With that said, here is a brief photo-essay review of 2011:
January started with a win for our hockey team, a nice change...
February found new streams...
March showed the first signs of life. Yes, I know thats high-caliber gear for such a small fish, that is my new steelhead rig and I couldn't wait to get it on a stream...LOL.
As many PA anglers know, April starts the real action. Unfortunately, the weather in April would foreshadow what anglers would have to look forward to for the rest of the year. Coincidentally, it would be the reason for learning new tactics, this year often demanded adaptation.
Heres's our favorite winery in Pa, good memories!
Trying new things pays off! A new Fav!
A Pennsylvania institution, many of us at one point or another call the Hotel Manor home if not for at least a night.
Finally learning the roll cast definitely opened up new possibilities for smaller streams, although, on big streams during tough fishing was a good place to practice it.
This year taught us the value of good rain gear.
We learned to adapt to rain, and how to BBQ in it.
We found the streams that fish well in high water and clear out the fastest.
And we had success.
May will always hold a special place in fly anglers hearts. Like an old friend May can remind us of our roots, who we are and where we came from. Kinda like our first real rig as seen here.
This May was unlike any other I can remember fishing through, it demanded new tactics. The rain was relentless and made some of the hatches almost non-existent this year.
But we would persevere.
Finding new inhabitants in old haunts kept my faith in my favorite spots that suffered the wrath of the weather.
Fishing with old friends led to some magical moments, this was a fish a friend landed on my first good rig. He had to borrow it because his rig broke and he couldn't afford to buy a new one. He had been bummed about missing a lot of the season because of school (he was hurt at work and had to go back to get a new job). This was one of his first times out this year and what a reward!
a very happy guy.
And a very thankful fish.
An appropriate end to a memorable outing with an old friend who introduced me to and taught me this sport.
Polishing technique and persistence often go hand in hand.
Change didn't have to be a new stream, sometimes it was an old stream, with a different approach...litterally. I have been going to this stream for years and never parked at the upper access because the lower was so good. Now I will park at the upper.
Like the explorers to the new world, my curiosity was rewarded.
I found gold!
learning to imitate our quarry is a critical skill.
Fishing trips were taken...
fishing trips were ruined...
It was something I learned to get used to, and eventually I embraced the conditions and learned new tactics.
There were brief times in between the high water, and we made the best of them.
Never miss the sulphur hatch!
In June we learned to un-plug.
we learned to be colorful.
Conditions improved.
We fished well.
we met some new faces.
We took some for the team. This is our goalie.
oh yeah, did I mention...it rained...it rained all day...
And it rained all night.
A new job landscaping kept me a very busy bee, this picture is from one of our first jobs, it's with a cell phone camera and turned out really nice.
I grew a year older, and a few more pieces of gear found their way into my arsenal...thank you all!
The Grascals came to town.
we graduated from sippy cups to more...sophisticated beverages. (it was empty)
July taught me that some things never change.
I learned new meanings to old expressions.
and it rained...
Meeting with old friends brought a new perspective.
it stopped raining for a little.
so we celebrated.
but not for long.
the heat came...
and turned our attention to cooler weather in the not to distant future.
the weather broke.
a new rod and reel were christened.
August started slow.
but eventually picked up.
some questioned the staying power of these beauties, but they survived since being introduced in May and are now very stream savvy.
ok, I should say NOW they are stream savvy. They were still learning the ropes in August.
some of them barely survived, including some of the natives.
and it rained...
and lightninged...
and stormed...
but we persisted...
and again, we were rewarded.
sacrifices were made out of old dreams to pursue new dreams.
I found a new passion for an old job.
and then, Irene.
and I prepared to weather the storm.
back to mowing, death rides a blue mower...the little things folks, the little things.
September brought more rain.
we learned to appreciate the little things.
new techniques paid off!
a chance invite to a new stream in a great part of the state I have never visited, had to meet the natives.
and then it rained... a lot...
it was devastating...
record breaking.
it finally cleared up and the action was good.
a new reel was christened.
a new favorite pattern was found.
October brought the beginning of the fall fishing. The continued practice of a new tactic learned from Orvis' podcast with Tom Rosenbauer on swinging wet flies and streamers was met with success!
off to Erie.
this was the BEST place I have ever stayed in. I wouldn't post it up but Brian and his wife are the nicest people and they deserve all the business they can get. If you do make reservations, let me come with!
Look at this place...
its almost like...
we were skunked in Erie that weekend, which is not an uncommon thing. Needless to say I had to redeem myself at home.
to no avail. I did find this guy though, what is it?
so I geared up for steelhead again.
but not before more swinging.
I went where eagles dare, theres an eagle in this picture...trust me.
and swung flies in familiar streams at lunkers I never new were there!
I love the LBT!
October went out in white.
and officially made this one of, if not the wettest year ever!
so I did what I had to do all year...just fish it. on the Scha-wing!
November started with a visit to Big Spring.
A week latter it was off to Erie again.
proper steelhead weather.
PAFF boys pounding the "wall" at Folly's End.
First steelie of the year, she took a size 4 ghost on the swing!
the mouth of Elk.
a lake run brown on elk.
So there it is, not a lot of fishing but sometimes, thats how it goes.
