Last Minute Parties are the Best

My brother Luke casting his first flies over Trout.

There are times when you throw a party last minute and you have the best time. Those parties are always memorable. This evening at 5:10 I made a call to 2 good friends and told them I was going fishing. An hour later we were deciding what waters we wanted to cast on.


For my brother it would be a learning experience as he had only been fly fishing once before. For my buddy Troy and I we were glad to be on the river together again. My brother, Luke, was quickly hooked on fly as he caught his first trout within 1minutes. Ironically, when he did, Troy and I were in the trees.


As we cast over a large pool, the sun slowly fell behind the trees. The air temperature changed too and a mist formed over the water. The fish started rising all over and things got exciting. Each of us landed and released a number of healthy brook trout and smiled every time.


On a turn in the river a beaver swam leisurely as I cast my fly into his pool. I couldn't believe how calm he was. It wasn't until I hooked into a heavy 10" brookie that the beaver slapped his tail and took cover.


As the sun fell further we reluctantly decided to start our hike back to the truck. All of us wearing smiles that could readily be seen in the fading light.

Troy keeping the trout wet as he prepares to let it go.

Thanks for the party boys. Tight lines.

Healthy Brookies like this were caught and released all evening.

Creating Tradition

A lot has been written about traditions.  People find themselves in one of two opinions about traditions.  Some firmly stand behind doing the same thing over and over again.  They believe if it works or has been successful then why change or why not do it again.  Others think that tradition is safe and that it lacks challenge or ambition.  For me, I fall in the first of these mind sets.  I like creating memories and building family traditions.  My parents created traditions for my siblings and I and it provided me with a sense of family, security, and love and I want that for my children.

I've written before about how the Whalen's have a long affinity for bonding during fishing and  hiking trips and so it should be no surprise that one tradition I am try to build for my son is a birthday fishing trip.  For the last four years I have taken him and some of his friends on an overnight camping/fishing trip.  This year was no different.  Words can't adequately describe the trip or the pride and emotions it conjured up within me.

The fishing was slow to say the best but the laughs and memories were plentiful.  What is really cool is that this tradition frequently falls on the Father's Day weekend and I couldn't think of a better way to spend Father's Day.  Even better, my Dad has been with us on every trip so far. Here is hoping this is a tradition that continues for years to come.

Self Discovery While Fishing

There has long been some controversy between fly anglers and bait fisherman and I know that for the most part it is just anglers ripping on anglers.  Fishing is fishing right?  Wrong.

My first few fly casts on Trout Creek this season.

As I waded down through a stream tonight I suddenly realized something.  I was casting my bait line and it suddenly hit me.  As I reeled in my 8th brookie, I found my self reminiscing about my childhood.  When I came off the water I felt like I was 18 again.

One of the larger small stream brookies I caught on bait.  This beautiful fish was just shy of 10"

The night before I was out fly fishing and while I didn't have the same youthful exuberance I did have a great sense of tranquility and peace.  I felt mature somehow, maybe relaxed or reserved.  It was a completely different feeling than what I felt tonight with the bait rod in hand.

It might be just me.  I had a great childhood of digging worms and casting for trout so when I feel that tug of a fish on the line my memories instantly take me to my childhood.  I took on fly fishing as a challenge and as a way to challenge myself in my sport of choice.  With  the difference in how I undertook each it only stands to reason that each would have a different impact on my moods.

Fishing isn't always about the angling, sometimes you just have to take in the surroundings.

 What makes you smile when on the water?  If you love casting bait then cast away and if your preferred arsenal is flies then fire away.  Either way, get out there and enjoy the fishing.