The Downside of Being a "Winter Fisherman"

Today was supposed to be my first day on the water of the brand new year. I spent yesterday preparing - getting a new license and tags, tying flies, cleaning fly line, tying new leaders, and finally getting the vehicle legal. I even stayed up late consuming several of my favorite ales, and psyching myself up with bluegrass music and reading - online and in print - about fishing.

Yesterday was also supposed to be the end of the week-long wind that is a fisherman's nightmare. Last time out, on New Year's Eve, the conditions on the Metolius River were not on our side and I was seeking redemption. The wind was blowing, the river was high with a lot of debris. And even though the truck's thermometer read 40 degrees, the windchill felt like zero. Needless to say, my fishing partner and I were skunked. The river robbed six flies of mine, as well. The wind tied knots in our leaders that I only dream about being able to tie with my hands.

It was not to be. No end of the year Bull Trout. Not even a Whitefish would grace us with a bite. All we could do was mumble cliche fisherman lines to each other about how we at least got out there and fished. And set our hopes on the new year. Not that the change in the number of the year would bring us fortune. After all, it is winter, and the conditions can keep you down for days, even weeks on end.

Which brings me back to today. Today was supposed to be my first day on the water this year. Yet I sit here typing, hoping that the weatherman was truthful in saying that today would be the end of the wind. Hoping that the river gages will show friendly numbers in the morning. Hoping that tomorrow I will see the strike indicator dip below the surface and my rod tip shaking with the head of a big fish.

Until then I will continue to perch above the vise with a tasty beverage by my side and think optimistically about the next day. Sometimes that's all a winter fisherman can do, and if he doesn't he might lose it. This way, I can at least be happy that I didn't lose a single fly today...