Each December, as the year wanes, I like to go through photos from the past 12 months and select my favorites to share with you. Most years they are dominated by fishing shots, but 2011 was a strange and busy year in which I moved with my girls from Ennis to Missoula. In addition, I took on new duties as the editor of Fly Rod & Reel Magazine, and I just, basically, tried to hold it all together. In other words, I didn’t fish as often as I’m used to. That’s not good, but that lack of fishing makes it pretty easy when trying to select a new years resolution—in 2012 I’m fishing more often.
Ok, here are some shots from 2011. Happy new year. Hope you enjoy.
My lifelong friend Byron Vadset showing the spoils of our visit to a Hutterite colony in west central Montana, a fifth of rhubarb wine. Can you say headache?
My bud, George Cook, with a meaty rainbow at Hole in The Wall, which offers killer stillwater action on two productive lakes. Talk to Cook if you want in.
Banged this king on the Alaska Peninsula, just a hundred yards from the Bering Sea.
NYC in April, shot by my pal Geoff Moore, who heads the Caribou-Chilcotin tourism association in British Columbia. He got me to NY and then showed me a great time.
Finally shot the whitetail I'd been looking for. This one is at the taxidermist and I should get it back during spring. Great hunt with my dad and friends.
Some days you just have to take it out on something.
D-Sum with a nice native westslope cutthroat from the Bitterroot.
My pal, Kara Armano, releasing a redfish in Louisiana. Armano, who works with Redington and Sage, invited me for a day on the water and we had a blast, with a few good reds to the boat.
Tate and I hammering pike in Montana in May.
The damage at Nola, a New Orleans restaurant. This was August at the Fly Tackle Dealer Show.
Um, checking for a pulse...I mean, checking to make sure the chest stud was implanted properly, NYC in April, part of Canada Media Market.
Can you say amazing skwala hatch in southwest Montana and big browns to go along with it? Yep.
Hooked up on a king, Alaska Peninsula, July.
Robert Eddins of Ro Drift Boats flying down the spillway at Deadman's Basin Reservoir.
Hit the Big Mo for trout and came up with this gnarly carp.
My little Myka getting snarly while fishing Salmon Lake in western Montana.
Johnny Fitz playing with bones, banks of the West Fork Bitterroot.
Part of the Missoula attraction. College town. These are my neighbors.My feelings exactly.
Yours truly getting in on the act at Hole in The Wall. Great stillwater fishing and well worth the daily fee.
This is Andrew Bennett with a hog brown from Hole in The Wall, a series of private lakes in Eastern Washington.
Most refreshing part of the year was a move from Ennis, Montana to Missoula, Montana. With it brought a fresh start for the girls, an open perspective for me, and lots of great hikes on Mount Jumbo, where this photo was taken from.
This is looking over my house and up the Rattlesnake Canyon, just outside of Missoula.
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