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Written by: Rich

Published: 01 January 2020

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I am pleased to announce that I will be doing a nice tying and fishing weekend with Legends on The Farmington Lodge later this winter.  All the details are on the attached poster and those attending will get to sit down and tie a few of my favorite fly patterns for early season fishing.  All attendees will be provided with a detailed itinerary, space is limited.  What a great way to get rid of that cabin fever and disconnect from our electronic world by spending some time on the water, at the vise with a group of people with similar interests. 

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Written by: Rich

Published: 15 December 2019

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It isn't often when we can positively impact something special to others through our actions.  Many times there aren't any instructions in place to help us make an educated decision on what we are about to embark upon, leaving us to take a leap of faith and roll the dice, crossing our fingers and hoping to have made the right decision.  Then there are situations that come to the forefront that appear to be so blatantly obvious that it would leave those who choose not to act negligent for the most certain pressing negative impact.  

The fate of the Striped Bass is clearly on that blatantly obvious list.  The Striped Bass is on some painfully familiar ground that just a few decades ago was reality, and one that could've lead to their demise if some very pointed measures were not put into place.  Today, we find these lovely creatures on a steady decline, and before you all go pointing fingers in a million different directions, sit back and just listen for a minute.  The commercial fishing industry is the easiest target to point that finger at, but I caution you to pass quick judgement.  The catch and release angler continuously uses that practice as their moral compass clearly believing that they are  not the problem as it has been proven to further sustain a species.  I will add to that, in theory the practice works, but there are a litany of other variables that come into play when catching and "ethically" releasing a fish back into the water to ensure its mortality.  

I feel I can speak to both accords, as at one time in my life I kept everything, only to graduate to the concept of catch and release, which I have practiced for the better part of 35 years now.  Personal experience both as a recreational fresh and salt water angler and freshwater guide, it would be irresponsible to think that just because you practice catch and release you aren't negatively impacting a fishery in any way.    There isn't a day that goes by when I step foot into my homewaters, a place where catch and release is practiced at a very high rate, and stumble upon at least a handful of fish that perished at the hands of one of "us" catch and release anglers  Sometimes I witness the act of mishandling, other times I just see the pale washed out corpses of fish on the river bed, lying belly up as a result of our mishaps.  It happens, and we all can do a better job; every season I release a fish or two that I happen to wonder if I negatively impacted them to the point of no return.   

Over time I have taken less photos of fish, and spent more time taking in the moment in the last season then I ever have, and mostly because I have often wondered is it really worth it to showcase that memorable catch to the "gram" if my actions lead to the demise of that fish?  I have come to recognize that carelessness in this regard is something I can do a better job at to hopefully prolong and preserve this wonderful sport for not only myself and others, but my children and hopefully someday grandchildren.  

You're all probably wondering why I am waxing poetic here, a very understandable response.  It isn't often that we can make a difference, but constant reassessment can lead to change, not only in ourselves but others.  A real look in the mirror at our practices past and present can lead to positive change.  

I was recently forwarded an article from a few of my friends in my closest fishing circle who happen to live on the Massachusetts shoreline.  This article punched me right in the gut in the first three paragraphs, and I have been sitting here all weekend between kids games and daily chores wondering what I can do to spread the word while simultaneously reflecting on my own catch and release practices.  

Dick Russell penned the article for the Vineyard Gazette titled Words of a Fisherman: Time to Let Stripers Be.   I suggest any of you who fish for Striped Bass to read it, it'll take maybe five minutes out of your day.  And that five minutes should paint a very clear picture as what needs to happen to further this species.  It is very apparent the time has come to repeat history, and place a moratorium on the Striped Bass before they are another species added to the extinct list.  This stretches further than the commercial fisherman, it touches on EVERY fisherman, we need to leave these fish alone and take action before it's too late; and it just might already be just that.  

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Written by: Rich

Published: 24 November 2019

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Cabin fever typically doesn't settle in for me until late January early February depending on how harsh of a winter we are experiencing up here in New England.  Living within minutes of a good tailwater fishery can help, but sometimes even the weather is just too damn cold to even want to gather up the enthusiasm of spending a day breaking ice from guides and dodging slush in the hopes of connecting with some trout.  Although we have had a relatively mild fall, and have yet to experience any weather of the sort here yet this year, I have been confined to the walls of my house after a much needed knee surgery.  

Five weeks ago today I went in for an arthroscopic procedure to alleviate some discomfort I had inherited over the last season in my right knee.  After several diagnosis depending on which surgeon you spoke to I luckily chose correctly and will in due time be better than ever and once again enjoying the many activities that I have come to love.  Although I am doing well, I do however have a long way to go until I am relatively normal; I mean I do have good range of motion in my knee, but I am still experiencing tightness and swelling around the joint, and will for several more weeks.  When your born with knees that aren't straight (mine were off by about 15 degrees) once you have that issue fixed, it takes some time for your body to adapt to having that joint in it's proper position.  So essentially I am learning how to move around normally again.  

Being a person with a high activity level, you can only imagine that it doesn't take me very long before I start to get a little antsy. A normal day in my life typically starts early and ends late with my day kicking off with some sort of exercise regimen.  I never imagined that I would feel this way, but watching the numbers on the scale increase and my activity level decrease as I have had to recover from this surgery has been something much more diffiicult to deal with than I had anticipated.  

Having time to reflect has however helped me stay focused and really recognize how fortunate I am.  I realize that this time next year this will all be water under the bridge and my active life will have resumed, but I also have come to the realization that if I couldn't ever take part in all those wonderful activities I have loved some much again, I have lived a pretty damn good life thus far.  So as I sit here with a bit of early winter cabin fever, I really appreciate all of you who have taken the time to reach out to me and wish me well as I get my feet back under me.  I am truly blessed to have such good friends and customers and I can't thank you all enough.  

I have had the time to tie flies for everyone daily while home, and it has kept me relatively sane throughout, but I can't help but pine for the river and the fish that lie within it's confines, and the day that will be here when I can get back out there on a regular basis.  I did manage to scratch that itch with a good friend this past week who was kind enough to offer up the front of his raft for the day while I hung my leg out the side in hopes of catching some fish.  You could say that we accomplished our goal and I regained a bit of my sanity albeit for a short amount of time.  I guess you could say I am already longing for that next step back into the water. I guess when the water of the river runs through your veins you never can get quite enough of it.  

I am happy to say that the time at home has allowed me to build up flies not only for my own boxes, but also a very nice cross section that I will have in tow for the FlyFishing Show in Marlborough in January.  I hope to see some of you there, but until then I will continue to work hard at getting back out there in the next couple of months.