Mother's Day 2013

On this Mother's Day, I think of where this life has brought me and how seemingly insignificant events have significantly shaped my life. Just a couple of years after this photo of my mother and I was taken, mom took my grandmother fishing and I tagged along. Being about 5 years old, she took me fishing with them ( see this blog entry  for more ). Catching bluegills always reminds me of my early days. It's was that fishing trip that triggered my lifelong passion for fishing.

Because of my mother and father, I was very fortunate to have them nurture my love of the outdoors. Thank you mom and dad. Rest in peace.

Circa 1952-53 west of Modesto

Tackle Care: Spring Fly Line Care

With the Spring weather, more and more anglers are getting out. Some tackle examination can make your outings more pleasant.

At this time of the year, one of the FAQ's that I get is, does my fly line need to be changed? There are several things to check to evaluate whether your line needs changing.

• Check to see if the business end ( first 25'-40' ) of the line appears to be dirtier than the running line portion. 
• If the line is beginning to crack, you will see dark lines running perpendicular to the fly line, then it's probably time for a new line.
• Is the fly line is not supple and is difficult to straighten out, then the plasticizers have  migrated out and it's time for a new line.
• With floating lines, does most of the line tend to sink? If your line is otherwise in decent condition, you can during the course of the day out on the water use your fly floatant paste ( or line dressing ) and apply it to the fly line ( I  will also apply the floatant on my leader up to my dry fly or strike indicator ). You will find that floatant on the line and the leader makes mending so much easier.

Here's a couple of helpful videos from Rio Fly Lines on caring for your fly lines.

Cleaning A Fly Line - Part 1 from Far Bank on Vimeo.

Cleaning A Fly Line - Part 2 from Far Bank on Vimeo.