Life Surprises

  I gave up on New Year's resolutions a long time ago. I figure at this point in my life, the best I can do is to make a list of things I hope to accomplish, and then do the best I can to work around life's surprises to accomplish them. And speaking of "life's surprises, 2023 was unbelievably full of them. Family health issues, death of loved ones, job changes, broken bones....this past year was chock full of them. But, as usual, the one constant that never fails to be there was fishing. And although I didn't get to spend as much time on the water due to work related constraints, just about every trip this year will leave an indelible mark in the pages of my memory.

  Through Sexyloops, I have had the pleasure of meeting with two new friends, Phil and D.K. And, because of my friendship with Phil, my casting...especially my distance casting has really improved this year. Not necessarily because of anything technical that I've learned from Phil, but mainly because of the yin and yang of two good friends pushing each other's limits in both knowledge and performance of a shared interest. Back in July, I managed to hit 128'8", which is a benchmark I never believed I could hit. And, although the inspiration to make such a cast may have come from my friendly competition with Phil, the technical knowledge to achieve that distance came squarely from Paul and Nick. The series of interviews and tutorials they did earlier in the year is simply outstanding, and if you haven't watched them, you are missing out!

  Of course, there are several items on the 2023 list that are going to have to get pushed to 2024, some of which are professional, and involve new products in the rod-building industry, but most involve throwing a fly to as many tailing Redfish as I can. Every year that goes by is a gentle reminder that time gets shorter with each tick of the second hand on the clock, and so I hope that 2024 sees many more hours spent on the water than I did in 2023.

 As I wrote this, it is 8:15 pm on New Year's EveTexas time. When I finish up this Front Page, I'll likely pull up Google Earth to start a list of places, both old and new to explore this year. Many of the trips I had planned in 2023 were derailed, by the aforementioned "life surprises", but I am determined not to let them fall completely by the wayside. I also have a small collection of new tapers that I've hand-picked from my blank collection that I am anxious to try out, so I'll also be putting together a list of components for those builds as well. All of these things will be going NOT on the resolution list, but on the "try your best to do in spite of life's surprises" list. Honestly I think that's the best any of us can do.

Whether it's tying flies, building rods, or simply sitting on the edge of a stream, a bonefish flat, or the deck of a skiff watching the natural world unfold in front of us, my hope for all of us that love this craft so much is that we all get to spend more time doing whatever it is that we love to do.

Best Wishes for a safe, healthy, and Happy New Year from South Texas, 

Andy