different gear than everyone else. It’s that “look at him, what an idiot” look of puzzlement and then catching more fish. Yes, I must admit there is some ego involved in fishing.

This year I hope that more of you will take time to get out and hit the water with whatever gear you have, spend time outdoors with family and friends, make some awesome memories, take a few pictures, pack a lunch, and just enjoy nature! I know that this year I will take time with my wife, to take her with me to some great places we have in this state, to share the beauty of the land, listen to the birds and the rush of water. What can be better in this fast-paced busy life than spending our time with those we love and enjoy? To my friend and fishing buddy, Jimmy Clymore, who will be gone three years this spring, I still miss you and our times spent on the water.

Tight lines and great fishing!