Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Contentment without fishing

I'm concerned.

Maybe I'm getting old. Maybe it's that I'm celebrating Christmas a little heartier this year. But I suspect it's mostly that I have a nice alternative to standing in the water in winter - staying at home, snuggled up on the couch with my Christmas cookie. I'm struggling to find the motivation to fish this December.

As life changes, so do fishing habits. Over the past year, my life has beelined for the positive and I am able to find contentment within walls more often. That's a good thing, right?

Looks cold, right? 
While fishing still appeals to me almost daily, once I get to snuggling on the warm couch in front of the glowing cube and some Netflix, motivation goes the way of hot-chocolate steam. If I was ever hardcore, I'm not now.

Especially when it seems boring to go that known hole, drift a known fly down a known seam, and catch a known trout. I could commit to the streamer or Griffith's Gnat to make it interesting, or go try to find a new spot. But winter's not the best time for exploring, and it's so cozy inside...

Go to hell, iced-up guides.
I'm sure I'll still hike up Bear Trap Canyon a time or two, and there's plenty of hope for a trip to $3/Raynolds, LaDuke, Depuy, LOtG, and a few other winter hot spots. But maybe only if it hits 45 degrees instead of my normal threshold of about 20.

Or maybe I'm just overreacting to a couple weeks of contentment without fishing. Or maybe I just needed something about which to blog ;)

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Excellent post man! I hit exactly what you are talking about a year and a half ago when my daughter was born. I really don't make it out often anymore. But I still enjoy life. I do cherish my few days that I have on the water though!

Josh Bergan said...

Ah thank you! Good things all around! Merry Christmas.

Unknown said...

Totally. Now i'm going to go watch some Netflix. Oh wait, i'm at work...reading your blog....

Josh Bergan said...

An equally worthwhile pursuit ;)

jenn said...

you and your christmas cookie are adorable! cant wait to see yall....soon!

Josh Bergan said...

Hopefully soon, Jenn! Thank you and merry Christmas!