Winter

Theres something so special about fly fishing in the winter..

I'll come home sometimes after spending hours upon hours on the water, from light until dark, scratching my head. It's so different from the spring, summer, or fall. You go from catching dozens of fish per day to hopefully catching a couple. I'll come home and the only thing I can think about is getting back out there.

My fingers loose their feeling. My toes become numb and my feet in shock.. Instead of getting a face tan I become wind burnt with cracking lips. But theres still something about it.

Those few opportunities we get when we're actually able to be outside while the snow's falling. Wow.. What a feeling of silent wonder. The other day I happened to be outside during one of those days. After a few short minutes the flies I had on the outside of my satchel were buried in snow. Everything on my body was covered except the moving parts such as my arm. At one point I couldn't help but put down the rod and look up as the big white flakes melted on my glasses.

Fly fishing through the coldest winter days isn't easy, however. It requires a patience outside the ordinary. Watching your line time and time again with no avail. In most conditions everything needs to be lessoned. Tippets lighter, flies smaller, presentations more gentle..making every hook-up count.