I grew up in small town in Missouri (Prairie Home), I didn't get into fly fishing until I was nearly 30 - spent my younger years hunting.
Then one day, my Dad brought up his old Browning Silex Fiberglass rod, and left it at the place. We were living in Wright City, just 50 miles west of St. Louis, and we had a Lake in the back yard at the time, so catching gills didn't take too much effort. I was thrashing the water, and really wanting to get better at casting the thing, when a huge grass carp took my line out to the backing---- I was hooked, no more Spinning rods for me....
Later when the cicada hatch came, I would throw a yellow with black magic marker outlined earplug on a hook and started catching grass carp, catfish, bass and blue gills, as fast as I could throw the plug on the surface. "Poof" I became a fly tier. Problem, of course, is that my Browning could hardly throw that plug, without a huge strain.
The search for something different started. I bought a Green Mounting Fly rod from Orvis, but I didn't really like it, so I sent it back. Then I went the Fly shop in Columbia, near where my folks live. I threw everything he had in the shop. I didn't look at prices; I just wanted the rod that felt the best. I walked away with a Sage SP+, still my favorite rod today. Ouch, my wife was not happy: I had to have a new reel with that rod, and a fly line, and ..... well, over $700 for equipment, and that was the first day.
I started fishing “Bennet Springs”, “Maramec Springs” and the “Eleven Point River” for trout; as well as warm water fishing ponds, creeks, and lakes for catfish, bluegills, bass and crappie.
After some schooling & working, a new job opened up in Iowa. So; much to my disbelief, and to that of my family, off to Iowa we went.
I spend most of my time on Lake McBride and Coralville chasing bass, crappie and strippers. Springtime brings a short window of Walleye fishing during their spawn (only time they are shallow enough for a fly rod in Iowa) and Northern Pike fishing. Less than an hour drive puts me at Spring Creek for trout or the Maquoketa for small mouth. I also float the Wapsi for a number of species, and do some “Fresh Water Bone” fishing (or Carp fishing; as known to most).
A few trips to Alaska with my Dad, netted some King Salmon, Coho’s, Snook, Grayling, and Dolly Varden. A coupla trips south and south east for Red Fish, and a NJ trip for BIG Strippers and Blue Fish. But most of my trips for fishing are for trout including trips to Upper Missouri River, Arkansas River, Strawberry Reservoir, Provo River, Blue River, Pere Marquette, Shenandoah River, Gallatin River, Yellowstone River, Beaverhead River, Bow River, Sheboygan River, White River, Red River, North Fork, Current River, Roaring River, Green River, Crystal Lake, Yakama River…..well you get the idea: I like to fish.
I now buy and sell fly fishing equipment for a hobby, let’s me check out all the latest equipment.
My Favorite Rod: Sage SP+
My Favorite Line: Orvis Wonderline
My Favorite Reel: Tibor (any)
My Favorite Leader: Frogs Hair
My Least Favorite Leader: Climax
