A Fishless January

I never really had a goal this year to catch one fish a month. After this month I'm glad I didn't. I went fishing three time for striped bass. I can try to play it off and say that I didn't try very hard or didn't have the right gear. The sun was in my eyes, the flies weren't right, the fish were finicky..... Basically I just froze my butt off and got skunked 3 times. The only excitement over the three trips is a buddy stuck a size1 clouser in his face. The wind was getting pretty good and it stacked up his back cast. I heard a slap and looked over. "Is that stuck in your glasses or your face?" I asked. Hoping but knowing the true answer. "My Face" he said. Luckily the barb was smashed down and the fly was removed with no harm done. Well not much. Family time is taking more of my fishing time. My wife and I have kind of a deal, well it's something I hope she thinks is a deal. I told her I'll be around more on weekends in the winter if it's ok that I fish a lot in the summer. My wife is very understanding and tolerant, I think she knows letting me go fish is good for both of our sanity.

The fly fishing show is coming up soon. The fishing club will have a booth there and I can't wait to see what the vendors have to offer. It's always nice to check out the seminars and showcases by the experts. It looks like David Whitlock will not be at this show which is disappointing. I'll try to take some pics and give a report. The weather is teasing us in the south. It was near 70 today. It gives you the false sense that maybe winter is over. We all know better. Right when you start thinking that you get a freak snow or ice storm. Spring isn't that far away and late Feb is usually when the pickerel get active. I only caught one last year. I want to catch a few more this year.