A new beginning......

It has been a long time since I even thought about this blog. A lot has happened and more change is expected in the near future.

My best friend (and brother-in-law) wasn't able to beat his battle with cancer and I found myself surrounded by people but very alone. Don't cry for me Argentina because that is the course I took. I stopped hanging out with my buddies I grew up with for a whole host of reasons. I figured my brother-in-law and I would hang out fishing, hunting and shooting until we both couldn't walk and see anymore. As the the old saying goes, if you don't think God has a sense of humor, then tell him your plans. The nice thing about true friends is they don't give a shit about the whys and what fors. We are back to hanging out when time allows. It is funny how we just picked up where we left off as if there was no interruption of time. They have always been there for me and they like me even after seeing me at my worst.

I know I have to get back out fishing and this spring is the time. I decided that I am going to hire a guide to take me fly fishing in western MA and striper fishing along the coast. I hope to get to the Dakotas this fall to do some world class pheasant hunting and if all works out I hope to get out west to do some fly fishing in CO, MT or WY.

I will post again once I get out fishing whether anyone is out there or not.

Where has the time gone?

A buddy from work suggested that I blog about one of my new passions (clothes). 

He suggested a title from something someone said to me about my renewed interest in clothes.

I decided to begin a new blog and signed into Blogger and up popped Wandering Fisherman. It is almost two years since I last made an entry. 

Like you a lot has happened during that time and not all of it good.

My best friend who happens to be my brother-in-law and fishing buddy is seriously ill. 

I'm not sure if I ever will fish again but I suspect I will but it will never be the same.

If a wandering fisherman falls .......

I decided a few months ago that I really was done with blogging. At first, it was a hard habit to break (a little Chicago reference) when I was fishing in 20 degree weather and caught a holdover rainbow. I instinctively reached for my phone to snap a photo but put the phone away. I also stopped reading the blogs that I enjoyed. Then last week out of the blue I got an email from Howard. I was touched by the action of a person who I have never met. I am guessing that he would not mind if I shared his sentiments but I will keep them private nonetheless. I went flyfishing after watching the Red Sox win today and before the Bruins game tonight (Bruins just tied the game). The only thing I saw was another fly fisherman who also didn't catch anything. If this leads me to start chronicling my "adventures" again, then you have Howard to blame.

Brother can you spare $10,000.......

Today in the Wall Street Journal there is a story about "old fishing tackle".

Unbeknownst to me there are auction houses and shows that cater to serious collectors.

There is an auction house named Lang's that is located 100 miles west of Albany NY. Back in 2003 it sold a 1859 copper Giant Haskell Minnow lure for $101,200. It was believed to be the only one of its kind (it had a revolving tail).

If fly rods are your thing, then fly rods made by Lyle Dickerson will set you back $10,000 thus the title of the blog. A reel made by vom Hofes can fetch $25,000.

The Florida International Tackle Show is being held in Daytona Beach in early March and if you know the names Billinghurst or Kovalovsky (and have a lot of discretionary funds available) you may want to head to this show. The other big show is in July in Orlando and it is called ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades). There are over 300 tables at this show with antique lures, reels, rods, creels and fish decoys (who knew such things existed?).

There sure are a lot of people with a lot of money in this world and that reminds me: play the lottery tonight.

Salter Alert......

For those of you who have been following this blog and Small Stream Reflections, you may remember that Alan and I have visited (separately) Red Brook at Lyman Reserve down the Cape.

I didn't catch anything and as you would imagine Alan has had success there.

This weekend (Saturday) on ABC Jeff Corwin's new show Ocean Mysteries will be profiling Red Brook and you will be able to see all the work that Trout Unlimited, the state of MA and many other volunteers have put into this brook. This is one of the last remaining native sea-run Brook Trout fisheries. It is being held up as a model for how to get more of these fisheries back along the east coast.

Also, if you are a Trout Unlimited member, then you can read about Red Brook in the member's magazine (Winter 2012 issue).

There will be a test next week......................