Sunday, January 24, 2010

New Year's Never List.


2010. A new year. I thought I would reflect on the many things I have never done as a fly fisherman. This is a little late with February days away but I am going to make my list anyway. In doing so, I am hoping to cross many of these off as the days continue to tick away.

I have never stepped foot in a drift boat. 

Therefore I have never floated a stream or river.

I have never caught a striper and have yet to even fish for them.

I have never had a casting or fishing lesson. I learned through trial and error.

I have never fished in New Jersey despite how close it is.

I have never hired a guide.

I never practice casting. I fish. 

I have never fished the Lehigh Gorge.

I have never casted a spey rod. 

I have never fished in New England.

I have never caught a bonefish. 

I have never used a high end camera such as a DSLR. I just bought one though. 

In ten + years of fly tying, I have never finished a fly in a traditional manner. 

It's called super glue and it never fails.

I have never been across the Atlantic.

I have never fished the fabled waters of the Upper Delaware.

I have never caught a permit.

I have never landed a trout out of the Letort.

I have never gone fishing just for a hatch. I go fishing and whatever happens, happens. 

Personally, I have never paid for a hotel room. The bed of the truck works just fine. 

I have never Euro-Nymphed.

I have fished Colorado but I have never fished any other Western states. 

I have never gone fishing with both of my dogs. Bad News Bears.

I have never tied a tube fly.

Thats about all I can think of at the moment. So here is to a new year, new fish, and all the new horizons and avenues to explore. For if there is one thing about fly fishing, it's deeper than the Marianas Trench. There will always be new fish to catch, flies to tie, ways to cast, places to go, and methods of fishing to learn. The sport runs deep, and the deeper you go, the more rewarding it becomes. 

3 comments:

Adam said...

"The sport runs deep and the deeper you go, the more rewarding it becomes."

Couldn't agree more...

Wade Rivers said...

"I have never had a casting or fishing lesson. I learned through trial and error."

Good for you, Mark. Use your own primordial instincts instead of someone else's, and keep kicking some ass. It's much more rewarding that way.

Mark said...

I wholeheartedly agree Wade.

I believe one of the most fulfilling aspects of the sport is when you figure out the answers to all those questions. Especially when you do it on your own.