Tuesday, January 01, 2013

2012

No fully featured year end review from me, mainly because 2012 was such a mixed bag for my family in general. Fishing wise, it was an excellent year. The best count I can come up with has me at 19 carp over 20 lbs for 2012. I am pretty sure that is my second best "big fish total" ever, but who knows. Other things this year stand out, with the passing of my dad, the "Reel John Montana" as he liked to call himself, front and center in my mind on a daily basis. I miss him, but mostly I hate to see my mom and sisters sad. I have said it before, but my dad would have wanted us all to get back up after being knocked down...and follow so many of the examples he set with his life for toughness and love. "Keep living, keep fighting, and keep together" he would have said. So Happy New Year to those that matter most in my life...my wife, my kids, my mom and my sisters. Keep living, keep loving, and keep fighting. I am here for you all...always.

For the rest of you that occasionally follow this blog through my words and pictures a brief apology. I know people come here to read about carp, look at fish pictures and hopefully laugh or maybe learn a trick or two, but the past few months have been tough here at Carp on the Fly. I am not a professional angler...not a writer, nor a photographer. I am a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a friend and occasionally a guy who likes to walk in the waters and be a part of the world rather than a spectator. Who I am dictates what I do, and as such I may occasionally veer off the path so to speak. Life happens. I can't promise to stick to the straight and narrow, and all I can say is that it will likely happen again. If you love carp, stick with me...spring will be here soon and with it the warm waters and tailing fish....adventures will be had and I will tell some of those stories. For now, know that I wish you all the best...tight lines, and screaming reels. Happy New Year, and may 2013 bring you all something that you had no idea you were looking for.

 

 

15 comments:

testflycarpin said...

Happy New Years to you and the family John, just like you can't promise the straight and narrow (hadn't noticed any curvy and wideness myself) I can't promise an improved2013 but wouldn't be surprised if it happened anyways.

Brent Wilson said...

Happy new year John. Keep up the good work.

Feather Chucker said...

Sorry to hear about your loss. My dad passed away last year as well. I look forward to living vicariously threw your 2013 carp adventures.

Ty said...

Man, veering off the path is where the good stuff comes in. Don't change a thing. Hope you have a great 2013!

e.m.b. said...

2012 has been quite the up and down, that's for sure.
And serendipity is a beautiful thing. May much of it find you and yours in the coming year. All the best, and keep up the great work here. Cheers!

BKill said...

This may be some of your best writing to date. Very personal is always the very best. Condolences on your loss, but with a hopeful eye turned toward the new year. God bless you and your family.

trashfisher said...

Hey John it was a great year of fishing and living. Even through the downtimes which remind us not to take life for granted. We are lucky to have a great place like the Big C and lucky to have great famalies who remind us of how well we have it. Happy New Year to you and your's!

Gregg said...

Hey John,

I sympathize with and for you. The words you invoke of your father's teachings are true, if hard to do. Your meanderings are delightful, all is well on that front. Best 2013 wishes to you and yours!

Gregg

Unknown said...

hi john
i felt for you back in september and i feel for you know mate. what people have said about your dad being with you on the water is true. wile i still have my dad, i was very close to my grandad and after he pasted i felt like you empty i loved fishing with him. my mother who is a methodist minister would say he was watching over me wile i fished keeping me safe on the water. i still think of him almost every time i fish i hear his laugh in my mind when i make a school boy error and spook or loose a fish. it will get better mate trust me.

Nathan Moore said...

May 2013 be full of healing, flowing waters and tightlines. Love your blog John and thanks letting us all live vicariously through you, good and bad, because the hills and valleys are what makes life worth living.

Unknown said...

John.

Do you think you could do a link to the gear and flies use most use please?
It would help many of us I'm sure?

John Montana said...

Richard, I will try to write up a gear report this winter. Check my Facebook page too, as it is easier to be active daily on Facebook than here on the blog. There has been a lot of discussion about flies recently on the Facebook page.

Johnmet said...

" a guy who likes to walk in the waters and be a part of the world rather than a spectator"
For me your writings show that you are "part of the world" in more aspects than fishing. Thanks for all your work and best of luck in the new year.
J.M.

John Montana said...

Thanks Johnmet. What do you do in Transportation? I am in the same industry.

Wendy Berrell said...

Will be with you every year; fishing carp and otherwise. Keep on.