What a year!!
I don’t know how you feel, but personally I am really happy that 2020 is over. As an business owner and avid angler, I will admit, I do love new challenges and experiences, but, WOW, I am glad that year is behind us and that my business doors are still open! I count my blessings every day, and remain grateful. I can not say thank you enough to my family, friends and customers that made that possible.
This blog is about fishing, so I will get right to it 🙂
Fishing has been part of my life since I could walk. It has been the one constant in my life. Growing up, we moved around quite a bit, new states, new schools, new friends, you get the idea. Often enough, I would like the new places and people, other times, not so much. With every new place, I always found the water, and the fish in it! As a kid, I was a always curious about what species live in certain waters, and I hope I continue to explore and stay curious.
I was not always the best kid, teenager or young adult. I know my mom worried anytime I would leave the house. The only time my mom didn’t worry about me is when I said, “I’m going fishing”. As a young person, fishing kept me out trouble, it helped me focus and was a common thread anywhere we moved. Essentially, fishing and being out in nature became my favorite pastime, and in many ways a friend to me. It taught me to be grounded and humble, but sometimes left me feeling frustrated, I soon learned, that’s just fishing! As I look back, I consider myself fortunate that fishing has stuck with me all these years. I continue to stay grounded, and humble, curious and grateful. I can honestly say, fishing has helped me navigate with more clarity through some tough times in life, I am not sure where I would be without it.
Many thanks to all who continue to support the Albemarle Angler, we would not be here without you!
Okay, if you are still reading this here we go. Winter time fishing in Virginia.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The number of people that come into the shop and ask, “can fish this time of year”? Yep, you sure can! You can fish 12 months of the year in Virginia. Winter is my favorite time. The diversity of Virginia’s fishery is second to none. The picture of the brown trout was taken before new years. The musky is from Jan 1st, the largemouth and striper are from Jan 2nd, the brookie is from Jan 3rd. I had to work on Jan 4th or there would have been a couple more species. Trust me when I say,” winter fishing is amazing”!
This year we had so many new customers this past year; completely new to fly fishing. It makes sense really, feeling the need to get outdoors, breath the fresh air, relax, clear your mind, and to try something new.
Those of you that are just getting into fly fish might be finding it a little more challenging than that YouTube video you googled on how to cast or the perhaps even the books you have recently read. The truth is, there is no secret to fly fishing, it is purely individual. What I mean by that is that it is all you, your experience as you learn it. Nothing about it is the same for everyone. That said, we will all end up in the trees, get snagged on the bottom of the river, snag, break, tangle up our line on everything and anything…Okay, so maybe there are a few things all us fly anglers have in common 🙂
I will leave you with this, try new things, get out there and experience what makes you happy and fulfilled! Weather it’s fresh or salty, go ahead and fish it, stay curious!
Until next time,
Stay safe and healthy.
