What’s your Favorite Wine?

Actually, I have three Favorite wines:

Red, White and “I want to go Fishing!”

I guess that last wine is more of a whine than a wine, but according to my wife, that’s the one I indulge in the most!

And who can blame me?  

I suppose I should take my own advice and have patience, 

but sometimes you just need a good w(h)ine!

After all, there’s world class fishing surrounding me from Lake Erie for Smallmouth Bass and Walleye to Niagara River Steelhead, Salmon, Lakers, and Browns, Cattaraugus Creek for Steelhead and Smallmouth Bass in the lower Cat and Rainbow and Brown Trout in the upper Cat, Oak Orchard Creek for Steelhead and Browns, and many lakes, ponds and trout streams!

It’s much easier finding wine than finding time.

But, I do enjoy a glass of red or white on occasion – before, after, and during fishing trips – and, I can identify with fine wine, aged to perfection – at least something gets better with age.

And, as I always say, “I drink no wine before it’s time – and, it’s time!"  I saw that on a bar towel.

If the letters look fuzzy - it's time to STOP drinking wine!

Speaking of time, it’s time I got to the point.  

While shopping for wine one day I started to notice that there were quite a few wines that had a fishing theme.  So, I got out my cell phone and took a few pictures to share with you.

OK - no fish in the name - however, as a fly tier, Feathers are a major component for
tying flies that you fish with to catch fish that...well, you know.

And, along with the wine, I also found some other beverages with a fishy theme.

My Dad was a sailor and he liked to fish!

I might fish with this  - but for this - no.

Always nice to have a fishing buddy!

And, a champagne toast to close.  And, it’s on SALE!

For you Iron Chef fans - Salmon champagne goes great with trout eyeball ice cream!

However, I’m more of a beer guy than a wine guy, so now, I’m going shopping for fishy Beer, but my wife will assure you that I’ll never give up my favorite whine!

Everybody!

say it with me – 

"I want to go Fishing!"

See you on the Water!

Dave

Tribute to Patience

What’s that old saying about patience? 

“Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can.

Never in a woman, seldom in a man.”

I’m sure there are other versions, but, the point is, it’s not easy to have patience.

There’s a local radio station that has a daily contest where the caller needs to name five items in the category of the day in 30 seconds.  It could be naming five songs by a particular artist, five things in Thanksgiving dinner, names of your five fingers, five things found in a tackle box and so on.

After fishing for most of my life, I thought that they might ask a caller to name five activities or situations that require patience.  Waiting for 5:00pm Monday – Friday is one that’s on my list - Waiting for Friday as well.  Waiting for water to boil, Christmas, summer, Opening day of trout season, most anything to do with family  – I guess I’d win the contest easily.

Fishing, of course is an obvious choice.  My biggest challenge about being patient in a fishing context is waiting to actually “go” fishing.  I don’t have nearly enough opportunities and get impatient waiting and grouchy if the day I get to go has a howling blizzard or thunderstorms with solid rain.

Blizzard of  2014 ruined a winter steelhead trip

May 2013 - I'll fish in a lot of bad weather, but Hail NO!

It also takes patience to wait for that bump on your line that tells you a trout just bit, or watching a trout rise to a dry fly and having the patience to wait until it closes its mouth before setting the hook.

East Branch Rainbow on a DFB Con Fly

East Branch Brown on the same DFB Con Fly

Another thing that requires patience is building fishing rods.  It’s a very detailed process and care needs to be taken every step of the way.  

But, it also takes patience when someone gives you a photo of a rod blank and says “Merry Christmas!” 

That’s exactly what my two daughters, wife and I did to James.  When I planned his Christmas gift back in the Fall of 2013, I thought I’d have plenty of time to build it before Christmas, but I didn't count on stuff that just happens and takes up time.  But, it is now complete as evidenced by the following photos.

On the Drying Rack

4 piece, 4 wt., IM6 Graphite, Translucent Grey Blank

Black wrapped guides with red highlights on the ferrules

Rosewood Burl and Titanium Reel seat

Now I just have to figure out how to get it to him – patience, James, again!

See you on the water!

Dave