Chambug

[chambug]

Give em a fly rod, a set of clubs and a 22. Then just bring em along.

Nature will take its course after that. DNA helps.

Pete

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!

[chambug]

I've been fishing for as long as I can remember. My Dad fished and I sure wanted to be like him and spend time with him. I'll guess about 45 years so far sooooooooo, I'm just getting started. Fishing is a lot more than a past time to me. I'll fish until I can't anymore and honestly, I hope I don't live much longer than that. Sorry to hear you've called it quits CB, but I'm glad you've got family to enjoy.

Thanks! I'm proud of my family....and i'm proud of my extended family - guys like you.

[stlfisher]

I have been fishing of and on since I was 5. Took up fly fishing 3 years ago and haven't looked back.

I spent most of the my early fishing days fishing with my dad and my grandpa. My earliest memory is catching a catfish at busch wildlife that was longer than I was tall. I will have to see if I can find that pick of me stuggling to hold it up over my head. I remember fighting a snag at the Alton lock and darn while grandpa patiently cheered me on even though I was just snagged on the bottom. I remember watching my dad cast a large topwater at Busch one evening and while I was busy throwing rocks in the water. I begged him to let me cast his rod with the cool new lure I had never seen. After tugging on his pants for a half hour He finally relented and on the first cast I landed a 3lb bass. We talked about that one for years. I remember my grandpa showing me pictures of his fishing trips to Canada with these huge toothy looking fish I had never seen. They turned out to be Pike and Muskie. I hooked into a grass crap the same year and I remember my grandpa holding onto my belt so I wouldn't be pulled into the water. Never landed that one either.

During summers of my high school years I would spend many of my days at Busch fishing for anything that would bite. I would use large 6 inch minnows and catch catfish and bass all day long. Never caught a bass worth a darn, but landed some nice Catfish. One day my grandpa and dad joined me and I hooked into a Tiger muskie that they used to stock. Never had a chance to land it, but there was a lot of excitement for a few minutes.

Didn't fish much in college...to busy chasing women and drinking.

Picked up fishing again a few years after college when my dad invited my brothers and I for a weekend outing. For whatever reason fishing hadn't even crossed my mind when he suggested it. From there it was like the old days. I spent almost every weekend at a local lake or pond or river. I discovered you could catch fish on lures and this started my bass fishing days. My dad I fished often and I discovered a few honey holes close to me and had a blast catching largemouth between 2-4lb's. One November night, with the temperatue about 45 degress I landed my largest bass to date on a night I shouldn't have been fishing and they shouldn't have been biting. A 6lb largemouth that I still think about to this day.

4 years ago a college friend invited me on a camping and fishing trip to Bennett Spring with some of his high school friends. I had never fished for trout and this started my new passion. I bought a fly rod and the following year I was catching trout with consistency and tying up my own patterns. Since then most of the group has converted to fly fishing.

During this time by dad passed away...would have loved to see him with a fly rod in his hand and I know he would have loved everthing about it. My grandpa is too old to fish, but still loves to tell stories of his fishing days in Canada. I think of those two often while I am on the water.

I now spend as much time as I can exploring the trout water around the state as well as the streams and rivers for smallmouth. I have a new fishing buddy that shares the same sense of adventer and passion and a girlfriend that not only encourages it, but will join me from time to time.

I figure that I have anouther 30-40 years to discover new water,new species, and new techniques. I can't wait to share it with my kids and grandkids.

[chambug]

I was born in "49", and it seems to me that I must have grown up waist deep in the warm water creeks here in camden county. My dad was a creek wader and flyrodder, so flyrodding was what we did. We fished the glaize creeks mostly with several ponds thrown in. Started trout fishing around 1960, but was only able to fish 3 to 4 times a season. Once I could drive, that changed. If you don't subtract the 4 years that I spent overseas while in service, I would safely say I have fished for 55 years or so. Would dearly love to be able to spend 20 more.

Laker: In '49 I was a high school student in Albuquerque, NM.....fishing places like Chama, Jemez Springs, Twin Lakes, Red River Canyon, and the upper Rio Grand. That was when I really got into fly fishing. Then I got into bass and was chin-drippin' avid about bass for a number of years, until my son got me back into fly fishin' six years ago.

[brother dave]

I've enjoyed fishing for at least the last 40 years! I'm 45 and I can't remember ever going any where with out a fishing pole of some sort. My brothers and I could find a spot to fish at any family function. I sooner quite breathin than fishin (or huntin).

[laker67]

Laker: In '49 I was a high school student in Albuquerque, NM.....fishing places like Chama, Jemez Springs, Twin Lakes, Red River Canyon, and the upper Rio Grand. That was when I really got into fly fishing. Then I got into bass and was chin-drippin' avid about bass for a number of years, until my son got me back into fly fishin' six years ago.

You certainly have enjoyed a lifetime of great fishing chambug. I hope I am as fortunate to experience several more. Fly fishing is my roots. I have never fly fished outside of missouri and arkansas, and frankly have never had much desire to. I have made several great friends through fly fishing, and have had the pleasure of fishing with some of the finest anglers and sportsmen that missouri has to offer. I hope you to continue to share some of your life long experiences and knowledge with us.

[chambug]

I have been fishing of and on since I was 5. Took up fly fishing 3 years ago and haven't looked back.

I spent most of the my early fishing days fishing with my dad and my grandpa. My earliest memory is catching a catfish at busch wildlife that was longer than I was tall. I will have to see if I can find that pick of me stuggling to hold it up over my head. I remember fighting a snag at the Alton lock and darn while grandpa patiently cheered me on even though I was just snagged on the bottom. I remember watching my dad cast a large topwater at Busch one evening and while I was busy throwing rocks in the water. I begged him to let me cast his rod with the cool new lure I had never seen. After tugging on his pants for a half hour He finally relented and on the first cast I landed a 3lb bass. We talked about that one for years. I remember my grandpa showing me pictures of his fishing trips to Canada with these huge toothy looking fish I had never seen. They turned out to be Pike and Muskie. I hooked into a grass crap the same year and I remember my grandpa holding onto my belt so I wouldn't be pulled into the water. Never landed that one either.

During summers of my high school years I would spend many of my days at Busch fishing for anything that would bite. I would use large 6 inch minnows and catch catfish and bass all day long. Never caught a bass worth a darn, but landed some nice Catfish. One day my grandpa and dad joined me and I hooked into a Tiger muskie that they used to stock. Never had a chance to land it, but there was a lot of excitement for a few minutes.

Didn't fish much in college...to busy chasing women and drinking.

Picked up fishing again a few years after college when my dad invited my brothers and I for a weekend outing. For whatever reason fishing hadn't even crossed my mind when he suggested it. From there it was like the old days. I spent almost every weekend at a local lake or pond or river. I discovered you could catch fish on lures and this started my bass fishing days. My dad I fished often and I discovered a few honey holes close to me and had a blast catching largemouth between 2-4lb's. One November night, with the temperatue about 45 degress I landed my largest bass to date on a night I shouldn't have been fishing and they shouldn't have been biting. A 6lb largemouth that I still think about to this day.

4 years ago a college friend invited me on a camping and fishing trip to Bennett Spring with some of his high school friends. I had never fished for trout and this started my new passion. I bought a fly rod and the following year I was catching trout with consistency and tying up my own patterns. Since then most of the group has converted to fly fishing.

During this time by dad passed away...would have loved to see him with a fly rod in his hand and I know he would have loved everthing about it. My grandpa is too old to fish, but still loves to tell stories of his fishing days in Canada. I think of those two often while I am on the water.

I now spend as much time as I can exploring the trout water around the state as well as the streams and rivers for smallmouth. I have a new fishing buddy that shares the same sense of adventer and passion and a girlfriend that not only encourages it, but will join me from time to time.

I figure that I have anouther 30-40 years to discover new water,new species, and new techniques. I can't wait to share it with my kids and grandkids.

Thanks stlfisher.

Is it just me, or does everyone's fishing heretage mean so much? You guys are telling me things that sure make my old heart feel good. I got the fishin' bug from my dad....just one of the many good things he prompted me to do in my life.

I'll tell you about my early start one of these days.

[chambug]

I've enjoyed fishing for at least the last 40 years! I'm 45 and I can't remember ever going any where with out a fishing pole of some sort. My brothers and I could find a spot to fish at any family function. I sooner quite breathin than fishin (or huntin).

Hey brother Dave.....Thanks for the comeback. Sounds like you're hooked by the very "animals" you're trying to hook.

[chambug]

You certainly have enjoyed a lifetime of great fishing chambug. I hope I am as fortunate to experience several more. Fly fishing is my roots. I have never fly fished outside of missouri and arkansas, and frankly have never had much desire to. I have made several great friends through fly fishing, and have had the pleasure of fishing with some of the finest anglers and sportsmen that missouri has to offer. I hope you to continue to share some of your life long experiences and knowledge with us.

Laker: You should make it a point to fish some of the trout waters of NM, Co, and Az. If you drive through the panhandle of OK, you are in northern NM, and a few miles from southern CO. Then it's not much farther to eastern AZ. All of these areas abound with trout waters, and you will see some of the most beautiful country in America. Do like we've had to do....plan for it and save your money. I guarantee you will be glad you did.

Go for it, Young'un!

[stlfisher]

Thanks stlfisher.

Is it just me, or does everyone's fishing heretage mean so much? You guys are telling me things that sure make my old heart feel good. I got the fishin' bug from my dad....just one of the many good things he prompted me to do in my life.

I'll tell you about my early start one of these days.

Yep, I think everyone's fishing heritage is quite meaningful and important to each. The stories, details, and backrounds might be unique, but there seems to be fundamental meaning we all share.