2012 Overview

This might be a bit late in coming but I was grappling with the decision to write this post or not. Yes, I know no one cares about my fishing statistics but me, but you're going to hear about them anyway. At least I'll keep it short though.

This past year was a pretty decent fishing year for me. Despite my lack of much Fall and early Winter fishing expeditions due to a home purchase, I made it out onto the water a respective 42 days.  More important, though, is that my efforts were met with a little more success relative to last year. That of course comes with a caveat that last year I spent a number of days bass fishing (which I don't know much about), which brought down my catch levels significantly. Last year the total haul was 359 fish (in 53 days); this year I managed 427 fish in 42 days on the water. More fish in fewer days: not bad!

Part of my improvements were honestly because of easier quarry, and easier locations, but I also like to think my skills are continuing to improve. Czech or tight line nymphing is something I never really did much before this year, and in a couple of instances this year it seemed to provide serious improvement in results. Plus there's something about it that I love: it really makes fishing seem more instinctual.

Looking forward to 2013 I have set myself a couple of vague goals that I will not write down other than a quick mention here. I don't like to have actual fishing goals because it makes this entire hobby feel too serious and I don't want it to become a job. Instead I just put it in the back of my head that I would like to do a TON more carp fishing this year once the season begins, and I'd like to take a serious effort at chasing some salmon and steelhead, which so far I haven't chased very hard. Yes I know it's a travesty that I live in the PacNW and haven't chased salmon and steelhead. That's why I want to remedy it.