NCT Beginning Year Five

I started this blog in January 7, 2009. Let me tell you, it's come a long way since. 

When I changed over from shoretroutfishing.blogspot.com to northerncaliforniatrout.com there were 143 followers and somewhere around 50,000 hits. Now there are 63 followers, a lot of them being duplicates of the 143, but a lot of new followers too and I've recorded an additional 27,300 hits. 

These numbers still amaze me. Those of you that have touched this blog and read what I've written, I thank you for hanging with me. Other things that amaze me are where the readers come from. Most from the US as one would expect, but many from the Ukraine, South Korea, Russia, China, Europe in general and many places around the world. I thank you all.

Many of you have become my friends. Some reside in other countries. Callan in Fiji, Phillip in South Africa, Carlos in Spain. There are many others, but I can't list them all. 

So, for post number 557 I thought I'd repost the very first one I did as long as you promise not to barf when you read it. 

A New Year

This is my first shot at blogging. I've been fishing all my life and wanted to share my experiences with all my fellow fishermen. I contacted a local news paper about putting this information on their website and they pretty much blew me off, so I started this blog.

I've lived in Northern California since 1975 and have mainly fished streams and rivers for trout. In 2007 I discovered lakes. OK, I know a lot of you fish streams and lakes and want to know what this guy knows that I don't. For some, probably nothing, for others maybe I can help them catch more fish. I figure if I put out here what I do and how I do it, it will help somebody have a nice trout dinner once in a while.

Last year I had a major surgery at the end of May. Before and after I did as much fishing as I could (I might note that I'm currently retired) until the snow hit in December. So for the time being, I'm doing some other stuff around the house that I've let go, we live on 5 acres in the mountains, but fishing is always on my mind. Did I mention I caught 130 trout and 1 Small Mouth Bass last year? A lot of the trout were catch and release. One can only eat so much fish. The Small Mouth Bass was a quirk. I was fishing for trout and it hit the lure. He got to go home too.

OK, I could go on and on, but then it wouldn't leave anything for another day. Just remember, "A bad day fishing is better than any day at work".

Shoreman 

I mention in this post that I contacted a local news paper about putting this information on their website and they pretty much blew me off. Well last Friday was the 75th article I've written for them as a freelance writer and that they've published. Puts me right up there with Patrick F. McManus and John Gierach. Never mind, I'm not even close to those guys. 

2012 was a soso year for me. I fished 53 times (2 less that 2011) and caught 50 less fish than in 2011 (and almost the same amount as 2008). Looking back on my journal, I got skunked a lot more this past year than 2011. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that the reason was the Department of Fish and Game wasn't stocking as much and therefore less fish to be had. Who knows. 

So as I start year five of Northern California Trout, I want to thank all of you that have stopped by and read what I wrote, those that have gotten my book and thought is was fairly good, and most of all thank those that continue to come back again and again to read what is posted here. 

Let's make 2013 a great fishing year. 

Mark