Well, here we are. A little over one day left in 2014. I hope the year was good to you. Mine didn’t suck. I got to fish about 100 days — not too shabby for a guy who really loves his wife, has three jobs, and two kids playing travel sports. (I don’t have an exact count on the number of outings because I am grotesquely behind in my journal. Like, August behind.) I did a fair amount of writing, teaching, speaking, and guiding, too. All labors of love.
And, of course, there’s currentseams. The site had over 50,000 views this year, and we’re up to nearly 250 followers. I’d like to welcome the new people, and say thank you to everyone who took the time to read my scribblings. (No, Paul, I have not forgotten about you, and yes, I have started your striper flies.)
Part of what I love about my job is the chance to interact with the angling community on a personal level. So, to that end, please come say hi in the comments section. Tell us something you learned this year, or maybe about that one that got away, or even better, that one who didn’t.
I’ll start things off. I was fortunate to have a number of fish challenge for the highlight reel. But if I had to pick one, it would be my new personal best thirty-pound striper from the shore from spring. That cow had my rod making noises I’d never heard nor imagined it could produce. Good stuff. Learning? I try to find something new on every trip, so it’s hard to pick one. But I’ll go with this: if the steelhead aren’t biting in the run you’re fishing, move on.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Happiness is twice thinking you were snagged on the bottom — and twice discovering that you were not. Lousy photo, pretty spiffy striped bass. Maybe for our next contest we can try to guess how many herring she had in that tummy.
currentseams.com 
Happy New Year to you and yours.
my best trips of the year were fall strippers on top for hours at a time, no other boats in site and the fish thinking my clouser was candy.
looking forward to 2015.
I must exercise great restraint to ignore my inner seventh grade humor dude who wants to jump all over that extra “p” you added.
Not to worry, Mike, I know what you meant. 🙂
Happy new year!
2014 was a good one indeed, I had lots of time on the water, and lots of good fish. But I think one in particular will be remembered for the rest of my life: a big male Atlantic Salmon out of (CT’s) Salmon River on a caddis. I thought it was a big brown at first. Doesn’t get more unlikely then that. Pics here of you don’t believe it!: http://flyfishingcts.blogspot.com/2014/10/40-inches-of-brown-on-caddis.html
Tight lines and smooth drags in 2015!
Tremendous fish. That’s one to remember. Well done you.
Happy New Year, Steve! Been loving the blog, keep up the great work in 2015.
My 2014 highlight was catching my first surf snook on a trip to Florida. Probably my fifth attempt down there, had a lot of misses and it was great to finally hook into one.
http://juniperflyfishing.blogspot.com/2014/07/snook-in-surf.html
Congrats on your catch. I was reading a story about snook fishing (snooking?) this morning.
Happy new year! A bit late to this party but here nonetheless. Fished the Delaware for the first time this fall and caught some fish but the couple I lost have me warm through the winter. Also, I had the pleasure of being at your presentation on wet flies with the Croton Watershed TU. It was such a great and informative evening. 2015 will see a wet fly or two fished by me for sure! Tight lines, Steve! Enjoy the fire!
Thanks, Mike. I’m glad you liked the presentation. Be sure to try some wets next time you’re on the D.