Year end. Time for reflection.

Another year has come and gone. For many, it’s a time of reflection and celebration of year end. Seems like an appropriate time to reflect about all I’ve done on my website this year.

I started the RiverKeeper Flies blog as a way to combine my passion of fly fishing & fly tying with an ability to teach and share. Oh, and perhaps sharing a few photos along the way.

I’ve been writing this blog since the early March. This is my 48^th blog. And I’ve kept a promise to myself to post a new blog topic every week. Here are the top 10 popular posts for the year: How many have you read?

1. Callibaetis mayflies
2. New to fly fishing? What flies should I use?
3. What nymphs should I use?
4. October caddis
5. A fall fly box
6. Chubby Chernobyl fly patterns
7. Serendipity and $3 Dip
8. Catch steelhead swinging flies or with nymphs
9. Steelhead flies
10. Use fly patterns with CDC feathers

In addition to all the posts, there are 56 fly pattern sheets available….so far. Not a fly tyer? Check out the fly patterns anyway as I’ve included pictures of real bugs where I can. It will help you to “match the hatch.”

Here are the top 5 popular fly patterns:

1. $3 Dip
2. Sparkle Dun
3. RiverKeeper Soft Hackle Cripple
4. Silveys Caddis Pupa
5. BWO – CDC & Biot

Hopefully, you’ve checked out the Resources page. I still use the Hook and Bead Conversion Charts when I tie a few flies. New to fly fishing? You might find the Fishing Knots reference helpful. Practice tying knots during the cold winter months indoors and you’ll be an expert when you get out on the water. Or pick up one of my favorite Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Books.

And it provides a small window into my life…beyond just the fishing.

• Project Healing Waters
• Casting for Recovery
• Metolius River Stewardship Project

I hope you’ve enjoyed the pictures…of flies, real bugs, scenery, beautiful fish. 

In the next few weeks, you’ll be seeing posts about the 2015 NW Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo, my club’s Winter Fly Tying, Craig Mathews Winter Seminar, and hopefully a few fish pics.

And since it’s winter, I’ll be adding more fly patterns too.

See you soon!

Happy New Year!