As you can see I got out 96 times this year. This doesn't mean they were all-day trips, only that I got out and engaged meaningfully in the pursuit of fish at some point during the day. This also doesn't mean that I blew off work to fish- some of my jobs have me crossing multiple trout streams to get to work, and most of my jobs are on lakes. As a matter of fact, one night, a friend came and picked me up on the job with his boat and we fished until dark- not a bad way to end the day. My fly fishing gear is always in my truck, and it's never a problem to stop off and fish for an hour on the way home. I'll eat dinner when I get there, whenever that is.
My real reason for the counter was because I was actually curious as to how much I fished. I knew I fished a lot, and maybe I was better off not knowing. I'll never be the type who blocks out an evening for a favorite TV show- if conditions are right and the fish are biting, I'm out there. I'm pretty sure I fished close to 150 days in 2010. This year I was busier with work and had other constraints. As it is, I fished nearly 100 days, and had a blast doing it. What were the highlights?
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| just one great fish in a great year |
Well, let's see-
- Catching my first bass on a fly- a big smallmouth no less.
- Catching my first carp on the fly and being introduced to Michigan's expansive flats fishing. Just ask Kirk Deeter, it's really that good.
- Catching my biggest brook trout (16"+ in MI and 20+ in Nipigon) and biggest brown trout (28").
- One word- Nipigon.
- Fishing with Sanders on the Poudre. He's a class act and great guide.
- Fishing the Betsie river for salmon in September. The run was insane this year.
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| Phil with just one of the tanks we caught this fall |
I don't know what 2012 will bring (I'm not holding my breath on that Mayan Calendar thing), but I can't wait to see.
96 times, man after my own heart. I only managed 55 times this year. Better than once a week though. I keep track of mine with my "Fish to license ratio" spreadsheet. My journal of sorts.
ReplyDeleteMark
A stellar year indeed. You had me beat early. I didn't get out nearly enough this past year.
ReplyDeleteMark- It's been eye opening to keep track of, especially as I know I didn't fish as much as the previous year.
ReplyDeleteJay- I know you'll be getting out more this coming year, and I can't wait to read about it.
I have been reluctant to come over and check this post out, only for the fact that I would realize how many times I didn't fish (who am I kidding, I got out enough to make a few people jealous...)
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how much fun I've had getting to know you over the course of the last year. Glad our blogs allowed us to meet. I would put the couple days we fished together as a big highlight of my year as well.
Look forward to doing it again soon.
Cheers!