This can be a desperate time of year for fly fishermen. Christmas is over and packed away, the weather is lousy and were tired of tying winter bugs. When I was working eight to five everyday, this is the time of year I was sure I was getting a fatal disease. Sitting at my desk, carving a hole in the top with a letter opener and listening to some relentlessly cheerful person from Texas give me tips on doing my job. I finally figured it out; it was the florescent lights, tobacco juice, rotten coffee and lack of fresh air that was tipping me to the dark side. But through it all I had those precious days fly fishing. There are those that think of fishing as hobby or light distraction, but to a small band of trout bums it's much more. The truth is we don't feel right without a day or two a week on the water. Its not our fault its winter. We're a little like those jogger people you see pounding the asphalt all year long. They look a bit crazy, but happy. Its important to remember fly fishing is not like real life its much more fun.

So although it is winter I consider myself lucky to have this Fly Fishing: to keep me centered and optimistic. My advice to you this new year is to spend more time engaged doing whatever your passionate about: me I'll be on a river somewhere working on answers to the big questions.

On another but related subject I have been asked to sort through my bedroom fishing books and thin them a bit. Actually I don't have that many left in my possession most are out on loan to the troutbum never return a book library. That's OK with me, most fly- fishing books come in two categories; the technical science book or the let me tell you my inner thoughts fishing therapy book. Here's three I'm keeping for sure. The best book I know about Trout fishing I've had for 31 years, its beat up and I never loan it out. It's Richard Brautigan's classic " Trout Fishing In America". On the other side of the spectrum is Charles Brooks "Nymph Fishing for Larger Trout", gritty but satisfying. Another great book came out last year " The longest Silence" by Tom McGuane, it's that rarity of a great writer that's been there and back and can tell the story. Will these books make you a better fisherman? Will I ever get my books back? Was the Ponderosa a real ranch? So many questions.