If you are a fly fisherman or woman who does not happen to tie flies, what do you do during the winter months. How do you whittle away the days until you can get back on the water (in relative comfort) and catch some fish?
When I was young, before I started fly fishing and tying flies, I would get all my tackle boxes together, rods & reels and catalog and clean them. I didn't go as far as polishing up all my plugs and spinners but pretty close. I would check the line on all my reels and replace what was needed. I would clean and lube all my reels, even the ones I did not use the season before. My tackle boxes would be emptied, washed out and filled back up.
I also kept a running list of all the all the things that needed fixing, replacing or I wanted new. I had the latest Cabela's and Bass Pro catalogs handy to thumb through to add items to my list. I also had my issues of Fishing Facts and Bassmasters handy to re-read articles on techniques I wanted to work on for the coming year. I actually looked forward to winter a little more. I have fond memories of sitting in the front room of our house on the lake and looking out over the ice while cleaning/organizing my gear and dreaming of the fish I would catch and the places I would chase them.
I only mention it because if you do not tie your own flies, you can always organize and clean your gear while the snow is on the ground. Catalog all your fishing lines, clean all your reels, wash all your fishing lines and rods, organize your fly boxes, check and replace your leaders and tippet materials, clean and organize your vest, sort through your fishing pictures from the year before. Make lists of the places you want to fish, the flies you need and the new gear you want for the next season.
You don't have to be on the water all the time to enjoy fishing. The next best thing to dipping your toes in the stream is dreaming about it. For soon the dream becomes reality.
