Christmas is not my favorite holiday. It’s like the best part of all the other fun holidays, but with a whole lot of other stuff crammed into it. It’s busy. It’s expensive. It’s almost always cold.

Consequently, I’ve been known to be a little Grinchy in the Yuletide lead-up.

But then Christmas Eve hits. All the other stuff is suddenly in the rear view. Shopping is done. Travel is complete. Meal prep is as good as it’s going to get. The superfluous holiday trappings are hidden by the fresh-fallen presence of Christmas itself.

Family. Food. Candlelight worship. The kids’ gifts staged for the early morning wake-up call.

This year I spent a quick hour on the water on the morning of Christmas Eve. It served as a good personal transition period from “bah humbug” to “God bless us, every one!” I came back from the water and the woods excited about the upcoming 36 hours.

And so here we are. All of that to say, Merry Christmas from Casting Across!

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Will your holiday not be complete without more Casting Across?

No worries. Click the links below for some articles of Christmas past:

2018: The 12 Trash Fish of Christmas – An angling-themed parody Christmas carol. I know – just what you’ve been wanting. So gather with kith and kin around the old piano. Pour yourself a tall, frothy eggnog. Get the fire  crackling. Have Aunt Gertrude flex her ivory-tickling muscles and join together in song.

2017: Merry Christmas from Casting  Across – “What are you doing writing a fly fishing blog on Christmas morning?” you may ask. Well, through the wonders of the internet and my particular platform, I am writing to you from late on Christmas Eve.

2016: How to Fly Fish During the Holidays… With Family – If you happen to be in a scenario that is fortuitous enough, you might try to sneak out for some post-holiday fly fishing. No matter where you live, there is probably an option available to you. Plenty of other anglers will be playing nice with kith and kin, so you’ll have the water mostly to yourself. But isn’t that the crux of the matter: How do you graciously extract yourself from familial goings-on to get a few hours of fishing in?

2015: You’re a Mean One, Mr. Nymph – You’re a foul one, Mr. Nymph. / You’re a nasty gold-ribbed punk. / Your dubbing is like camouflage. / You blend with stream-bottom gunk, / Mr. Nymph.