Fly-Fishing of Course

Dave with a Bow River rainbow
Dave with a Bow River rainbow

My thought process that gets my head back  into fishing mode  goes like this.Bird Season ends,I spend some time catching up on personal and business stuff (in the form of returning emails and phone calls ) then as I start to surf “Fly-fishing Porn”on the internet.Of course friends that are fortunate enough to spend time in the Southern Hemisphere help with the cause by posting pictures of big browns and rainbows on their Facebook pages… usually from New Zealand.Of course there are pictures posted of trout caught in the Rockies but I view these as just a tease,after all it can be warm one day and very shitty the next.

Dreaming about rising trout !
Dreaming about rising trout !

I remain realistic,knowing full well that bailing out of Arizona right now for a trip up north  would and could be a waste of time,so my mind reverts back to what I  should be doing,tying flies for Montana and local Bass fishing.Both are worthy.I’ll start by doing a visual inventory of my fly-tying materials and tools then focus in on tying big streamers,switching to nymphs and some dry flies as my dextarity improves.

Missouri River Brown Trout
Missouri River Brown Trout

A ritual I have is that I need to tie a few flies before going for my first fishing trip.It get my head in the game and of course I will tie some Clouser type streamers in honor of MR. Largemouth.Another ritual is the draining and washing of the Driftboat,an ‘add on” to this is having the trailer bearings packed.

The first flies off the vice for the  up and coming season
The first flies off the vice for the up and coming season

Then there is the act of buying stuff.Usually Flyrods ,Reels and lines.Time is spent dreaming about where I am going to fish and hopefully how,this seems to justify the purchase.Of course the “New for this Season” adds help.If questioned by my Higher Authority I can sorta justify it.Speaking of which my first trip out is usually with Lisa and our Lab. Tish.It’s relaxing and fun.Lisa gets into the rhythm of casting and retrieving streamers,Tish gets all excited at the Coots and when Lisa hooks up.I get to row and net,If I go into my Guide mode I get told politely to “chill out”,which I do.

Tish
Tish

So now  it starts,the Fly-Fishing Season is looking up,I am stoked and I hope you are to.Now it’s back to tying flies and dreaming!

LM Bass -Arizona
LM Bass -Arizona