New Years Resolutions

    2012 is MY year. It's the year I get into building rods...glass, graphite, and hopefully bamboos as well. It's the year ALL the things I've wanted to do fishing related, not only happens, but goes down in My record book as the year of finally doing what I want to do. It's the year that I post more blogs on a regular basis, get more involved in online forums, and most of all get out on the water n post tons of pics of all the great days on the water.
    It's the year I buy My kayak, and spend as many days on the water as possible, even at the risk of having to find another job on those great weather days. The year that I make a name for Myself, and not just as a friend, or co worker, but as someone who's trying to further his life, and make it the best it can possibly be. It's the year Montana is no longer a state I've driven through, but one I get to visit, and stand in the states many majestic waters that fisherman dream of standing in their whole lives, as well as catch some memorable fish.
    It's the year that people who mean the most to Me know it, and the ones that talk the talk, but wont walk the walk, get to learn how to walk on out of My life for good. It's a year for doing, and stop dreaming. This is the year to make things happen, and in a year from now look back on it and say I was very satisfied with how life treated Me over the past year.
    For those reading, stop saying I want I want, and say, I did I did. Stop saying I'd like to do this, but dont have the time, or whatever it is that's stopping you from doing it. Too many times you get an opportunity, and you pass on it for some reason, just to find out later it's a one time opportunity....and you lost it. This is the year to get it all back, and stop dreaming. This is My year, and this is the year, that all the rest of My years are judged upon. Take a tip from Nike......JUST DO IT!!!!

ebay rod blanks

   I'm not sure if it's a safe bet, or not yet. On one hand, I'm saying it would be worth it to score a cheap blank for My first build. If I mess it up, and spend less then 20$ on the blank, I'd come out ahead if I mess it up right? On the other hand, Im thinking what if I do a perfect job on this blank, and it's got pits, uneven finish, and worse yet...a weak blank that cant take the stress of a fish?
   I'm really debating on whether, or not to do it. I guess I could, and even if it comes out nice (insert a smiley face rolling around on the ground here), I can still hang it on the wall as My first rod building trophy. On the other hand, I've been looking at cabela's and have found some very nice 8wt kits, that come complete with everything needed, and are reasonably priced.
   So....here is MY thinking( again insert rofl smiley face here). I get the complete kit.....AND I get a few blanks on flea bay in case I actually do a great job, so I'm ahead of the game so to speak for My next builds. All I will need to do afterwards is get  some guides, and handles, and the rest as they say is history. Guess we'll just have to wait n see what santa brings  Me I guess. Tight lines.

Too much work bums the fishbum

   I love to work, I really do, But...there is a serious lack of being a hooker going on. I mean, I tie flies, I'm buying the goodies to start building rods, but I don't have anytime with work to do any fishing at all. I'm actually glad I didn't buy a kayak this last summer, I never would have had a chance to use it.
   It really sucks too, watching all these fishing videos of guys out on the water catching these huge fish, and all I'm  catching is hell at work when I turn around. The good news is I have a rod building jig, not to mention I just bought some epoxy, and mixing cups to I can get My supplies together before starting My first build.
   I think I'm gonna build an 8wt for My first rod, then we'll see if it's just something I like to do, or if it's another addiction I have in My bag of tricks. The good news is that it's winter time. That means stocking up on the fly boxes, building a few new rods (crosses My leaders...lol), and buying some new gear to play with this next years season.
   I really need to make it up to Cleveland this year if I can make it up there, and go do some steelhead fishing. Time to go slay some chrome. It's the one fish I've always wanted to go catch, but never had the chance to get out and try to catch.

The one that got away

We've all heard the stories of the one that got away. I only wish I could back up what I have to say with the fish itself. It was a gorgeous day out today, and decided to go out and do abit of fishing. There's a nice set of ponds near the castle here in town, and though I have fished one of em a few times, I decided to fish the smaller pond today.

I broke out the 5 wt, tied on a hopper pattern, and started slingin it out there as far as I could. All I was getting were bites from bluegills too small to even get the hook in thier mouth. I switched over to a colorful bassbug after a few casts, and started to let it fly as far as I could. Only one side of the pond was accessable due to weeds along the shores, so I had to stick to one side of the pond, and work it as well as possible with what I had.

I had almost given up when I seen a little swirl about 15 ft out in the water, and thought I'd give it a try. I double hauled and landed the fly just in front of the spot I had seen. I twitched it once, n gave it a gentle pop....next thing I knew the fly disappered, and line was being stripped from the reel faster then I could get My hands on it. It got it down into the backing, n seen it do a nice jump near the other side of the shore, and then I could only guess as a deep dive.

Next thing I know....the line goes slack. Now, I've been fishing long enough to know to keep the rod tip high....check. I know to keep the line tight, but give him room to move so he don't break off....check. But, what I don't know is how to keep the dang snags in the water from keeping My line from breaking when I have possibly the biggest fish I've ever hooked in My life on the line, to get it to hand.

The funny part is I rushed home right afterwards to tell My g.f. we have to go to walmart to buy a raft. When she heard about the fight, she grabbed her rod, n asked what I was waiting for. We went back out there, n fished for another hour or so, n seen him out there rising, n teasing us, but didn't get any bites. I'm just glad he was still out there rising, so I didn't sound like some dang fish story telling angler.

Tomorrow is round two. I'm gonna get that fish. No matter what, I'm getting that fish. I definatly need to get a pontoon raft, or at least a raft. I think once I get to building My rods later on, Im definatly gonna be building a good bass rod that I can get alot of line out on the water with. Well, hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to talk about the one that DIDN'T get away, lol.

Thinking of trying to build a fly rod

I've been doing alot of research lately on what I need to get in order to start building some rods. I don't think My first rod build is gonna be an expensive one, cause if I mess up, I'd prefer the first rod be one that can easily be forgotten, without looking at the checking account n wonder what I was thinking when I did it.

I'd like to go with a nice 9ft 8wt rod, seeing as how I don't own a good bass fishing rod. I've got a ton of links on equipment, supplies, and various other things I'd want to get if My first rod build goes well. If I do well, I'd like to get a lathe so I can turn My own grips, and reel seats.

My goal is to get good enough to make up a few personal rods to use Myself, and possibly give some away as gifts to friends, and family who fish. I also wouldn't mind getting into building bamboo rods at a later time as well. I really like working with My hands, and feel that building a bamboo rod, would be a test of My skills.

Keep your fingers crossed. If things go well hopefully I'll start My first build in about a month if everything goes right. Gotta get the tools, and supplies to do the work first, then it's gonna be a gamble if I can do it or not.

nice spring day

I've been out a handfull of times in the last few days. My girlfriends daughters were here for spring break last week. Although we didnt get to go fishing much due to bad weather, we did manage to get in a trip on saturday. Headed down to the lake to fish for abit before they were getting tired of all the mud, then we decided to head back into town to the castle so they could play around abit as well

Well, it was cold n breezy n not much going on as far as bites either. I threw everything I had at the fish that day, clousers, deer hair bass bugs, wooly worms, crawfish, and didnt get a nibble. So yesterday I went down to a spot that I found near My girlfriends job, and decided to throw out a line for abit. Ended up using some wooly worms, and a few hopper patterns, and finally ended up catching a bluegill that was so small, that the entire fish fit in the palm of my hand.

I need to get to the fly shop n get some new lines, as well as possibly an 8wt fly rod set up. I've been seeing alot about the shark lines lately, and think I might outfit at least one reel with it to check it out n see if the lines all it's cracked up to be. All I can say is that my 5wt line is so old it cant even keep a good grease on it anymore. I cast 10 ft, and it takes all the effort I got to get it to roll over properly, much less go any further.

Well with any luck by the time the weather is cooperating, and the fish start to really bite, I can afford to get a few new fly lines, and perhaps an 8wt rod n reel so my 5wt dont become a snapped twig when I get that first big bass of the year.

Scouting some new areas to fish

I've been scouting some new areas to fish around here lately. Went back to the pond that I took the kids to for abit of fishing. I didn't have any luck catching any fish while I was there, but seen some huge carp that I now have to try and catch. I spoke with someone who was there who said they were shocked to see Me fishing there.

Apparently, they emptied that pond a few years ago, and as far as he knew, he said there weren't any fish in there. Well I'm keeping positive that there are seeing as how I seen the carp. After talking to a few other people I've decided to find another place to fish just in case there arent any fish in there.

Last night while Myself, and the gf were hunting for a larger place to live, I noticed a nice sized pond in the area we're looking at. I stopped by there today after dropping her off at work, and it definatly has potential. It's a large pond with water being fed from a river, as well as an area to launch a bellyboat, or pontoon from pretty easily. It was too windy, and cod to try n do any fishing today, but hope to head back tomorrow for abit of fishing there.