WRITE ON THE FLY
By GEORGE LISET
The arrival of a new year is reason for reflection as it approaches rapidly. Who could have predicted the trials and tribulations of this last year? Most people were prepared for the same old self.
As most of us will tell you that we have had life experiences, life has a way of making you a curve and I guess that’s what makes life interesting. My mother used to say that what didn’t kill you made you stronger. We hope.
When I look back on New Year’s resolutions and last year, I was amazed at how well I did. I am a great planner. So much so that sometimes a change of plans, to my wife’s dismay, drives me crazy. But I also know that sometimes these changes in plans present wonderful opportunities.
One of my resolutions was to be more flexible. I have found that it has been a bit liberating to be able to say “Yes” more to the change of plans and especially to the fishing possibilities. I spent some fantastic days unplanned fishing. One was in a lowland pond to the north. He caught them as fast as he could get the fly in the water. I’ve never laughed so much at water in my life and we’ve caught some monsters.
Another resolution was to fish more. More is a relative term, so I would define more as enough to make me feel like I didn’t need to go any further. I think it was achieved even with everything that happened this year. Fly fishing is a wonderful sport of social distancing. Combined with the cancellation of all social functions, it was the perfect storm for more fly fishing opportunities.
New water fishing was a resolution I was able to uphold this year. There is so much water in New Hampshire that you can never fish it all. But it’s fun to try. I came across some fantastic ponds in the Lake District. Floating tubes are like sitting in an armchair with a wand. It is also easy to kneel.
I also fished several rivers and streams that flow into the Connecticut River. The Cold River and the Ashuelot River were some nice rivers to fish. Luckily, I got there in the spring before it started to look like low tide in Hampton Beach. Both are very diverse and offer opportunities for dry fly and nymphs.
One resolution I had this year was inspired by WD Wetherell, the author of Vermont River. In his book he chronicled fishing on the same river for a year. While it doesn’t tell you which river, fly fishermen speculate on the White River. I chose the Cocheco River and was able to reach the river a couple of times each month. It’s amazing what you learn about a river when you’re there so much.
This year I decided to keep all of last year’s resolutions and add another. My new resolution is inspired by writer David Van Wie. Van Wie wrote a book entitled Waters with floor, where he shares his experiences fishing some of the most famous fly fishing waters in the Northeastern United States. David fished Walden Pond, the Battenkill in Vermont, as well as the Beaverkill in the Catskill Mountains and the Spring Creek in Pennsylvania to name a few. I’ve caught a couple of the waters he mentioned, but I’d like to add another.
As we enter this new year of uncertainty, and you are reflecting on next year, I hope I have given you a few things to think about. Set realistic goals and enjoy unplanned opportunities. Narrow lines for the new year.
George Liset of Dover is an outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares ideas of his time on the water exploring the rivers and streams of New Hampshire, as well as those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire.