It’s said too often that winter angling is hardcore, but that’s not really the case. I liken it more to a high functioning insanity. On the surface we seem just like everybody else, but once shots at the biggest fish of the year and uncrowded waters are dangled in front of us…well let’s just say things get a little weird. The tenuous fabric of winter fly fishing is held together by crappy weather reports, frozen things, and the insane. Nothing quite says “coocoo for Cocoa Puffs” like sacrificing your coffee to unstick a frozen anchor rope, or peeing on it when you run out of coffee. While none of us live in rubber rooms thinking we’re Napoleon
and pooping ourselves on the hour to keep the CIA away, we do willingly expose our extremities to hard cold (someone had to unstick the anchor rope), break sheet ice to fish a hole, and drive into the woods when everyone else is just struggling to stay warm at home. On the other hand, people play golf during the winter, so let’s not pretend to be Navy Seals. Winter fishing by no means qualifies you for the Mountain Dew Extreme Action Tour, but you do have to be just on the crazy side of sane to participate. So if you seasonal guys are out and about this winter, be warned; the inmates are now running the asylum.
-Dave
