How Did You Get Started Flyfishing?

[fishinwrench]

My dad never swung a flyrod all his life but his dad (my Papaw) was one of those old guys that waded the muddy creeks of the Salt river basin in the same pants he wore to church. A flyrod and an UMCO aluminum box full of medium sized bugs, mostly poppers and mostly "yellow" was his favorite way to fish, and he was my idol.

I learned to tie flys years before I was ever handed a flyrod, and when I finally got cut loose with one it was for the purpose of catching sunfish for limb-line bait. No instruction or teaching ensued, I guess he figured that I had followed along and watched him long enough that I could figure it out on my own, and eventually I did.

I strayed away from flyfishing after I saw my first issue of Bassmaster magazine but kept going back to it from time to time whenever 'gear fishing' got even the slightest bit boring, or anytime I realized that I could probably catch the same fish on the fly that I was using gear to catch.

The whole experience of flyfishing is just cooler to me, kinda like bowhunting vs. rifle hunting, it just puts my mind in a better place and I can appreciate success alot more....and accept failure better

[laker67]

I grew up wading and flyfishing with my father. We fished every warm water creek and pond in camden county. My first flyrod was a south bend with a perrine reel. I still have it to this day. I first trout fished around 1960. I made three trips to bssp before ever catching a trout. I caught two that day on a brown wooly worm/red tail. Fly fishing has been a most enjoyable life long hobby for me. Thanks Dad! I mainly target trout, but still manage to catch several warm water fish at loz each season using the long rod.

[eric1978]

Wrench called me a pussy. Haven't looked back.

[ness]

Sorry -- I had a visitor.

I had been in deep cover for months, attempting to infiltrate a radical and secretive group known as the Reorganized Provisional John Birch Society. I had earned their trust through a series of carefully staged events (which I still cannot discuss) and was to meet them in New Orleans to assist them with the finalization of their plans -- plans I had successfully convinced them I knew, even though I did not. I gave a pass to the goon at the door and entered the small back room at Brennan's. The smell of chicory and sardou filled the air.

I had learned early in my training to ooze confidence and command a room as means to disarm suspecting enemies. I knew anything less with these men would insure my death, and those of many other patriots. I casually scanned the room and nodded, but inside my mind raced. A lesser man would have gasped at this sight, but not I: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Byrd D-WV, SantoTrafficante (LCN), Fidel Castro, William Westmoreland, Pete Lavigne (CEO of General Dynamics), Howard Hughes, George Gehrke (of Gink fame), and Chip Orvis V (great great grandson of Charles). In other words, some of the most powerful men on the planet and/or in fly-fishing retail.

Gotta hop -- more to come.

[DaddyO]

Sorry -- I had a visitor.

I had been in deep cover for months, attempting to infiltrate a radical and secretive group known as the Reorganized Provisional John Birch Society. I had earned their trust through a series of carefully staged events (which I still cannot discuss) and was to meet them in New Orleans to assist them with the finalization of their plans -- plans I had successfully convinced them I knew, even though I did not. I gave a pass to the goon at the door and entered the small back room at Brennan's. The smell of chicory and sardou filled the air.

I had learned early in my training to ooze confidence and command a room as means to disarm suspecting enemies. I knew anything less with these men would insure my death, and those of many other patriots. I casually scanned the room and nodded, but inside my mind raced. A lesser man would have gasped at this sight, but not I: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Byrd D-WV, SantoTrafficante (LCN), Fidel Castro, William Westmoreland, Pete Lavigne (CEO of General Dynamics), Howard Hughes, George Gehrke (of Gink fame), and Chip Orvis V (great great grandson of Charles). In other words, some of the most powerful men on the planet and/or in fly-fishing retail.

Gotta hop -- more to come.

Is this a prelude to "Men who stare at Trout"?

[ness]

Is this a prelude to "Men who stare at Trout"?

C'mon man, this is serious.

[ness]

Johnson rose and strode to the front of the room with a non-filtered cigarette in one hand and a tumbler of Cutty in the other. He reached up for a string and dramatically pulled down a map of Africa, nearly losing his balance in the process. He looked intently at each of us in succession, then back to the map. Seeing it was not the map he intended, he let out a string of profanities that was heard throughout the restaurant. Senator Byrd rushed to help, repeatedly pulling strings until he found the map of Dallas. Clearly marked in red was a route heading north, with a sharp left turn to the southwest. Just beyond the bend, a red x was drawn through the route line.

A shriek filled the room and all heads turned towards the sound. Behind the curtain was a struggle then a loud grunt. A man staggered out, doubled over in pain, followed by my beautiful, but hysterical, Danielle. I headed toward her, but Gehrke and Orvis blocked my way. I jumped up, and grabbed the chandelier. Pushing off the table with my feet, I swung backward then forward extending my feet in front of me. It must have been a pretty good shot, because all the men fell to the ground in a heap, unconscious. Danielle headed toward me, arms outstretched, but a sudden jerk of her head revealed her hair had been grabbed from behind. As I moved toward her, a hand was clapped over her mouth and a gun was put to her temple. As the man began to peer out from behind her head the first thing to come out of the shadows was a long, sloping nose.

Crap -- doorbell.

[ness]

Just a Cub Scout selling popcorn, and I've still got some from 1995. Anyway, it all turned out to be an elaborate practical joke. Nixon released Danielle and we all had a good laugh.

Oh hell, there goes the red phone.

[Buzz]

I've been fishing since I can remember. My uncle took me to Roaring River when I was about 12. That was my first experience with trout. I caught the heck out of them on trout worms. Later, much later, I went back and had a very tough time, but still caught a few fish. I mostly remember watching the fly fishermen casting that long rod and hooking up with fish while I had trouble getting a look.

I remembered my dad had gone to Canada back in the late 60's and still had the old glass rod and the automatic reel so I asked to borrow it. Long story short, I went back to Roaring River, still not knowing what the hell I was dong, and caught fish. I also lost the biggest park fish I've ever hooked up with on that day. I still have that old glass rod, but it's since been turned into a big bass rod.

Some 26 years later I have finally figured out the darned trout and am now moving toward warmwater fish.

It's been great and has turned into one of the loves of my life. As many of us can agree.

[JCWolfe]

Started out using spinning gear and powerbait. After a couple months of that and seeing guys on the Lower Illinois fly fishing, I got interested from watching them. I bought a bass pro flyrod and reel thinking if flyfishing wasnt for me I wouldnt have too much invested in it. Well, like most, after catching a few trout, I was definitely hooked and have a lot invested in it. Upgrades to everything now and tie flies as well, working on that. Very enjoyable and have got both my daughter and son in law into fly fishing .