It's really interesting when you do things annually. When one year is over and it seems like an eternity until the calendar rolls and that week or event nears again. It's like that each year for me and the Martha's Vineyard trip. Well the time has come, and I am ready.
Yesterday, I swear, was my last day at work. It was proctoring the final exam in the afternoon with my colleague Victoria who watched carefully for any drifting eyes from screen to screen. In between my own patrols I set up shop from a good vantage point to multi-task.
My task was to organize my fly boxes that I will put into good use starting tomorrow. I picked this week for two reasons. One, was the school schedule, but more importantly, were the tides. Next week is the full moon and the high highs and low lows give sight fishing more possibilities. Starting tomorrow low tides are mid morning and I have my sights on a few spots.
In addition to organizing and talking to my flies I also used my hemostats to pinch down those barbs. I not only do it on those size 3, 5, and 5/0 hooks but the 1, 2, 1/0 and 2/0 sizes as well. Sometimes these fish inhale the flies deep and only sand-side surgery can get those hooks out safely, if at all. Last week I pinched those barbs down as well fishing size 10-16 size flies for wild trout on the Upper Delaware. I don't know why catch and release anglers don't always go barbless, or at least pinch them down. It does make a big difference, you know that. If you're out targeting dinner, like let's say crappies, then double barb and gut hook them all you want. But for the other species that we torture for our enjoyment purely, we can all do better.