I was 12 and the rod was a Phillipson which I still have. It is as floppy as a noodle and heavy. I went with my father, his friend Monte and Monte's nephew. We floated down the Current River in Missouri and camped on the river bank. After I got home I practiced casting for hours in my back yard until I could throw a line about 30 - 40 ft. Then I discovered girls and took a 50 year hiatus from fly fishing.

I rediscovered the thrill of a trout hitting a fly about four years ago using a casting bubble on a spinning rod and soon thereafter bought a modern fly rod, reel, and line. Boy things had changed in 50 years. Surprisingly, it didn't take long to get the casting stroke back.

I started tying flies about three years ago and recently built my second graphite rod. I am now completing my decent into madness by assembling the tools needed to build a bamboo rod. I haven't had this much fun since I was 12.