2021 Year In Review

 2021 was an eventual year on the waters.  Travelled over 10,000 miles with a fly rod in hand, fished in 6 states, caught 15 different species on the fly, including 3 new species to the list, and completed another native trout challenge.  West Virginia provided some great floats with good friends chasing smallmouth bass and floating for musky on the fly.  Pennsylvania as always brought some screaming steelhead trout in the Erie tributaries.  Utah brought multiple trips and lots of miles chasing 4 species of trout and some of the most challenging waters I have ever fished.  Wyoming as always is such an awesome state full of wild trout and scenic beauty you can't help fishing and traveling in and around.  Arizona was a state that caught me by surprise a state you think of as being desert and dry offers so much potential and some unique fisheries you really will not find anywhere else.  New Mexico was awesome remote and didn't offer nearly enough time to explore.  I am always reluctant to set goals for a fishing year but I always look forward to spending time on the water with as many friends and new friends as possible.  This year I fished a lot solo but if it wasn't for so many awesome people and advice it would have been a crazy struggle I couldn't have conquered the miles and fish I did if it wasn't for them.  Looking for to 2022 and visiting even more states and crossing off a few more new species I didn't get to catch this year and finishing up a few more challenges.  Looking forward to a year spent on the water hopefully with good friends and tons of fish!  Here is to a great 2021 on the waters of the US!

Wild Arizona Gila Trout

 Gila trout is one of the rarest trout in the United States.  You can find them in the wild in only two states New Mexico and Arizona and in very few streams due to habitat loss and other factors.  When you think of Arizona you do not a lot of times think of a trout fishing destination but a lot of times you think of a hot desert area or the Grand Canyon even.  Arizona offers a unique opportunity at not only Gila trout but also wild Apache Trout which you can only find in the wild in Arizona.  Arizona currently has only two streams open to fishing for wild populations of Gila Trout.  I had been trying to make a trip to Arizona for years after my cousin moved out there and the talk of Gila and Apache had me more curious than ever and the chance to catch this wild fish in native ranges made it even more exciting.  Then Mogollon Rim area is a rugged and challenging area not only for a vehicle but for a hike as well, you definitely have to be prepared before an adventure. With lots of great local advice I was off not sure what I was prepared to encounter but ready for adventure.  The drive in wash rock crawling, mud filled, and filled with awesome sights.  Pulling up to the location you are at first taken back to see this area no flowing water and wonder are there really these rare trout here.  After a nice hike in and a change in the landscape an oasis of cold water and native fish are eagerly waiting.  Throwing on a tiny dry fly I was met with several small Gila Trout that were happy to take the fly.  The image of them was even more awesome than I first imagined such a cool native fish that many do not have the opportunity to appreciate in the wild.  Another species I was blessed to able to cross off the list and another state of the list as well.  Thanks to all those who protect and restore these amazing fisheries in Arizona.

Why I Fly Fish

 "Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." - Henry David Thoreau

Everyone’s reason for going fly fishing is different.  I once had a person tell me I fished to much and why did I do that.  For me fly fishing is part of my life.  It’s where I’ve found my best friends in life.  Its a place where it can take you to explore some of the most beautiful spots on this planet with rare and threatened fish that will humble you that your able to pursue.  For me the friends and the fish and the places are an amazing bonus.  The quote by Thoreau could mean something so different for everyone.  I remember being interviewed by a news channel on the stream in the 90s and they asked why I fly fished, I kinda got it then that many years ago,  yes I love traveling chasing native trout in places like Wyoming and Arizona and sharing the water with so many great friends and landing countless fish.  Looking back at that interview and the quote by Thoreau I can see now what I never realized at an early age when I said it helps me deal with things in life just how true that statement was for me.  Fly fishing truly for me is about so much more than the fish it’s about my mental health.  I remember my Uncle years ago giving me a talk about what surfing did for him in chasing big waves like pipeline and back door and he said then do the thing that gives you that feeling and enjoy it.  Fly fishing helps me escape the stress and worries of life, gives me a place I can have a quiet talk with God, helps me deal with the problems of the world, and truly helps me be a better person in life.  Yes it’s great to catch fish but it’s so much more,  Mental health is something we need to to take more seriously in this country.  There is a reason there is projects like Project Healing Waters for veterans, Casting For Recovery for women with breast cancer,  and The Mayfly Project for kids.  Fly fishing is therapy for so many it’s amazing what time on the water will do for a person.  So the next time you say to a person you fish to much realize for them it may be about more than the fish.  Find that thing for you that heals your mind body and soul and take time to escape to it. 

https://projecthealingwaters.org/

https://castingforrecovery.org

https://themayflyproject.com/