It Took Me a Long Time to Get Back on the Train

     
     The other day I was thinking about how long it had been since I  wrote a new  blog post, so I sat down and logged in. I couldn't believe that I had only written 2 post all year in 2014. I knew I had slacked off with my writing last year, but I had no idea just how bad I had let it get. 

  

 To be perfectly honest, late in 2013, I walked away from my Prostaff position with Malibu Kayaks. That was a hard decision to make because I had worked really hard to get there, and I wholeheartedly believed in the product. I truly enjoyed being part of that team of kayak anglers, but I could no longer support a company that could provide no support, nor see the value in it's Prostaff. I'll admit that afterwards I was in a funk. I spent the winter re-assessing my needs in a fishing platform and decided to sell off my fleet of Malibu's and change things up a little.When Spring came around, it felt good to be fishing for me, and only for me- not because I felt like I had to get material and fulfill an obligation. I just kinda got back to focusing on having fun on the water, and didn't worry as much about documenting my trips and experiences, which led to me not writing anything here on Bent Rod Chronicles. 

Enough making excuses, let me tell you a little about my year, show you a few pictures, and lets move on. It's 2015, and it's time for me to get back on the train.

Though it wasn't my best year, 2014 was still a good one. I purchased two new kayaks, an Ocean Kayak Trident 13 and an Old Town Predator MX. I made my way to the coast to fish over 25 times and competed in 5 tournaments. I fished a handful of new locations, including Grand Bahama Island, and caught a few new species, both on conventional tackle as well as fly fishing gear. The one thing I take away from last year is a new found passion for fly fishing that seems to be taking over. This summer I plan on focusing on the long rod, especially in the coastal waters. I most recently purchased a vice and started ting my own flies, which is both meditative and highly rewarding. One thing I love about being a fisherman is that there's always new ground;something new to learn, and a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that was previously unfathomable. I hope to continue to share that with you this coming year.

 

 

I'm looking forward to 2015 and to sharing my experiences with you. Give us a Like on Facebook so you can keep up. See ya on the water.