Where: An "S" River
When: Last Saturday and Sunday
Conditions: WINDY!
Flies used: MOAL, Glo-bug

"I totally support that decision," said the voice on the message.

The wind hasn't been playing nice over the past few weeks. It went so far as to sabotage our long-awaited night fishing plans.

Rather than try my hand at fighting the breeze in the dark, I opted out.

I wish I exercised similar wisdom last week.

But as they say, the tug's the drug and I needed my fix.

Wind or not.

Unfortunately, the river felt differently. On both occasions, all it gave up were disturbingly strong gusts and frustration.

On the brighter side, the river did allow me the opportunity to get to know my camera a little better. ;)

It's a total bummer that the wind reared its ugly head again this weekend--I was hoping to catch up with my buddies one more time to spread some Christmas cheer.

Sorry guys--let's shoot for next weekend.

If I don't catch up with any of you before Tuesday, have a Merry Christmas.

Where: Puget Sound
When: Saturday
Conditions: Sunny, WINDY
Flies used: Clouser

Song of the day: "I Wish," Stevie Wonder

"Have you looked out the window?"

"Uh, no. Why?"

"Go look."

Gusts of wind tore at the trees.

And yesterday was dead calm.

What's the deal with all this extreme weather of late?

We bet against ourselves and went anyway, though--it was supposed to be a nice clear day and we hadn't enjoyed the sun in the past week or so.

Here comes the sun...

Unfortunately, we bet wrong.

The wind didn't look too bad from the lot but...

...it was pretty bad here!

It didn't matter where we went, we couldn't hide from it.

So we packed it in and hit the shop for a warm lunch and Christmas gift gawking.

Nothing like a little retail therapy to make up for a lousy day of fishing. :)

I hope you were all nice instead of naughty this year! If you were, chances are you'll be able to cash in on your good behavior and convince somebody to leave one (or, preferably, a few *wink*) of these great items under the tree for you.

Just don't forget to put it on your wish list at Puget Sound Fly Co. so your benefactors pick the right gift for you. :)

Don't have a wish list? Give the shop a call at 253-839-4119 and set one up.

And without further ado, here are my top five picks for Christmas (in no particular order):

1) Sage Skagit River soft shell - $299
Waterproof zippers, adjustable, watertight cuffs and four-way stretch, BREATHABLE material. Throw in a hood, partially rubberized sleeves (read "no more fish slime on your jacket") and expandable handwarmer pockets and you have a dream come true. This high performance jacket from Sage shirks the Gore-Tex trend and offers anglers the same weather protection in a comfortable, soft shell design. Mine has kept me warm and dry in pouring rain, brutal cold, high winds and has even survived some nasty chum bites. ;)

It looks cool, too. :)

The Skagit soft shell on duty at Chico Creek.

2) Scott S4 5 or 6 weight - $675
The long-awaited Scott S4 is here. Light and quick, this S3 upgrade casts a long, tight loop that even the most jaded gear freak will grin at. Check the details out here.

3) Sage Z-Axis - $670 to $880
Sage's replacement for the vaunted XP has proven to be a hit. This line up has something for everyone, from the popular 5 and 6 weight to light tackle rods like their 9 foot, three weight.

Heck, they even have a complete spey series starting with a 12 foot, 6 inch 5 weight and ending with a 16 foot 10 weight!

4) RIO Fly Lines RIO Gold - $64.95
There's no sense spending big bucks on a rod if you don't have the right line!

Looking for a line that does it all? The RIO Gold from (duh) RIO fly lines is the answer.

Long bombs, roll and switch casts are all equally accomplished with this line. An extended back taper not only helps you mend better, it helps you throw the kind of tight loops that give other lines complexes. ;)

5) Simms updated G3 and G4 waders - $399.95 and $699.95, respectively

This ain't the Bahamas, folks. Getting in the water is a chilly undertaking in the Pacific Northwest, placing comfort at a premium.

Either of these waders will keep you dry and happy all day long in the field. The gold-standard G3's have been updated for 2008, featuring a new chest pocket design and new seam placement to facilitate better articulation for those days you wander off the beaten path.

If you want to crank it up a notch, look no further than the G4 waders. A neoprene wading belt, the same seams as G3's, handwarmer pockets and more 5-layer Gore-Tex than anyone else out there are but a few of this suit's outstanding features.

The G4's most notable trait, though, has nothing to do with pockets, seams or Gore-Tex--it has to do with the your bladder. These waders feature a full-length, waterproof zipper.

You know, to help you answer nature's call. :)

This was a tough Top 5 as there are so many great fly fishing gifts to be had this year.

So as a bonus, here's a quick list of some honorable mentions:

1) Stripping Basket - $65
An absolute necessity for beach fishing. Don't leave home without it!

2) G. Loomis Roaring River Dredger 12'6" 5/6 spey rod - $475
Can you say ultralight action?

3) G. Loomis Crosscurrent GLX 9' 6 weight - $610
One of the best beach rods out there.

4) Sage VT2 13' 7 weight spey rod - $535
Want to get into spey? This rod will HOOK you on double-handers!

5) A Passion for Steelhead - $59.95
A must read for metalhead addicts.

And the list goes on and on...