Have Rod, Will Travel

There are those who have their favorite fishing “spots.”  For some that’s a pond, lake, river, or reservoir.  For others, it can be so specific that they probably could establish it as their residence and get mail service.  I’ve even asked a few, “When does the mail arrive?”

Me?  Well, when asked, “Where do you like to fish?”  My answer depends on my mood, but more often than not, I’m a smartass and respond, “In the water!”  That is the truth.  I love to fish and it’s not important where or for what.  I enjoy variety so much, it’s rare I fish the same water two times running.

I’ve never fully appreciated the “spot” concept. Figuring out how to catch a few fish in a new location is more pleasurable for me than a having a “honey” hole. While I recognize the value of a good guide when first exploring a new area or fishing for a new species, truth is, I’d rather stumble around until things fall into place.  Heck, it took me a decade worth of trips to California before I figured out fly fishing the surf.

When monies are tight, having a few “spots” close is more economical.  Traveling means the added expense of park permits and license fees.  This year alone I’ve bought licenses for California, Colorado, and Arizona.  If things go as planned there will be licenses for Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas also.  Who knows where else?  Then there are the travel costs.  No, it’s not cheap. Is it worth it, given that I rarely encounter “better” fishing in my travels?  You bet! 

I’ve been a traveling angler all my life, at least as far back as I can remember.  As a kid we moved frequently, and I’ve always had to figure out new places to fish.  Guess it just became second nature to me.  While fishing new waters hasn’t changed, figuring out where to fish, and learning a bit about them is a lot easier than it once was. 

I used to pore over maps, work through guidebooks, read magazines, and even do library research to figure out where to fish and what I might expect.  I still have a large collection of such resource materials, especially maps, books, and clipped magazine articles.  Then once I reached my destination, the area tackle dealers were visited to help flesh out my knowledge base.  Point is rarely visit new waters totally “cold.”  Nope, I typically have an idea of what to expect, especially in terms of fish species.

Today, the internet makes prepping to fish new waters easier.  However, of all the resources available, I still find talking with my fellow anglers to be the most enjoyable and often the most productive.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s on the water, at a tackle shop, a chance meeting, phone call, or the internet, direct communication always gives me great insight. 

Yep, I have a rod, lots of rods actually, and travel frequently.  No, this ole boy doesn’t have fishing spots, just the road ahead. The knowledge that there are “so many waters” and “so little time, ” had me dearly hoping that it’s true, “time spent fishing isn’t subtracted from your life.”