10.17.15 The fall run had begun.......

......well maybe not where I was fishing this morning. Beautiful Lake Atlantic out there this morning. If a fish farted within a half a mile from the beach you could see the bubbles. NW wind + start of the incoming = flat, flat flat. Did manage a winter flounder that took a white Clouser but that was the only bump. No signs of bait up close and didn't see the bunker pods in the same places I was yesterday.

     I knew for sure that the anglers on the boats yesterday, and I am sure as well today and tomorrow, would do good and I was right. Although I usually don't post other peoples pics I have to share Gene Quigley's from Shore Catch Guide Service's pic he posted yesterday. He had good bass on the bunker pods and albies on the fly chasing small bait. Looks like his sports had a good day yesterday.

10.16.15 A morning of a dozen last casts.....

     Got down to the water before first light to see if anything chasing bait and rolling in the surf. Didn't see much life until the sun came when the birds, and boats, started to do their searches. Found bunker en masse with an occasional spray as something, probably bluefish, ran through them. Had the fleet with a mix of small and party boats stopping to snag and drop and jig around the pods. I would guess to say that a surf caster couldn't reach them, even with a heavy snag hook.


   
     The birds did come within casting range as some smaller baits were being chased around most likely by hickory shad or cocktail blues. I tried to leave several times, but was always called back when the birds would seem to appear on the beach. I couldn't help but think of the end of last October leading up to Blitz-O-Ween 2014. I think that's what kept me around for hours this morning.



     I'm liking what I see on the beaches as far as the return of structure and some fishy water post blow two weeks ago. There's points, bowls, bars and the occasional jetty tip starting to break through the pumped up sand that has destroyed the fishing grounds. One thing is for sure is that angler need to scout out locations, even their home waters are now totally different. Low tides are always a great time to check for structural changes.
     Fall is here, and so is the run. Albies came through in good numbers for boat and surf casters. There have been good sightings and reports of bass making there way down crashing on the bait and tagging behind the bunker schools. The only thing I hate about all the bunker is the all-or-none fishing that it presents for the fly rodder. Snag and drop and big plugs get the fish, especially when casted 1,000 feet off the beach. Unless the fish are on small baits, like peanuts and spearing, the fly anglers do a lot of watching and waiting for a good shot.

10.14.15 Bunker showing up off the beach....with predator fish on them

     Stopped by the beach before a 12 hour shift at the hospital. Bunker flipping and getting chased by bigger fish. Nice to see signs of life again.

10.13.15 Back from a long break from fishing and the blog......

God I miss this blog. And I miss fishing. Well sort of.......

     I see the last post I made was August 19th. That's almost 60 days ago. I can remember I would rush to get a post up within 60 minutes of leaving the beach. and, some days, I would post two or even three times. Needless to say things have changed, in so many ways I don't know where to begin. In short, I remarried, I moved, I re-started a new career.....and unfortunately I had to put fishing on the back burner while I got my life in order.
     I have to returned to nursing, working as an RN in a hospital-based pediatric psychiatric crisis unit. That started the first week of September and since then it's been M-F straight days, but luckily now I am on 12 hours shifts, which, gives me my life, and fishing back. Although I live a stones throw from the Navesink River it doesn't compare living in Ocean, or even closer, when I rented on Phillips Ave in Deal. There's no quick run down, no smell of the ocean, no sound of the bell coming from the Shark River Inlet. But, I am glad and fortunate to have job that I love and a schedule that will again allow me to fish, alone, with friends, and clients. I will join the ranks of guides that have another gig, and that is good since last year I made just above the poverty level in fishing. Additionally I am pursuing my Nurse Practitioner license, which should take about three years, going around the calendar.



     With my schedule change I was able to fish the last three days. It was fun trying to find all of my gear and even funner trying to find my "jetty" legs when I got on the rocks. The changes to the beaches and groins are horrible and it's hard to find some semblance of what I used to fish. Even though I didn't post in a few months I did get out a few times, but nothing to show for it. I was glad to see that after last weeks blow the beaches have been washed out to see....when will us humans understand this ridiculousness.
     I was greeted the last two days with pretty sunrises, ones I haven't seen in some time. Today it was overcast, but the surf a little more active then the glass of the last two days. Yesterday the birds were over the albies about a mile as far as you could see left to right. Today no such action although I did see a few dolphins and some bait spraying out of the water.
     Besides missing the beach and the rocks, and the fish.......I miss the guys. Although I had Richie with me the last three days I miss the other ones that called Phillips Ave home, we went as the Phillips Avenue gang. Me, Richie, Al, Bob, Lief, Andy and Bucktail Jimmy were daily visitors to the stretch in Deal. It was always fun to drive on Ocean Ave in the darkness and see who was where, Richie on Phillips, Jimmy on Roseld, Al at the hump, Lief near the pilings, Bob on the move, and Andy making casts up the beach as he looked for sharks teeth. Fishing, and the lack thereof, and the destruction of the fishing grounds, has sadly interfered with true and cherished friendships. Fishing and "home" was the glue, and it is gone, for now, as is Marine Place, as in the photo below.

                        

     After fishing with only a tap from a hickory shad, and no fish for four anglers I decided to drive and check out home. Sickening, but, it is already changing. I walked and made some casts on 8th Ave, a place I spent so many nights illuminated by the parking lot lights and the ones along the boards in Allenhurst. If I just looked straight out, it was like home again, but a quick glance right and left reminded me of the changes.

     Things are looking good for the rest of the fall, that's my optimistic prediction. Lots of bait out back, and still enough fishable water out front looking for the collision of bait, bass, and tides. My new life prevents me from getting out everyday, but I am looking forward to getting back out there and even finding a new, but adopted "home", closer to my new life. 

     Soon it will be the International Fly Tying Symposium, then I am running an Orvis 301 Class at Island Beach State Park November 7th, and then in January the Fly Fishing Show. Bob Popovic's new book is due out and some of my friends and clients may have made the photo cutting table. In the meantime I'll still write and look forward to being out there more than I have been, but a nice regular direct deposit paycheck is a nice thing too. 

08.19.15 Starting to feel like fall....

      Beautiful morning out along the Jersey Shore today. The weather has been stellar and the conditions are starting to look really good. Last week we spent our family vacation down in Wildwood and it great all the way around. Wildwood Crest beaches have to be the nicest in the state.

     Even though I am jammed with so much going on I made it a point to get out this morning. I have to admit I went a little half-cocked.  Didn't check my gear, nor the tide, I just went. Having done so I would made sure that I had the right rod/reel combo, a few Bangers, and would have the timed the tide a bit differently.

                    

      Dead low was at 430 and I was on the beach before 5. I would have liked to get there are 3 to catch more of the ebb. I started with a small black eel fly and stayed with it until light when I switched over to a chartruese and white Deceiver. I saw some bait in the water but no sign of predator fish. There was one other angler out and I could barely make him out in the low light. When I got down he was hooked up, and landed another just shy or keeper sized bass before he left with the arrival of the light. He was spinning and throwing topwater baits.

     Made my way south and met up with Rich who was trying for some fluke. He had five bass yesterday all on topwater, so the fish are starting to move in as the bait is starting to move out. The water temps are hovering around 70 and things should get better as the water cools down and the bait starts to move. It's starting to feel a little like fall, outside of the 85-90 degree days we've been having.

08.03.15 Nice to be back down on the rocks......

      It has definitely been a different year all the way around for me compared to last year. I could go on, and on, but I'll just stick to the fishing aspect of my life.

      By this time last year I had finished up guiding on the Upper Delaware in the spring and caught the nice bite of big bass at the start of the summer. Last summer it was early morning first light trips popping up bass and trying for fluke in the suds.

What a difference a year makes. 

     I changed things up a bit and have traded, for only part of a year, my fly rods for nursing textbooks. I am back in pursuit of my Nurse Practitioner license. It's going to take some time but I believe it will be worth it both professionally and financially, well at least after I pay off all the student loans. So this year there was no Delaware or early summer bass or summer first light trips. I had the boat out a few times and will have it ready for the fall run along the Jersey Shore. I won't be in Montauk as I am expecting to be back in a staff nursing position. 

     This morning I hit the rocks before first light. Funny how my knees were a little wobbly getting back up on and jumping the rocks. It was nice, a nice west wind and the start of the incoming tide made lots of white water. I popped, and popped without a swirl or a bite but it nice to be back out. I was sure switching over to a Clouser would get me a flatfish but they didn't budge for me either. 

     Of course I couldn't resist to drive up to Jetty Country, or what is left of it. Pulling into Marine and Clem Cover made me sick to my stomach. It's just all gone. They have dismantled Marine Place and covered everything else. It will take decades for it to return, if it ever does. There were so many good spots, and so many hours that I spent around the clock there alone, with friends, and clients. You could go a little north, or a little south, and see the things a year or two out from beach "nourishment" but those are changed also. 

     I am sure I am just one of a thousand people who are sickened to what happened to such fabled fishing grounds. So many good memories created there but hard to remember the good times when you stand and overlook what is happening there. 

Roseld above currently and below during the good times.

06.21.15 Great week at the Vineyard......not a fish to be had

     Had a great week up in the Vineyard with the guys. Tough weather between the wind, rain, and clouds. Couple those conditions with an overall reduced number of fish and that took sight fishing out of the equation. I spent most of my time in 'The Pond" walking the flats and sand bars. I saw fish, had a few shots, follows and refusals over the week but couldn't connect. Only two of us caught fish and that was done dredging the deeper inlet.
     One day I was out and another guy was standing on the flat and at the same time we made a move back into the beach. I watched as he walked, stopped dead in his tracks, make a cast into shallow water and connect with the below beauty. It was nice to see someone catch during the week.

    We ate and drank well and had a bunch of laughs which made the week all worth it. Watching these guys tie flies and fish is something I'll always remember. Have to give props to Joe Carey who makes the week possible and does just about all of the heavy lifting getting us there and back and in a great place. I hope next year the fishing is a bit better. The fishing this and last year was tough so we're due for a banner trip. 

06.13.15 Great find at Allaire Flea Market before heading north......

     Gotta love when you find that perfect item for the man-cave.....or some would dumpster. As we went from booth to booth today it was a mix of cool finds and just junk. To my surprise I found this old striped bass skin mount laying on a chair. The price tag said $20 and before I could even pick it up the guy said $10....SOLD!! I'll have to find or make an eye for it to pretty her up a bit but either way, for me, it was the find of the day.
     Some friends and followers of the blog have been wondering if I have just given up on guiding and or just fishing altogether. Well, the answer is no. Yes, I have been swamped with life, and school, and work and I miss being on the water, both fresh and salt, tremendously. It has been a tough year on the Upper Delaware rivers as the rivers have been, for the most part, low and warm, and in the spots where there is water and more importantly cool water, lots of wade and boat traffic. I feel for the anglers and guides, and the fish, that really look forward to and rely on good conditions up there for fun and work. What is sad is that the water is in the reservoirs, they just won't release it.

Marine before

     Back home in the salt things are just as bad. My home turf has been changed, maybe forever. "Jetty Country" from Long Branch down to Asbury Park has seen a constant flow of machinery and boats pumping and spreading sand around the beaches and groins just decimating the ecosystem and prime fishing spots. The above picture is of Marine Place just after the sand was pumped and the work heads for Roseld. I couldn't even recognize the beaches, yet alone all of the good spots that I have fishing almost daily for the last 5 years.
     So today I am leaving for a trip up to Martha's Vineyard where I hope to repeat another great week like last year looking to sight fish to striped bass in the shallows and on the flats. Last year I brought just about everything I own that I fish and tie with. But, this year, with the hectic schedule and new house I am out of sorts and had a hard time putting it all together. This year I'm bringing my Mac and my textbooks so that I can continue my studies and work while on the Vineyard. We're leaving at 430 am, and as I write it's 230 am, and I have yet to finish packing up. I need this week more than ever.

06.01.15 An author's thoughts on "Darlington"......

     I received an email from blogger Joseph Wichnick sharing me a link to his blog post about Roseld, one of the "jetties" in Jetty Country. It is coined Darlington by some because of the street name that anglers park on, but either way, it holds a special place in a lot of people's hearts, including mine. Too bad it will all be changed soon as the northward march of sand approaches Marine Place, another favorite place that used to be.

Check out his thoughts, HERE.

05.15.15 Nice first run after a long winters nap..........

     Hit the river at first light to shake out the boat's cobwebs and see how we did after the long winter. Short trip was mostly about the boat but I did have the beat up bluefish fly with the wire leader ready to throw. Made some stops and tried to tease up one of the bluefish that have invaded the rivers, bays, and oceanfront in New Jersey.
     Looking forward to getting back to fishing with my salt clients and with the freshwater ones ready to give the salt a shot. Next trip will be on the beach and rocks although things are still early out front. It appears the pre-spawn bass bite that occurs in the Raritan has slowed a bit as the fish have moved up the Hudson or to alternate spawning grounds. When they're done doing there mating dance they will be hungry.

To check availability or book a trip call 732 261 7291 or drop me a line at colin@theaverageangler.com

05.12.15 Sad to see conditions on the Upper Delaware......

     I feel part of me is missing, or dead. not being up on the Upper Delaware this spring. Not only does my heart miss it my body does as well. The Delaware is magical.....and it touches all of my senses when I am on or near it. I hope to get up there to fish it for myself some time this spring......although it seems it will have to wait.
     I have been seeing posts mostly on Facebook about how poor conditions are there this spring. Low water and high water temps has anglers, and guides, canceling trips and fishing only the coolest of waters by foot. Sadly, even the lower Main is seeing hight temps which leaves the waters un-fishable. Now, you can fish it, however, most, myself included, would say that is un-ethical to do so. Thermal stress on the fish even with catch and release can cause damage and death to fish even if you take the most care and see them swim away.
     I can remember as an angler and guide alike having faced tough conditions in both high and low water and being disappointed. Unfortunately that's just the way it goes. Responsible angling sometimes means having to cancel, finding the "right" water, or even switching up and targeting another species. Putting the fish first won't put pictures on Facebook or money in your pocket, but it will protect the very fish we love to hunt, catch, and release.
   
 Kudos to the responsible anglers and guides, I hope conditions improve and all of the rain dances to the weather Gods get answered.

04.23.15 Back at it.....

     It felt good to get back out there. Even though it's a little early out front I decided to forego the bay and river and hit the rocks. West wind, off color water, no fish. It didn't matter though because it has been a long, long winter and it felt like I haven't fished the salt in a year.
     I keep receiving life-status checks since the blog has been dormant for a while. I have been keeping busy on several fronts. My new job back as an RN coupled with my return to college in pursuit of an advanced degree has been a real whirlwind. This time last year I would be preparing for next weeks One Bug up on the Delaware River and this year I am looking for my scrubs and juggling patient assessments and writing papers, in APA style of course.
     Usually I would be up on the Delaware late April through May and then hitting the salt hard starting in June but this year it will be all salt. My trips down here start up in May with some walk and wade and boat trips for the early bass and blues. I have moved from down near the beach inland and I miss the sounds of the ocean and the gongs of the buoys outside the Shark River Inlet.
     I couldn't help but notice the tug boats just off the beach down near Allenhurst and I resisted driving down but I had to. I knew what I would find when I got there. Loch Arbor is under beach nourishment assault and the work in heading north towards Phillips Ave where Phase 1 will end.

     In the below picture you can see 8th Ave in the background. It will take a long time to get it back to where it was and is supposed to be. It will be an interesting year and now is the time to get out and scout new spots where beach replenishment was done last year. Hopefully there is some structure, and hopefully there will be some good fishing.

03.10.15 Yes I am alive and well........

     I have been getting a lot of "life status" checks lately so I wanted to check in and say hello. It's amazing that even though I stopped posting regularly since the fly fishing show the hits keep coming.

     I am alive and well and have been busy with lots of life changers during the off season. I'm always accused of being too personal....so I'll be just a little personal. I've made some decisions and changes in the last few months so I'll share a few of them with you.

     First, being a full time guide is tough, tougher than most people can imagine. Not that it isn't a great job but it's hard to make it into a full time successful business. Now that's not to say that other have done it, and have done it well, but it's hard.

     After a disappointing fall season in the salt, and looking at the numbers from both Upper Delaware and saltwater trips, I have decided to concentrate on the Jersey salt for 2015. I wasn't an easy decision but a hard one that I had to make. I will miss it. My body and mind is already in the ice out mode of mid April that brings with it the FUDR One Bug, which is usually my Upper Delaware kick-off.

     I will be spending all of my time here in the Jersey salt. since I won't be up in the Catskills I will be spending the early spring in the bays and the rivers looking for those early run fish. I am really looking forward to that. I will still be offering walk and wade and boat trips and plan on fishing hard this year with and without clients. I hope the striped bass come around in good numbers. We are seeing some changes in the regulations and I hope we can rebuild the stock, because the next step is a full out moratorium. 

    In the fall, when fishing was abysmal, I decided that it was time to get back to work outside of fishing. I am an RN in New Jersey and am returning to a passion that I have that brings both satisfaction and a more steady paycheck. I am also currently back in school enrolled in a Fast Track BSN program. I can say that returning to school isn't easy to say the least. The flexibility in nursing will allow me to continue to pursue one of my life's other passions, which is taking people fly fishing in the salt. 

And of course I couldn't leave without talking up my kids a bit.......

     This winter my son went out for and made the varsity hockey team at Middletown South. This was such a huge accomplishment for him because before April of last year he'd never been on skates. He did great in his JV games and stood by through the season as the back up to the starting varsity goalie. He set out to make the team and did it and then...retired. One and done. It was so much fun while it lasted. Funny thing is, hockey families start their kids at 3 years old hoping to make the HS varsity team, Sean did it in 6 months. 

                                   

     My daughter did it!! Next year she will attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. I remember going to the open houses and then watching her work on her application and then waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Yesterday she got the good news. She will thrive and excel and accomplish amazing things there.

     My oldest is still plugging away at the numbers at Rowan and my youngest daughter is plugging away at the Common Core in fourth grade. Funny to think that after next year my three will all be "gone" and in college......it'll just be me and my favorite first mate......

     I will post from time to time so check in. I am really looking forward to this year...and can't wait to taste the salt air on my tongue, the waves crashing at my feet on the jetty, and heading out of the marina looking for birds and busting fish. 

02.04.15 Just a peek at what the changes to "jetty Country" may look like....

     I was surfing on Stripers Online and found a post about the recent contract that was awarded for work to be completed from Deal south to Asbury Park. This is the heart, well half of, of Jetty County. A contributer, "Bido", posted these mock up before and after images of what we may expect. Needless to say it is horrible, but is coming this spring.

     Combine these changes with the decline in striped bass that hit the beach outside of blitzes and things may be worse in 2015 than they were in 2014. 2014 was a boat fisherman's dream......mostly big fish on big bunker. Not what a fly rodder looks for.

01.25.15 Back from The Fly Fishing Show......

     Well after nearly twenty years of attending and working The Fly Fishing Show in Somerset I finally had my own booth. It was a big decision getting a booth because the truth is it isn't cheap and it's a lot of work but I think it was a good move.
     I have to thank everyone who stopped by my booth or attended my seminars. I presented "Fly Fishing The Jersey Jetties" and had a great turnout with the best being on Sunday where I had over 40 come out. It was also a pleasure being a part of the Women's Fly Fishing Showcase where I presented 'Kids and Fly Fishing; The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"
     I was able to walk the floor several times and noticed how many "destination" booths there were. All of the big manufacturers were on hand and it was good to see Orvis back at the show. I looked for something new and innovative that jumped out at me but nothing really grabbed me. I was next to the Kast booth and there's a pretty big hype on the Kast gloves and I was able to try them on for size. I might be including them in my foul weather gear arsenal.
    I was surprised but I didn't make a purchase all weekend, except buying raffles supporting the local fly fishing clubs. My phone hasn't rung yet so I guess I didn't win.
    I look forward to fishing with my old clients this year, and hopefully with all of the "new" people that attended my seminars or stopped by the booth. I think it was a successful show for me and if you had to ask me right now I think I'd sign up for next year.

01.22.15 Getting ready for Somerset......

     It's that time of year again.......and boy do we need it. It's not like we all have cabin fever because winter hasn't really set in yet. But, if you are a saltwater fly fisherman you have most likely been hibernating since October. 

     I have been going to The Fly Fishing show since it's early years. I worked The Fly Hatch booth with my buddy Dave Choinard several years and a few years back hung my hat at the Orvis booth for the weekend. Since Orvis wasn't in attendance last year I figured it was time to man-up. So this year I'll have a booth at C-17. I'm looking to see old friends and clients and meet new ones. In addition to the booth I'll be giving a few talks. "Fly fishing and Kids, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" at 5 o'clock on Friday and 230 on Sunday in the Women's Showcase Room. On Friday I will be presenting "Fly Fishing the Jersey Jetties" in the Techniques Room. 

     It looks like a good weekend for the show and hopefully the snow isn't to bad and gets people to come out and stay for a while. 

01.20.15 Contracts awarded for "Jetty Country"

     The $38,282,230 contract was awarded this week to a Seattle based company that will perform beach replenishment and "alterations" to groins from Phillips Ave to Loch Arbor ending at 8th Ave. This is phase one of the Lake Takanasee to Loch Arbor project, with the Phillips Ave north to Lake Takanasee being awarded later this year.

In phase one 1,400,000 cubic yards of sand will be pumped and the lengthening of six storm water outflows will be extended. Two groins, Brighton Ave and Marine Place will be notched. Phillips Ave will be notched in the second phase. The original plan called for six groins to be modified but in the end  only those three will be ruined.

Also, plans will be finalized between the Army Corp and the Deal Lake Commission on an electronic gate in the 8th Ave flume that will be installed to allow the outflow to be cleared of sand.

01.10.15 New Jersey blows it again.......

     Yep, New Jersey disappointed the angling and conservation world once again. On Thursday the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council stood up and showed how serious we are about the striped bass and the declining numbers of the stock.

Not.

     Just when other states, like Virginia, took a hard line on size and bag limits New Jersey voted like there is nothing wrong. Our council voted to keep a two fish limit for the 2015 season. Instead of dropping it to one fish at 28", or the 1@32", we set the following limits.

One fish 28 to 43 inches and a second fish over 43 inches. That my friends is a travesty. You can do all the math you want and can even try and figure that a second fish over 43 inches isn't an easy fish to catch.......but it really isn't......at least for the boat angler.

     What they have done is now started, or just ended, a war between the boat and beach angler. It used to be that the recreational and commercial fisherman we pointing fingers at each other. That was easy. They would use the argument that recreational anglers took 27 million pounds of striped bass each year to the commercials 9 million. And those numbers aren't factual. I always said that charter boats, from six packs to party, numbers should be put into the commercial category. They are vessels for hire. They are commercial operations. Even though the fares are fishing for and taking "meat" home for their own recreational pleasure. 

                               

     But what this new regulation does is pin surf fishermen against boat fisherman, well there was always a divide, but now it will get ugly. In this age of social media, from blogs to fishing forums to fishing report pages, readers are able to see, almost in real time, who is catching when and where and how. 

     What it came down to was pressure from charter boat captains who feared that reducing a paying customers haul to one fish would hurt an already hurting industry. Duh, yes it will. But that already hurting industry is happening because of the reduced number of fish available to catch and kill. You want to save a fishery......its simple......reduce mortality.

     So the early spring clam and bunker bite massacre that happens in Raritan Bay to pre-spawn Hudson fish will continue. Then the bunker snag and drop massacre will continue into the early summer. Then in the fall it will pick up again. 

     We will continue to see charter boats decks and docks loaded with dead bass. We will now see anglers "catch and releasing" those second fish that don't make the 43 inch mark. So, if your fellow angler next to you doesn't want your second 38 inch fish, and the captain doesn't want it for the boat.....guess what? That means that 10/0 treble snagging hook stuck deep into the striped bass' esophagus will be ripped out and that fish released, if you can call it that, so the angler can catch a "legal" greater than 43" fish. Just look at what happens to those summer flounder shorts. 

     Most surfcasters seemed to be okay with the one fish limit. Some will take one for the table if at all. It was a mentality shift from the weigh-in and kill tournament mentality that has existed for years to a more conservation minded approach. That felt like they were doing their part. 

Enjoying the sport and protecting the fish that they love. 

     New Jersey should be proud of itself. The ASMFC was looking for a 25% reduction......and according to Russ Allen of the NJDEP, we gave them 25.1%, way to go New Jersey. 

01.03.15 Couldn't resist giving it a go.......

     Finally the wind has changed and white water is back. Coming off the two day the flurry last week the ocean went flat and dead. I think if todays conditions continued after the few fishy days there would still be fish around.
     This morning was perfect and the water looked like it should hold fish but working a fly up and down the beach and from the rocks on the ebb tide proved for naught. Looks like the cold and rain and snow is going to start up tonight which may put the nail in the coffin till spring.

So today is quit day number 2.......

01.01.15 HAPPY NEW YEAR !........I'm done till spring......

      Happy New Year to you and yours. It has been an interesting year for me all the way around. From professional to personal it has been a year of ups and downs.......and it just keeps on coming. In the end "It is what it is" but more accurately "It is what I make it". I look forward to a great 2015 and I wish the best for my family, friends and enemies.
     This morning it was 28 degrees out and the water was like a lake. Gave it a go looking for a New Years Day, first fish of 2015, and January striped bass. I could tell as soon as I saw the water that wasn't going to happen. Had to be careful as the ice was just starting to melt off the top of the rocks. That would have sucked falling and getting hurt on my last outing till spring.
     Today I will say I am done and put away my fly rod, waders, stripping basket and StormR jacket. I am now going to shift to other more important things going on in my life and preparing for The Fly Fishing Show in Somerset.
   
                            

     On another note it was nice to see The Average Angler blog top 300,000 views. On February 26 2014 we hit 200,000 views. Some quick math says that the blog is averaging 325 views per day since then. I will continue to post even though the fishing for me is done until we start back up on the Upper Delaware in April.