Happy 2025 all. What are your goals for this calendar year? Do you want to catch more fish, bigger fish, or are you after a namer (a trout 24 inches or larger)?
The Gregorian calendar tells us it’s a new year, but I see life (and fly fishing) in terms of seasons rather than months. I cook different meals depending on the season. I read more (or less) depending on the season. I tie flies depending on the season and I fish more (or less) days per month depending on the season.
Winter is now in full swing and although it is a new year I still feel like it’s just a continuation of time. Maybe birthdays are more fitting of when a new year should begin, not January 1st. Either way, time is elapsing, although breaks inevitably seem to zoom past like a freight train in the night.
As an ardent angler, I don’t really have an off-season. I suppose my “down time” is when there’s not enough sunlight to fish after school, but I still fish even when the inevitable departure of daylight savings time attempts to derail me.
I do believe in goal setting, (short and long term) and trying to improve my craft as a classroom teacher and angler. I was lucky enough to catch a namer in 2023, but I didn’t get all that close in 2024. Don’t get me wrong, I caught some wonderful fish last year and some I’ll never forget, but none were in the same mythical category as Terrence.
After listening to another informative Troutbitten podcast I realized that’s OK. Most true freestone rivers DON’T hold piles off fish 24” and larger, but they may hold a few depending on weather conditions and for us here in Colorado, that’s runoff. Several years in a row of solid snowpack will most likely result in the big fish growing a little bit bigger. I can’t wait to find out.
The forecast looks bleak for the foreseeable future so there will be much more fly tying on the horizon. Check out my pages devoted to winter fishing and fly tying as well if you enjoy either or both of those activities.
Happy New Year, and tight lines.
Mayfly Musings 
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