Looking Ahead

So of course, I owe you guys a typical new year post. I don't (or I try not to) do the 'resolution' thing.  For me, its too confining, too all-or-nothing...which makes it somewhat counterproductive, as the whole point is to better yourself.  When you set a resolution, it's usually either too harsh (tomorrow, I'm done smoking!) or too soft (over the next year I'm going to try to cut back slightly on junk food).  In the first situation, the moment you break it, you're done.  And in the second, it's so lax that there's really no self-betterment. No, for my new year, I just try to set a few well-defined goals that will require effort to accomplish, yet are realistically within my reach. For this year, I have five goals for myself as far as my recreational activities go: For...

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International Fly Tying Symposium 2011

This year, just like in 2010, I attended the International Fly Tying Symposium in Somerset, NJ in mid-November.  This trip meant a little more to me than the trip last year because I had planned on going since mid-summer, but then I lost my job in September, and I really couldn't justify the expenses of a hotel room, food, and gas at a time where I really had to stretch my limited funds to make ends meet. Then, at the very end of October, just a few weeks before the show, I got a new job. As it turned out, I got my first paycheck from my new job they day before the Symposium.  I could justify the expense again, and it seems like a...

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My Fall (Part 2)

Aside from my now job, there were a few other really notable positives in the fall, the most relevant one to my readers is that I caught my largest trout to this point. I didn't have a tape at the time, but comparing it to the rod beside it, I estimate it to be a 22-24" tiger trout.  This is my third tiger, and it was an intense fight on my 4wt! As usual, I took a break from the small streams and wild brookies when they decided it was time to spawn... As I said, I made it to Erie to do some steelhead fishing... And for the first time in my life, I went duck hunting.  A friend of mine invited me to do a few days of hunting...

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It's Been One Heck of a Fall

Hello again to all of my readers. No, I'm not gone for good, but I had a lot of changes in my life over the past few months, and while I wasn't busy the entire time, usually when I had the time to post, I just wasn't inspired to do so.  While I'm not exactly inspired now, I wanted to pop in to let everyone know what's up.  My readers have been great ever since I got Dharma of the Drift started, so I wanted to let you know where I've been as well as where I intend to be in the future, with regard to the blog here. When I last posted, it was early September.  summer fishing was winding to a close and my thoughts were rapidly turning north with thoughts of Lake Erie steelhead.  Then the unexpected happened, and I lost my job. In retrospect, getting laid off hit me much...

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