Do you remember when you caught your first fish on a fly. When I was twelve or thirteen years old I was fishing in a trout stream and I thought that I would try one . Just started to try to tie flies it was really bad , the head was half the size of hole fly. I through that thing out their and something grabbed it Well I missed it, that was back in the 60ies I have caught a few since then but I still remember that One .
How about you. John
Hmmmm do I remember… I guess I was 12 or so and my bud Tedd and I had peddled our bikes probably 8 miles to fish a stream for trout .Fished for 7 hours and managed only one brook trout on worms .While dressing out the trout I found it was stuffed with gypsy moth caterpillars.Went to school the next day and had an art teacher explain how to make a woolly worm.So armed with a pair of pliers a bench vice some of moms button thread and Tedd’s moms feather duster we made 6 of the ugliest flies .The following Saturday we peddled back up there and dabbled these flies on spinning gear hanging from the branches of the big willow trees.Just about every hole had a trout or two that were eager to inhale the mess we made on those hooks. I don’t remember just how many we caught but we each took home probably 3 of the biggest brook trout I have ever seen .
Mike
[This message has been edited by ny angler (edited 19 April 2005).]
well the first fish I cought on a fly rod was a rather large salmon on a small river in Michigan…I really screwed up as my parents owned a RV trailer park on the Asalbe river here in michigan… fly fishing took a rather distant back seat to dirt bikes, dune buggys and swimming and hunting…knowing what I know now…man did I mess up I cant tell you how many browns I saw over 25 inches when I was younger in those holes along side the banks, but the first is always a special one no matter what it is…
great topic!!
No John–if you did that in the 60’s go back another 40 years for my first fly fishing and I can’t remember what or when I caught the first fish
Bill
1963, 7 years old, Mooselookmagundic Lake. I knotted a piece of my mother’s knitting yarn on a bait hook, tied it on to my Dad’s best cheap fly rod, walked down to the shore, and after a short spell of bad casting, caught a smelt.
Hooked on fly fishing for life.
Is it not funny, that we all started with almost nothing,and had no idea what we were doing.
Thanks for answering.
John
I caught my first one, a rather small fish on the Salmon river, with a Quill Gordon tied onto the end of a spinning line. I think it was a Zebco, and that’s right, I knew nothing, or maybe a bit less.
Eric
Late 60’s watching Curt Gowdy and the First American Sportsmen TV show. I was dragging some sort of popper behind the boat I was rowing and ended up catching a slab bluegill that was about a pound and a half which was HUGE for the lake I was fishing. Then I started getting some small bass and figured it was time to try trout. I probably fished til I left home for the military and didn’t longrod fish again for probably 10 years. I have only within the last 3 years gotten semi-serious about fly fishing and now can’t wait to teach my grandkids.
A little sidebar… how many others really noticed potential casting problems when they actually thought about it? When I was younger and “just messing around,” I don’t remember worrying about half the casting problems I worry about now.
Mike
There is no greater fan of flyfishing than the worm.
Patrick McManus
I caught my first trout 5 years ago on the norfork in arkansas. I had a good time but didn’t really pursue it till last november. Then I started getting in to it a again fishing at bennett springs, my step dad Bald Midge helped me get started tying my own flies by buying a vice and countless materials. Now as many of his good friends witch are also mine now to keep telling me that this is more addictive then beer and women. Now I have realized that and greatly appriciate what my step dad has got me in to. I am forever indedited to him. Thank You. Blue gill
My first fish on a fly rod, was last year in july. I was petering around on my dock with a white wulff, when a little 10-inch cut throat hit it, I will never forget it.
My first fish on a “fly” was a very nice bass on one of those heavy fly rod Hula Poppers with the rubber skirts. My first fish on a fly I tied myself was a bull bluegill, both from the same pond. That bluegill was followed by some bass in the pound range. More than enough to convince a 10-11 year old that this was one hell of a good way of catching fish. That was about 1954 or so. Pretty much been doing this ever since, although in my courtin’ days I wasted too much time and money in dimly lit places a long way from a pond, lake or trout stream. Had better luck fishing anyway. JGW
I remeber my first fish on my 8 weight fly rod very well. I was fishing at my cottage and caught a 7 inch rock bass-that hooked me for life.
tight lines, and taught thread
Although I don’t remember the first fish that I caught on a fly, I very much do recall the first fish that I caught on a fly that I tied myself.
In fact, I will never forget it. It was a 12 inch Brooke Trout caught on a rather poorly tied #14 Adams.
From that day 'til this I’ve never fished with a fly that wasn’t tied by my own two hands.
All along this path I tread, my heart betrays my weary head
With nothing but my love to save, from the cradle to the grave
Years ago, bass in one of our farm ponds. Our family’s doctor’s wife would take me fishing at Butler city lake over 40 years ago. She created a monster.
Welcome to FAOL blue gill, I am proud of you!
bald midge
Heck, I can’t even remember when I caught my LAST fish on a fly, and that was only about four hours ago.