FoulHooked...(how'd that get there?)

Get yourself there .

...for the 3 people that have been oh-(not)-so-patiently waiting for me to complete the Dear Joe series.... Another obsession has returned over the past 6-8 months. Faire de l'alpinisme. Not that I need another time-drain, but at least it's motivation to be less fat-and-lazy. The mountains' call is strong. While we're on the topic, check this out: Top 5 NE Long Distance Day Hikes Math may be off a little on some of them. Great range is tentatively scheduled for 2012. Burroughs might even be doable this year. Presi and Devils are on the agenda...not sure yet about Pemi. Here's my ideal option (either direction works) for the Great Range (minus the Ore Bed Brook side-trip...hopefully won't have to leave the range just for water). Logistics may end up requiring a more traditional route (longer approach or return leg) but there's still about 17 months to figure it all out. Evidence that I've thought way too much about this already.

Fortunately, I have had (barely enough) time to get back to what's impo'tant...wasting my lunch break on the internets. Sorry for the delay. 6:01 PM, Thursday November 18, 2010 Dear Joe, It's official...the mojo is back. I was really worried. See...my last...oh...5 or 6 days on the salmon...the ol' fishin hat hasn't brought me luck. Zippo. It's times like that can really make you lose heart. Nothing is harder to part with than a favorite hat. Well...except in your case...anything that requires you to miss out on epic fishing trips is tougher to part with...but this isn't about you, it's about my awesome hat. She did her job today though so looks like I don't have to retire her just yet. Despite another freezing gale, today we perservered, and were rewarded. Several fish landed. Photo'd only one (see attached). She's a beaut though. No doubt. I got a couple browns up top too, one buck almost as big as the hen steelie! Wasn't a ton of activ...

Morgan Lyle provides a primer on the what and why of 2-handing it in yesterday's Gazette . Unfortunately, you need a subscription to read it. Fortunately for me, a coworker brought in the article. Oh, and apparently, Alex is tying at the next Clearwater TU meeting . I've really gotta start showing up to these things; already missed plenty of awesome tiers.

Gas in Troy (4 AM; shop closed): $3.27 Gas on the Thruway (4:30 AM): $3.31 Gas off Exit 31 (6 AM): $3.29 Gas in Pulaski (11:30 AM): $3.15 (?) Gas in my waders (always): Free A December 31st, 2010, 3-hour drive home, grinning like a fool...Priceless. Happy New Year from Ole Sal Trutta. He mentioned something about the taste of rabbit fur too, but I didn't catch it all on account of the new piercing interfering with his speech. The "holidays" now over, we shall be returning to our regularly scheduled programming any day now. So, Nate, um...quityerbitchen.

3:22 PM, Wednesday November 17, 2010 Dear Joe, I almost died today. Twice. First it was the suicidal doe as we were making our way to 390 this morning. I swear sparks were flying off her hooves when she realized she better get moving if she didn't wanna become a hood ornament. Seriously the closest near-miss I've had with a deer. Made it to the Salmon OK in the end. 'Course severe winds and driving rain made the short afternoon a little less than pleasant. At least it made the dunking I received crossing back over the river a little less annoying. Tell you what though, did a number on my knee and shin. First legit fall I've had and it was a good one; if the water was a little deeper, probably wouldn't be as sore now. Camera's probably out of commission for a couple days and seriously shortened the life of my brand-new Goretex waist-highs. Rod's OK though, that's all that matters. Did have a bump today but nobody landed anything. We're headed to You G...

9:12 PM, Tuesday November 16, 2010 Dear Joe, " Down at Oak Orchard Fly Shop, we don't F* around! " Hahaha. I'll never forget those words (though that's only my best effort to reconstruct from memory what was actually said). We stopped by the shop last night. Managed to bash my brains in on the car and prompt a laugh-fest doing so, but that's another story. Anyway, we were regaled with tips, tactics and theory in bombastic fashion and no uncertain terms. Seriously, the man was cool, helpful, and entertaining. Hooked us up with some stickers too. I grabbed some sweet speys (Gold Heron, Lady C...no, not that C). Anyway, the place we ended up today, he had "joked" about a placemarker-shop that sold "free-range bologne." Weren't sure we were on the right track this morning until we actually saw a sign for "All Natural Free Range Bologna." Ain't that some shi. Long story short, we got into some decent fish. Had at least 6 grabs,...

4:00 PM, Monday November 15, 2010 Dear Joe, Saw the Niagara for the first time ever today. Stared at Kinaideeyah for a bit. Pulled a sweet steelie. Alex said it was "doable" but there's a big difference in him saying it can be done and us being able to do it. Thousands of stairs (or at least that's what it felt like); Bmar won't stop complaining and I love it. When we got near the bottom I let him know that "I didn't want to tell you guys 'till we got down here, but there are places with easier access." At least he wasn't walking in Nate's boots of last-year. He's actually been a good sport and is willing to come back tomorrow. Gordy wants to stop in Buffalo for wings but these leftover pancakes from this morning are amazing. Baulsir got a brown today too. I think the Gordy-first-fish curse was broken 'cause I needed him to take the rod so I could jump down 6' to the water and land the fish without dying. Today was just too co...

5:22 PM, Sunday November 14, 2010 Dear Joe, If Gordy doesn't catch a fish soon I'll murder him. We seriously F'd with Karma when we designated first fish to him. Well no doubt she's gonna have the last laugh. Baulsir and I each lost 2 fish and had at least a couple more each toying with us. Meanwhile, FNG is joking that the first fish just might be the last of the trip. We'll see how funny he sounds with his throat slit. Bastard. And what is with you not answering this morning when I called to let you know what the plan is? I mean, we're a team bro, I'm just trying to keep you apprised. What, Granny can get up at 4 to assemble a full meal but you cant even hit the speaker and let me hear you snore? WTF!? Oh, and one more thing...guess who is bunking with Bmar this year. This trip is already falling apart. EFFF THESE BITCH ERIE STEEL, WE'RE PULLIN ALL THE STOPS TOMORROW! ____________________________________________ 7:42 PM - Addendum Sorry I was so wound ...

6:12 PM - Saturday November 13, 2010 Dear Joe, Where'd all the fish go? I mean, seriously. We got in late last night...well, a couple hours earlier than last year, but still. Bmar and I had the opportunity, nay, pleasure of stopping in at Hardy's in Delevan waiting for the rest of the party. Man, what an establishment. As Bmar noted, never seen people go so crazy for Great White's version of Once Bitten, Twice Shy before. Fantastic. They even have the old-school towel rolls in the bathroom. Don't think it's ever been cleaned (towel or the bathroom). And of course, Gramma G. had a spread of pizza and I cant even remember what else waiting when we arrived, then got up at 4 to make breakfast sandwiches before we made off to the dam. I would do this trip just for the food. Nothin' doin' fishing-wise today. We hit everything we could find above the valley. Couldn't even see a single fish where there were dozens in the open a year ago. Reports haven't be...

Soon-to-be, best- thing -since. Or maybe I'm just jonesing hard already 2 days after 9 of working it...well, trying anyway. I guess it could be both ....

I would be remiss if I didn't give Alex at least a little flak here; I mean sure, the guy can fish, he can write, he can tie, etc., etc. But I'm seeing a little flip-flopping from Mr. "I don't need no stinking 2-hander, leave me alone all you band-wagoners!" In the end, seems like it may have been more sour grapes than anything. Musta been hard forming that D-loop with the size of the chip on your shoulder there daytripper. And now he's playing the "This two handed business has soul" card? Baptized and confirmed? Now you're some kind of bonafide warm-and-fuzzies long-rodder (well, long-ish, it is only a switch)? Sell off your single-handers? I don't buy it and nobody else does either. Eh, who am I to judge? Aside from the fact that I didn't try to hide my interest and admiration of the style, I guess we're in the same boat. If I were in a position to, I'd welcome you to the club. As it is, I'll be happy to stand by y...

42 hours (roughly) until my feet are in this . Round II is on. If I ever finish pulling and packing my gear. Happy Vet's Day and thank you to all who have served.

I've got a box full of hairwings And a pocket full of bantams I know I won't be fishing every one Because the patterns that control your mind Those patterns take away my time Hello Goodbye http://www.relevantmagazine.com/video/watch/534/mouth-full-of-diamonds

-Levels have dropped on the Salmon; reports are in thick with many trout being caught. Please, if you do plan on keeping any fish, learn proper identification. There are people misidentifying trout and atlantics as pacific salmon, and as a result, keeping fish that may not be legal, simply out of ignorance. -Only a couple days left to hit the trout waters under statewide regs. I plan on getting at least 2 afternoons and a morning between now and the close. -If you waited to make your fall foliage trip, you might have missed it. The winds over the weekend have put all the leaves on the ground, at least in exposed areas in the Adirondacks. Deep, sheltered valleys and lee slopes still have some color. -31.5 days until we arrive in Springville for Year II. Better get tying.

It's sad but true; I got excited this morning when I saw the gages had climbed all the way to 20th percentile flows. It's been a long, dry summer but things look to be on the upswing...slightly. Should get at least an inch over the next couple days...there's actually a flood watch for the entire region. Could make for a great couple weeks to close the trout season. In other news, EMS Club Days are coming up. Present your ADK (or other applicable organization...wonder if TU counts) mebership card (or sign up on the spot) and get 20% off. I got a pair of boots waayyy outside my price range on hold for Friday, unless I can convince myself they're not worth it...which would be tough. I guess this constitutes free, unsolicited advertising...but high retail prices aside, EMS has got to be the greatest outdoors shop on earth.

Not toooo awful much fishing recently. Headed to the Pulaski Snagfest this weekend. Should be interesting. In the meanwhile, I'll be trying to regularly update with hikes taken. Hannah and I did this one a couple weeks ago. SawteethGothics 9-18-10 Find more Hikes in Keene Valley/st. Huberts, New York I like that we maxed out the steepness scale. Much more of that to come hopefully. And maybe some pics from this hike, as it's about as scenic as they come.

Been a lot of talk about them recently. Clams in Lake George . Carp in the Mighty Miss (and it's surrounds ). Rock Snot...well, just about everywhere. It's understandable that there would be some " backlash " to all these stories...but let's keep it in perspective. The threats are real. Daily Finance (of all places) has 10 interesting invasive stories that have had negative effects on the US economy. It's important to remember that invasives have a real, measurable and direct cost to all of us, not just the ecosystems they can malign (though...really...these things are inseparable, which somewhere down the line we will finally be forced to face the harsh realities of...but thats another discussion altogether). Of course, if the scope of the article were a little broader, I'd be forced to point out a major offender they omitted: Humans. And no, I don't mean just our friends to the South. But again...another issue altogether . Except for the whole inter...

What did the the capital district trout angling zombie cry when he saw the streamflows? After a long-weekend in balmy Florida, the weather up here is downright refreshing. Still, streams are approaching record lows, temps are threatening record highs, and no significant rainfall is in sight. It's enough to make you go carping. OK, extra carping motivation isn't really needed. Free time and work-release would help. Ideally though, it would be nice if there was water in the streams for the next two months, and maybe even something left in them to catch, before the season closes. Oh...and something from the weekend... 2 kids + alligator = 1 kid? Nah

spotted, stalked, caught and released...