The friendships I have made via a couple of on line boards, this one included. Normally I fish alone, and generally don't go deep into conversation beyond "what fly/lure are you using?". There are two people in particular who have really altered my learning curve in different situations.

15 minutes watching a fly fisherman catch a false abacore on Nantucket, while 6 of us threw everything we could with spinning gear for naught. That sparked my desire to fly fish. I can still hear his drag scream.

kirk