Is there a 12 step program.....

[Mike Ormsby]

12 Step Recovery Program
Whether it's the time of year that's got you down OR drinking has become a problem OR actually anything that ails you (even an addiction to rod building), there is a 12 Step Recovery Program that is guaranteed to work to brighten up the very worst of situations -- and it only takes 12 tiny little easy steps to follow:
1) Get to the closest body of water, preferably with fish in it.
2) Take a fly rod out of its tube and put together.
3) Take a fly reel with the appropriate fly line on it for the rod you've just rigged up.
4) Take a couple of casts with the rod to get the feel of the outfit in your hands -- also good to limber yourself up too -- and don't forget to straighten out your leader as well as your line besides straightening out yourself.
5) Study the body of water for any sign of fish -- check water temperature, current, water conditions, or whatever you have to. But take the time to take in the surroundings. Maybe even see the ring of a rising trout on the water's surface.
6) Find the appropriate fly pattern for the type of fish that hopefully are present -- doesn't matter whether it's a dry or wet fly, a nymph or a streamer. Just pick a fly and tie it onto your leader.
7) Using waders or a boat or a flotation tube, or even just wet wading, get out on the water.
Once out on the water, cast your fly towards where you might have seen a fish -- maybe where that trout might have dimpled the surface or a bass is luking under a water lily pad or whatever species you're after may be.
9) Work that fly in the appropriate manner needed to fish with it -- maybe a drag free drift of a dry fly or slowly working that nymph pattern at just the right depth -- no matter what the presentation or technique used, work that water as you fly fish.
10) Cover all the possible areas that look promising -- then move on to the next likely spot on the water.
11) Cast as often as you have to -- take your time -- just enjoy being out on the water -- and fishing.
12) If you should be fortunate enough to hook a fish, play it just right and finally land it -- maybe take a picture -- admire how beautiful that fish looks no matter whether it's a bass or a bonefish or a carp or a pike or a salmon or a trout or whatever -- remember to practise catch and release so that fish can make the same type of moment for another angler on another day too.

Seriously fly fishing might not cure it all but it certainly can't hurt -- unless that fish you caught was supposed to be mine (LOL LOL). Now maybe you'd be willing to build me a rod to cure my addiction.....to fly fishing LOL LOL

Tight Lines,
Mike