How did I get here?

I've enjoyed following some of the fishing blogs out there for the past couple of years and figured it was about time to start one of my own.  I fit some of the profile...I love fly fishing and time on the water more than just about anything else in the world.  With the exception of time spent with my wife and 2 year old son, I'm either fishing, tying or thinking about them most of the time. 

Predictably, in recent years actual fishing time has been cut by two thirds.  Life has a way of dividing us into many parts...husband, father, worker, grounds keeper, fisherman.  Alas, time makes no accomodations and so we become aportioned like so many time share condos to the things that are important.  Aside from a seemingly annual week long adventure to Michigan with my buddy Jeff, fishing has been relegated to slivers of time during weekend pre and post dawn Saturdays and occasional bonus afternoons if the weather cooperates and the grass is cut.

Luckily, Jeff is similarly divided in his obligations and as such is perfectly agreeable to meeting at the Pine Point launch at 2am for striper forays.  I'm not in love with fly fishing in black of night, but it beats the alternative.  Plus, we always get a good parking spot and avoid having to wait at the launch.  Stripers are active nighttime feeders and despite the almost surreal feeling of casting without sight, there is always the chance of something special happening.

Winters are long in Maine.  Gone are the monthly weekend trips to NY for winter steelhead (not worth worth spending my limited time away to freeze) so this is the perfect time for tying and blogging.  I've always wanted to keep a journal, but have been too lazy to get it done.  The past year or so, I've become so excited about the types of flies that we've been tying and fishing, that it makes more sense to start a little writing as a way to preserve the energy, thoughts and even recipes to look back on.  I'm going to try to write something on a weekly basis this winter.  There will be some weeks that I don't write anything and others where I post several times.  It could be a function of time, what I'm up to or how I'm feeling.

Come spring, I expect this will become a lot more like a fishing journal.  I'm a multi species fly fisherman (and, as such not particularly accomplished at any one species) and hope to have a diverse and interesting year to talk about.  I'm planning to get a recreational lobster permit this season so striper trips will have the bonus fun of pulling a few traps and will hopefully provide some great pictures and stories that are worth telling.