Opening Day Revisited

I realize mayfly hatches and cooking around a campfire are not things most people think about this time of year, but somehow I got a bit sidetracked this past spring and never put up our annual post from Opening Day (see the past few years here: 2013, 2012 & 2011). Well, we sure as hell didn't skip it! We had a another kick ass weekend in the woods, heavy on eating and drinking and light on fishing. One cool thing about waiting until December to put this up is that just a few months of ice fishing separate us from this wonderful spring tradition again. For those that hate winter, perhaps the photos below will help pass the time a little easier.

Winter Is Coming

I'm usually not one to wish a current fishing season away for the next, but it's hard not to get pumped up about first ice right around the corner. Spending the past few weeks editing footage from a Lake George road trip last January certainly hasn't helped stem my excitement. Friends and I began working on this video as soon as we got home from the lake trout jigging binge, but days became weeks and the project eventually got shelved for a while; a long while as it turned out. Well, here we are 10 months later just ahead of the Polar Vortex about to rear its ugly head again. There are still a couple weeks of solid fall fishing to get in, but, whether you like it or not, winter is coming. 

Fall Fun

Feeling thankful after another short and sweet morning session at my favorite reservoir over the weekend. I can usually count on a good sunrise at this spot, but it was particularly nice on this day with a heavy dose of fog rising off the water. The fishing wasn't all that bad either. It's always fun to watch the slip bobber go under, but the biggest fish came on a bottom rig and bit me off when it was about a rod's length away. Losing one like that will sting for a while, but it's part of the reason we keep going back. 

(photo credit: Aaron Swanson)

(photo credit: Aaron Swanson)

Fish When You Can

It has long been said that the best time to fish is when you can. Those words have never had more meaning to me than they do now. While the past few months have been the best of our lives with the new addition to our growing family, they have also been the busiest. That said, dad still "needs" to sneak out on the water once in a while to get his fix. With an understanding wife and a newborn that is getting better at this sleeping thing, I have been fortunate to find some time to wet a line here and there. I have always appreciated getting outside and doing what I love, but I think that level of appreciation is at all-time high now by not being able to do it anytime I want. Moral of the story, soak in every second with your loved ones, but don't forget to enjoy your "me" time too.