I don’t remember when I started doing it, but at some point I got into the habit of fishing a small stream on New Year’s Eve day. There’s a lot I like about it, not the least of which is tradition. But to end the fishing year on a small stream seems romantic, poetic, and just generally good for the soul. It’s arguably fly fishing at its most innocent. Not every year has worked out — youth hockey tournaments have been a primary culprit — but I’ve managed to do it quite a bit.
This year I took a fishing buddy, Toby Lapinski. We hauled out into the deep, dark woods on a day that had no right to be the last few hours of December. We did a brisk brookie business (say that three times fast!) once we figured out where they were willing to eat. Add a celebratory pre-New Year’s cigar, and we sent 2021 off in fine form. Don’t forget to get your 2022 license!
Why is Toby bottom bouncing in one of my favorite dry fly pools? Because we devised a brilliant plan to find out what the fish wanted. Toby started with a tungsten bead-head micro Squirmy Worm thingy, while I fished a bushy dry/glass bead dropper. The char voted overwhelmingly for the bottom. Toby was nearing double-digit hookups before I even got a sniff on the dry. Even my tiny midge nymph dropper went largely unscathed. I do love making them come up, but with the water on the upper side of perfect and running very cold, I switched to running deep mode. And that simple move was the difference between fishing and catching.Me being stubborn with the dry. Alas, ’twas not to be, although I did get one to latch on in this lovely little bit of water. I made what passes for a cast, then dangled and waked the fly while making a rough figure-8 with my rod tip. There’s an awful lot of green for the day before January 1! Tightest of lines to all of you in 2022. Photo by Toby Lapinski.
Those are Korkers River Ops with Triple Threat Carbide Spoke soles. I have been very happy with them and did some testing with a pair that features a BOA lace system this year as well. Both styles held up extremely well in the salt.
currentseams.com 
what kind of boot does he have on?
The brand is Korkers. I’m not sure which model.
Those are Korkers River Ops with Triple Threat Carbide Spoke soles. I have been very happy with them and did some testing with a pair that features a BOA lace system this year as well. Both styles held up extremely well in the salt.
Thank you for the information!
It’s good to see you end your year on a small stream. And I would have been fishing bombers and soft hackles. The best to you in 2022
And to you, good sir. I fought the good bushy dry fight — make ’em come up! — but they weren’t having it. So it goes.