Poof! Just like that, 2023 is gone. Life has continued post corona, yet a sequence of international strife has taken its place. I didn’t travel as much internationally as I had hoped, due to the fact that air travel was three times what I was willing to pay for a few days of fishing. However, I did manage to catch a striped bass off the coast of Massachusetts while attending my sister's wedding. For the pre and post spawn bass bite in Korea, I found some nice water on the upper reaches of the Nakdong River near Sangju (closer to Andong than Daegu). A new stick, and Echo Carbon XL 2wt, was added to the quiver; and the result was a lot of dry fly fishing! I fished (and tied) dries for nearly all of my trout this year. Euro and indicator nymphing just didn’t appeal to me. My original plan was to go to Japan in September, but after a hellacious domestic changing of domiciles; my family opted for a month (traveling to and from Seoul for work) in Donghae. The cadence was to catch Spanish Mackerel off the beach at dawn and head to the trout stream for a few hours after sunrise, allowing the water to warm up so that the insects could start hatching (only dries). During my stay in Donghae I had a few superb days of lenok fishing, but failed to catch a noteworthy (over 16 inches) cherry trout. My west coast spot in Malipo was under construction and I settled for the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to fish that area for a few years. My family just got back from a week in Goheung, but I didn’t bring the boat or any rods. My mornings were spent walking with my wife and trying to convince her to buy several tiny homes and place them at various points (my favorite fishing areas) around Korea.
Here is what lies ahead. I’m heading to Colorado and California in April and might get a few days of fishing in during that trip. But more importantly I hope to be coming home with a new Hobie Itrek 11 KAYAK! The Itrek 11 is still inflatable (which I love) and that will allow me to pack it as a carry on…There are spots in Japan and Singapore specifically where I want to spend some time fishing their local water. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Outcast Stealth Pro and that boat is still in fighting condition, but I wanted something a little faster (4mph compared to 2mph) and simpler. With the Stealth Pro I need to wear fins, boots, and waders; which gives me a ton of control, but is too tough on my waders and toasty in the summer. Plus the Itrek, just might open up my salt water game. Stay tuned!