Fly Fishing 2024 - A Look Back

Another year of fly fishing has come to a close with some good memories to get me through the winter months. It was a good year, although I didn't go and fish as much as I should have. You know, I can't really put my finger on why I didn't get on the streams as much in 2024, but when I did, it was a bunch of fun. I'm setting a goal for 2025 - More Fishing! Funny. I do that every year.

My buddy, Steve, came up from Tucson for a couple of extended trips to fly fish with me and we had some good days on the mountain Rio's. While we didn't drift a fly on all the streams up on Rainy Mountain, we fished quite a few of them. Another buddy of mine, Rich, and I had two camping trips up in Colorado and they turned out to be quite nice because of some pretty trout that landed into our nets...just beautiful trout streams in that state, especially up in high country.

I always love it when my wife, Sylvia, goes with me for a fishing trip. I think of those trips as special and we've had some good ones over the years. Usually, we can get away for at least one night and two days of fishing (and shopping) each year. This year we went to Santa Fe, stayed at La Fonda Hotel, and immersed ourselves into the culture of this historic city. Yup, I had my favorite Chili Relleno at my favorite restaurant while there. On the way back home we took a long drive through the mountains and I was able to step into some trout streams for a bit of fly fishing. That happened to be my favorite fishing trip of the year!

And, then there is that youngest grandson of mine. He is always asking his Papa to go fishing. I'm pretty sure he's going to grow up and be the fly fisherman of the family. He has the rhythm, intuition, and the passion for the sport. He doesn't know it just yet, but he (and other grandsons) will be inheriting a bunch of nice fly fishing tackle someday. And, this little guy will know how to put it all to good use. I introduced him to Tenkara this year as a way to start his learning curve with fly fishing...and his departure from spinning tackle. And it turns out, he is a natural with a dry fly. He can cast to the target and let it drift naturally all the way through the feeding lane. He's good, and that makes his Papa proud, indeed!

The highlight in view of fly fishing tackle was my acquisition of a vintage Winston bamboo rod built in 1940 by the company's founder himself, Lew Stoner. After I took delivery of the rod, the previous owner wrote me and said he started looking at the selling history for those rods and thought I stole it for what I paid. I know his accusation is true, but I paid his asking price, so I'm not feeling guilty at all about it. The 7'6" 5wt 'Light Trout' rod is in a loving home now, and it will get a special fishing trip next year...to romance a river I've always wanted to visit and fish. I'm planning to make the trip a 'brothers adventure' into the land of trout. So, get ready for the outdoors, Robert!

Below are random photos from select days of fishing in 2024:

Click on photo for larger view