Admit it: you saw this one coming a mile away. If so, pat yourself on the back, and treat yourself to a New Year’s toast. If you missed with your guess, there’s always next year (now only 365 days away)…
#1: Finishing the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River. I have to admit that while I knew this book would be a lot of work, I didn’t know it would be as much work as it was. Part of it was that I thought I had finished half of it back November 2024. The reality was, instead of over 50% of the manuscript, it was only around 40% of what eventually became over 100,000 words. Then, I needed more photos. I finallyfinished it in June this year. And technically, I’m not quite done — I’m still waiting for final page proofs for final approval before it all goes back to the publisher during the first week of January.
And then…it’s off to the printers and hurry up and wait. As of this writing, I still think we’re publishing June 1. I’ll let you know as the drop date draws near. I’ll also let you know if I’m going to be doing a pre-sale here. Again, tbd. Looking back, I’m immensely pleased by what I’ve written, and I think you will be, too. And of course, there’s one more big question to be answered: What’s my second book going to be about?
While this cover follows the Stackpole “Fly Fishing Guide To” format, I do like it. Bob Lindquist took the hero shot, and that’s Joey Takeman’s box on the lower left.
Much of what’s on this list involves personal achievement. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. But what about actual fishing? Because of the book, I did less fishing this year than in recent memory — especially striper fishing, which was limited to less than a dozen outings(!). However, I did get in a good number of guide trips (thanks again if you were one of the anglers I took out this year) and I madeup for some lost time during the summer months. Which brings us to #5…
#5: Reconnecting and Fishing with Old Friend and Mentor Mark Bieber. This was a late summer bass trip, and one that, looking back, made me wish I’d done it years sooner. We fished the pond at Winding Trails in Farmington from a canoe, Mark with spinning gear and me with the long rod. Largemouth bass were the target, and we both scored multiple fish. So what if they were smaller than an average Farmington River trout? Fishing with a dear friend who had a major positive impact on your life is time well-spent, fish count and size be damned. And if there’s a cigar in the bargain? That’s really a win! We’re already planning on going next spring.
Bass are truly under-rated and under-fished with the fly rod. This ambitious junior bucketmouth ate a Soft Daddy Crayfish.
#4: Pecking Away at Steelhead. I managed three steelhead trips this fall. When I was chained to my keyboard, I kept picturing indicators dropping and reveling in the knowledge that I would be fishing soon for these prized piscines. The first trip was to Erie, where low water and a dismal fall run kept the numbers down, and the relishing of each fish landed sky high. Trip two was to Pulaski, where there were plenty of fish, but — as always — an abundance of anglers. My batting average in the first day stunk; it was much better on the second day, but I only had three touches all day. Finally, our December trip was a bust of sorts: a 2-hour window of decent conditions, then it went south fast, culminating in a cancellation of the second day. So, the quest for 300 goes on. If you’re keeping score at home, I’ve now landed 288 steelhead.
The December trip wasn’t all bad. Here’s Gordo with his first steelhead ever on the fly rod. Proud papa!
#3: Being Named to the Regal Vise Pro-Staff. This is something I’ve been wanting for a long time. It finally became official at the 2025 IFTS. I’m going to do my best to be a swell brand ambassador, and you can see me and my Regal vise in action at the Fly Fishing Shows in Marlborough, Edison, and Lancaster this winter.
No photo/bio yet. But trust me, I’m there.
#2: First Time Fly Fishing Montana & Idaho. The bad news was that we went during one of the worst times to fish. The good news was that I got to fish four days in Montana and Idaho. We did a family drift boat trip on the Kootenai one day, and I drifted solo (with a guide) the second. It was a trip of firsts, not only location-wise, but with five new species: native redband rainbow, cutthroat, cuttbow, whitefish, and pike minnow. I did some lake fishing solo, and then we floated the Madison as a family. Gadzooks! I still haven’t written about the second half of the trip. Let’s get that on the to-do list right quick.
Cuttbows sure are pretty things. I have no idea how many fish I landed on the second day. I took them on top dry, on nymphs, and swinging wets. Spectacular action, and all of them wild fish.
I normally do my yearly “Best Of” wrap-up in four segments of 3-3-3-1, but since we’re running out of days, we’ll do it in three. And away we go!
#10: Fly Fishing Shows and IFTS. I remember going to the Fly Shing Show in Marlborough many, many years ago, and thinking, “the next time I come to this show, I’m going to be a presenter.” It took a few years for me to get there, but since then I’ve never looked back. Presenting to an audience and teaching fly fishing still gives me a jolt of energy and pure enjoyment. Whether you’re a speaker or listening in, there’s no better place to ask questions and learn. November’s IFTS unofficially kicked off the 2026 show season, which is nearly upon us. I’ll be doing three days in Marlborough, three days in Edison, and, for the first time, the Lancaster PA show in March.
Thank you, everyone, who came to see me speak, watch me tie, or take a class. See you next month!
#9: Farmington River Book Research and Photos. As you can imagine, writing a guide book is a lot of work. And since I do nothing that I’m passionate about halfway, this was a lot a lot of work. But, it was a labor of love. And I learned so much about the river! In fact, I was surprised to discover how much I didn’t know. I got to interview dozens of fascinating, knowledgable people, hang out with them and watch them fish, take photos, and soak it all in. I can now say that I have walked, waded, and/or fished the entire 22 miles of river from the base of Hogback Dam to the steel bridge in Unionville — and then miles more below. I don’t know many people who can make that claim.
Matthew Vinick took all the drone pictures in the book. There’s some really good stuff!
#8: Another Year Being Featured in On The Water‘s Guide Flies. I’m not sure how long I’ve been doing this, but every year I play, and every year, it’s still a gas to see my name in print next to a fly I tied.
My advice for when you fish the 2025 pattern, the Iso Soft Hackle, is: hold on to your rod.
#7: Being Named Again to the Feedspot Top 40 Fly Tying Blogs. My ranking of #17 isn’t really what this is all about; rather, it’s the company Currentseams keeps. AvidMax. Fly Tyer. MidCurrent. Gink and Gasoline. Orvis. Just to name a few. These are all quality sites, worthy of your attention, and I’m honored to be included along with them. Here’s fun project for you to tie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZFZQTmJmEs
#6: Alan and Steve’s Excellent Albie Adventure. We’ve been planning to do this for years, but finally saltwater angler extraordinaire Alan Caolo and I were able to spend a morning in Rhode Island chasing funny fish. Or, rather, waiting for them to come to us. Pickings were slim, but a splendid time was had by all, and Alan is an excellent teacher and an all-around swell guy. You can read all about it here.
It’s hard for me to grasp the concept that 2025 is almost over. Hopefully, you had an excellent year and caught plenty of fish, particularly that lunker, or that one that wouldn’t eat, but finally did. Your readership and interest in currentseams — and especially the book — is a truly wonderful gift. So: thank you! I’m hoping to put together my traditional best of the year review, starting later this week. Show season is coming fast, so stay tuned for a list of my appearances. In the meantime, festive family fun, food, and wine is calling. Joy to the world!
Much to talk about today. I’m currently recovering from last weekend’s International Fly Tying Symposium. That is, I’ve unpacked everything, gotten back to my regular sleep and eating (and coffee!) schedule, and here I am, clacking away at my keyboard on currentseams.com.
While this is the largest fly tying show in the world, there’s a sense of intimacy about IFTS that resonates with me. (If Goldilocks tied flies, she’d be all over this show.) I behaved myself wallet-wise, coming away only with a pack of size 14 Ahrex North Country Spider hooks (LE810). My Saturday seminar on Tying and Fishing Wet Flies was very well-attended, and I want to thank everyone for showing up and for asking so many thoughtful questions. I couldn’t have asked for a better tying bench mate than Peter Simonson, who specializes in classic Carrie Stevens-style streamers. I spent the rest of the day tying wet flies and soft hackles and socializing and answering questions about the Farmington River book.
The view from my bench Saturday morning. What a treat to reconnect with so many old and newer friends, and to put faces to names of currentseams subscribers.
After a delicious banquet Saturday evening — complete with a wonderful fly tying swag bag from show sponsor J.Stockard — I was featured fly tier Sunday morning. The subject was Farmington River Favorites, and we managed to get through each of the four food groups (nymph, wet, dry, streamer). Again, many thanks to everyone who attended. I truly appreciate your support.
But the highlight of the show for me was formally becoming a member of the Regal Pro Staff. I’ve been tying on a custom Regal Revolution for years, so this was particularly gratifying. Those of you who know me know that I don’t endorse anything on these pages that I don’t use and love, and I’ll be talking more about my Regal vise in future posts.
And now, me too! There are so many incredibly talented tiers in this group, and I’m honored to be a part of the team.
Finally, I’m back on the book for a bit: page proofs are in! These are basically an e-version of the layout of the book, complete with photos and other visual reference. I go through it, make minor corrections as needed, send it back to the publisher, and the whole shebang goes to press early next year. Exciting times! People stopping by the table showed a lot of interest in the book, and even if you don’t fish the Farmington a lot, I’m comfortable telling you that much of it — fly patterns, how to, hatches — is applicable to southern New England trout streams.
The first thing I’d like you to do after reading this opening paragraph is head over the ASGA website and sign their official letter calling for major reductions to the menhaden harvest. It will take you less than five minutes, and it’s an excellent use of your time. Long story short: Atlantic menhaden are a critical bait and ecosystem fish; they’ve been grossly over harvested; that needs to stop now. Please do this, even if you don’t fish for striped bass. We need all the voices we can get.
Galley copy for the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River has been reviewed by yours truly and sent back to the editors. This was simply my review and comments on their edits. I was pleased to discover that the edits weren’t substantial, and book flowed from one subject to another like…a river? There. I’ve made my unfunny joke of the day. Maps were also reviewed, and I really like the artwork. If you don’t know the river, you’ll find them highly useful. Next steps: the whole shebang gets put into page layout, then reviewed. That should happen in November. We’re getting closer!
A successful spawn means more of these. This fish was sampled by DEEP last September during broodstock collection for the Survivor Strain program. If you see a redd and canoodling trout, be like The Beatles and let it be.
Speaking of the Farmington river, the spawn has begun. If you’re fishing, please be on the lookout for redds! They are generally lighter, oval-shaped patches surrounded by dark substrate. Keep a safe distance. And of course, never target spawning fish. That’s just bad form.
A reminder that the International Fly Tying Symposium is November 15-16, now just over two weeks away. I’m doing a wet fly seminar on Saturday and a Farmington River tying demo on Sunday. More on those coming soon.
Is this exciting, or what?!? At least, I’m excited. I hope it meets with your approval, if not favor. I’m continuing to plug away at the copy edit review, so this will likely be my only currentseams post this week. I hope some of you are getting out on the water. And we need rain — let’s see those rain dances!
About ten years ago, there was a phenomenon experienced by football fans known as “Patriots fatigue.” Always on TV, always the darling of analysts, hard to like, frequently winning in ways that defied mathematical probability or opposing coach logic (Super Bowl LI, anyone?).
I have ASMFC fatigue.
Another draft addendum, another public comment period, another chance for the rogue states of New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware to behave stupidly, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. (Insert heavy sigh here.)
If the bass closes its eyes, will it look like it’s yawning?
Nonetheless, we must do our duty and voice our opinion. The goal of all of this is to improve the SSB, or Spawing Stock Biomass. No SSB, no future stripers. Here are the two simple things you need to do. It’ll take you 15 minutes.
First, go to the ASGA website for the conservation-based opinion on what to comment. (Look for the heading “Proposed Management Options in Addendum III). Two, email your comments to the ASMFC. The following is from their website: “The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding the proposed management options in this document at any time during the addendum process. There are four ways to submit comments, written comments via this page or the comment@asmfc.org email below, the public comment form, mailed written comments, or attend a public hearing. The final date comments will be accepted is Friday, October 3 at 11:59p.m. EST.“
Just when you think you’re going to have more time to do writing…you don’t. I have to confess that I didn’t take into account that I would be this busy with non-fishing pursuits, but here we are. It’s mostly yard-home-garden-kitchen — ’tis the season for drying hot peppers, and making tomato and hot sauces — like the tides, ripe fruits wait for no one — and that’s the current situation. Still, I have much to talk about.
If you’re the person in charge of booking speakers for your fly fishing club, I have openings this fall and winter. You can find my presentation menu here. Be advised that when the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River is published next year, I will want to come out and speak to your group about the book and the river. Something to look forward to!
I’m booked for the rest of the month with guide trips. Thanks to everyone who reached out! We are in rainfall deficit, so they’ve dropped the flow out of the Hogback gate to 165cfs. Note the release temperatures, and how they increase during the day (these readings are in Riverton, not at the gate). Be aware of water temps downstream. You should be OK through the PTMA, but carry and use your thermometer.
I’m supposed to get copy galleys for the book — this will be what the publisher has edited, in document form — mid-month. After I make comments, it goes back to them. It’s all very exciting. I’ll be locked away in my lonely writer’s garret that week, but if you see me on the river the other weeks, please say hello.
TGIF! I did a little fishing this week, and a lot of house- and yardkeeping, along with various other tasks. We got a wee slug of rain, which made a slight dent in our water deficit.
To the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River book news. I should have copy edits for review in mid September. Fly photo review is next. Then the whole shebang goes into layout and typesetting, then back to me for review. That should happen by the end of October. Once final edits are made, we get into physical production. A revised target release date is June 2026! I know you’re excited and can’t wait — as am I — but like an angler resting a fussy fish, we’ll all just have to be patient.
No reason to be crabby! The book is moving along, and I’ll raise a glass (or a plastic cup) to that.
Meanwhile, I’ve started putting together my Montana report (no, really). Look for the first installment next week.
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