New Year Fishing Resolutions

I never make New Years resolutions anymore. Why? I rarely follow through with them. However, I figured this year, I'll make New Year fishing resolutions. This may be something I can actually do!

In no order of importance...

1) I vow to leave the fly in the hangdown for a longer length of time. Often, I'm in a hurry to step down or simply make the next cast. Catching fish on the hang down (before I got into two handed rods) used to be one of, if not the most productive part of my swing. I need to take a step back and remember that often fish are sitting there and just need a little more time.

2) When I get a bump or a grab, put on a different fly. Somewhere along the line, I also got out of the habit of doing this. I vow to make a second or third cast exactly like I did when I got bumped, but then take a few steps back with a comeback fly.

3) More thoroughly fish the water right next to me. I'm usually pretty good about this. However, occasionally I get so fixated on hitting 60-80 feet away, I forget that fish aren't always afraid to be 5-10 feet away. They need to be given the opportunity as well!

4) Smaller tippets. When the water and fly calls for it, I'm going to scale down size.


None of these are difficult to do, I just need to slow down and make sure that I'm doing what has proven to be productive for me in the past. Finally, New Years resolutions I can follow through with.