2025 was a year of condensed fishing opportunities. Chances and times to fish were not consistant throughout the year, but when they happened, they happened biggly.
Christmas Island
I made my second trip to Christmas Island in February. Man… hard to express how much I love this place. I really can’t wait to go back. My wife has agreed to a 4 year cycle. This place really does occupy a lot of my fishing daydreams.
Did I get some big GT shots? Yes. Did I catch that big GT? No. Keeps me wanting to come back.
Fished out of Christmas Island Lodge, with friends, and it was a really good week.
Idaho
I went back to Idaho, this time for 2 weeks. I fished every day, even if it was an after-work drift or some time in a creek. My boy was there the whole time and that was pretty special. I’m certainly looking forward to getting back there (which I hope to do next summer). I’m planning on having a new trailer when I go back, which might aid in the whole “blowing a tire” sitch, which was very much not in the plans.
A bit of margin fishing.
There were some other days with fishing in them, even if they weren’t “fishing days.” I had a weekend fishing with my friend John. I fished some private ponds on the way to drop my son off at soccer camp. I fished my home water after my dad’s service. I fished the the Bay a couple times.
Lost a fishing partner… my dad.
My dad went on to The Great Fishing Grounds Beyond this year. That’s a loss, for sure, but it is also comforting to know his suffering is at an end. Those last few years were rough and seeing his decline was hard. A holder of stories, fishing and family lore, is gone. His loss will echo for a long, long time.
He loved fishing. He loved the Klamath river and steelhead. He loved half-pounders. He was a fly convert. He fished with me in lots of fun and interesting places. He passed his love of wild places on to me and I am passing that on to my children. He was a kind man, an honest man, a good man. He was an excellent father.
Godspeed, dad. You were a good one.
