Well,
it’s hard to believe that another year has gone by, but I am here to say I was really looking forward to 2010 and the
beginning of a new decade. 2009 was a hard year for me and my partner, Lea. We had to say goodbye to our beloved dogs, Russell
and Maya. They were such a part of our lives and our travels for the past 13 years! We will always love them now and forever.
The good news is our dear 3-year-old Dachshund, Frankie, and our newest addition to our family, Sophia, a one-year-old Border
Collie/Lab mix, will take up their mantle and travel far and wide with us including our trip planned for 2011 to the Grand
Canyon. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, I had some very enjoyable fly fishing experiences
this year starting with the Somerset Fly Fishing Show in Somerset New Jersey. Visit www.flyfishingshow .com for details.
It’s a great place to network, shop the vendors, attend some very informative seminars, and to get ideas for the next
fly fishing adventure.
Our local fly fishing shows were in February and March. Starting
with the Rapidan show and NCC-TU show, where I teach some of the casting clinics and work with the vets from Project Healing
Waters. For more info visit www.projecthealingwaters.org.
April was busy with the Virginia Youth Heritage Fishing
Day (contact Marcia Woolman at mwoolman00@aol.com for details) and teaching the Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge with NVATU (contact Suzanne Malone
at flyfishergrl@aol.com). At the beginning of May, I participated in the annual PHW 2Fly Contest (go to Doug Dear’s
website www.RoseRiverFarm.com and check out his property). Great fishing!!
During the last
part of May, I ventured back to State College to fish the Green Drake hatch on Penns Creek. What an experience! Contact Jonas at
the Feathered Hook (1-814-349-8757) for more info. You have to do it once just to say you did it.
The middle of June is our annual trip to Graves Mountain Lodge to fish the Rapidan and Rose Rivers.
My “Tie-one-on” gal pals are all there with me and we had a great time catching the native brookies that fill
these two fabled streams. Visit www.gravesmountain.com to make a reservation.
Lea and I did a “staycation” this summer with day trips to Winchester, local hiking trails, and drinking
wine on our new deck. We celebrated our birthdays July 4th and 6th at The Savage River Outfitters cabins in Garret County
Maryland. Contact Mike Evans www.savageriveroutfitters.com to make a reservation. It is right on the
Savage River!! Ask for the “Brownie Cabin” Plan on visiting the Artisan’s Village and check out Deep Creek
Lake too.
August and September I spent a few early mornings on the Gunpowder
River fishing the tiny “trico hatch” and got pretty good at it, if I must say so myself. It was one of my goals
in 2009 to do more casting 12-15 foot 6-7xleaders with #22-24 size bugs.
The
fall brought cooler temps and some BWO action on our local streams -- and I can’t forget the greenie weenie (don’t
laugh, it works!). I drove up to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania for a weekend with the “Jersey Girls” We stayed in
the famed “Brodhead Fish Camp” and caught gorgeous browns, huge brookies, and colorful bows, and also drank mojitos
in the evening to celebrate the days catch!
Last but not least, October 24th
we had our first Annual CFR 2Fly4Hope Fly Fishing Challenge down at Rose River. What a day! Driving rain, gusty winds,
laughs, giggles and fish all around! Curtis Flemming, producer of the Fly Rod Chronicles, was there filming the day’s
activities. Check us out on the Sportsman’s Channel (check your local listings for program times). To volunteer your
time or donate to Casting For Recovery, go to www.castingforrecovery.org
“To Fish Is To Hope”. Well, that’s all for now. On to 2010!
Kiki
