Responsibility

For everything there is a time.  A time to grow....a time to blossom....a time for the seasons....a time to die.  For everything there is a beginning and an end.  And so I think the time has come for this little part of my life known as my blog The North River to come to a conclusion.  I am a firm believer that anything that has a beginning should have a middle and an end with a logical flow from point A to B.

 Though the paths we may take may have many bumps, twists and unexpected turns, the hope is that when we reach the end and look back to the beginning we can be satisfied with the journey. I know that my entries have significantly tailed off since the end of last year and I feel that this story of mine needs a final few words so that I may look back with satisfaction.  I have seen a number of blogs that simply dropped off the radar or slowly faded to nothing without a conclusion.  This always have left me to wonder if those bloggers journey's were at an end.  Were they satisfied...or were the readers for that matter?  I did not want to end my journey that way.

When I began this blog 6 years ago I had essentially one purpose in mind....to create an on line record of my observations and experiences of Nature and the outdoors (with a heavy emphasis on fishing) for myself. It quickly developed into something more that.  My interaction with other bloggers led to friendships (even if I didn't physically meet the person) and contact with people across the country and from overseas. I learned that this "blogging thing" could be a powerful method of spreading ideas. With that kind of power should come responsibility.

Over the years I came to realize that it was my responsibility to share with anyone willing to read my blog about the beauty and fragility of the outdoors and how my family and I fit into it.  The world needs to be cared for and respected.  By sharing the excitement I feel when outdoors  it will help others to appreciate and understand it the way I do.  It is my sincere hope that this online record will be around for awhile so that it may do just that.  Though I suspect this will be the very last post....who knows....the paths we travel tend to have many twists and turns.

I would like to thank all of those who have read through these pages over the years or may have simply stumbled onto a single post. For those who have commented with kind words or observations of their own....Thank you.  I would especially like to thank all of those individuals who became my "blogging friends".  Many of you already "get it" and I am glad to have shared your stories, experiences, Your time posting about fishing trips, hiking, wildlife, whatever it may be has farther reaching consequences than you may imagine...keep up the good work!  As for me I will continue to share my experiences in other ways (such as instagram under #thenorthriver).  I do this because I feel the responsibility never ends. Ultimately, I do it for my little girls.....

Whatever I can do to influence others, in any small way possible, to help ensure that they and those who come after them will be able to experience Nature the way I do I will do because it is my responsibility. For everyone else....get out there and experience what the outdoors has to offer.  Don't let it slip through your fingers and realize at the end of your journey down the path you missed something special.....and make sure you share it with others so that all may enjoy.

When Is Fishing Without Catching A Fish Not A Bust?

Being skunked on a fishing trip is usually a bit of a let down, especially when you have waited more than five months through a long winter to go fishing for the first time.

However, I have come to the conclusion that an outing fishing (without catching a fish) with my kids and wife can be a success without bringing a single fish to hand.

As much as I would have enjoyed seeing them squealing with delight with a trout dangling from the line I would not trade the time spent with them for all the fish in the pond!

A Hot Spot for a Cold Winter's Day

Aki Hot Spot

It's been a while but I'm still here.  I have been meaning to write a post for quite some time but holidays, new job, you know.......life seems to have gotten in the way.  I'm still tying flies in my spare time, trying to pass the winter away. Tying flies is about all you can do when the temps are rarely getting out of the teens and things are frozen solid.  This winter has given me a little time to tie a few flies out of my comfort zone and do something I have always liked to do with flies....experiment.  The fly pictured above is just such an experiment.  I call it a "Aki Hot Spot."  It's short for Akiyamago Yamada Kebari Hot Spot, which is a type of tenkara dry fly.  This type of fly and it's simple construction is consistent with tenkara's philosophy of simplicity. It primarily consists of a dry fly hackle wrapped from the bend to the eye of the hook. Once the hackle is tied on, the back 1/2 to 2/3 of the fly gets a "hair cut" to form the body of the fly. For my Hot Spot I tied the fly using a size 12 black dry fly hackle on a size 12 #1280 Daiichi dry fly hook.  The tail consists of woodchuck guard hairs.  My favorite part, at least it will be for my eyes when it hits the stream, is the hot spot I added. The hot spot is a dry fly hackle which has been dyed chartreuse. The Aki Hot Spot is a simple fly to tie and I'm looking forward to casting it a few times when New York eventually thaws out.