I did it! My first trout on a fly I tied!

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
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A friend of mine asked if I wanted to fish a river in a nearby town yesterday. A local sports club stocks the “Yough” every Sat. at 1-1:30PM from April through May. My buddy and I planned on meeting around 3:30 and hit 'em hard.

Friday night I told my wife that I felt like a little kid again. During the week, everytime I felt pressure at work or looked at the amount of work I still have for my Master’s degree (I finish in Sept.–thank goodness!) I would think about the upcoming outing we had planned.

Friday night I sat down at my vise and decided to tie a few Wooly Buggers for Sat. I added some Flash-a-bou to the tails of some and left the others plain. My wife commented about my “young” attitude. I was really looking forward to Sat.

Early Sat. afternoon it started to rain. My buddy called to make sure Dad and I were still coming. The rain turned into thunderstorms and Dad called to see if we were still going. My only reply was “I think it’ll blow over. Worst case, we’ll sit in the car and look at the river.” There was nothing keeping me away from at least trying to get on the river for my SECOND fly-fishing attempt.

The weather did blow over. I met my buddy in the river and Dad sat on the shore. I was the only one with FF gear and my buddy was getting hits left and right. I had a few problems with my casting and was starting to question why I wanted to FF over spinning. I cought the tip of my rod at least 5 times and had to untangle the mess. Twice I lost me fly and tippit. (broke below the knot?)

The river was very fast. I had a hard time trying to keep my line mended, but all of a sudden I felt the line in my left hand (I’m a right handed caster) get tight. I gave it a little pull and felt the “wiggle”. It’s been 16 years since I felt the fly rod have a fish on it, and back then there was always live bait at the end of my leader. A little fight and I had a nice rainbow in my net.

I admired the beauty of the fish as I took the Bugger out of it’s mouth. I guess my novice tying skills can produce a fly that a fish wants to eat. As I watched the fish swim away, I pulled out some line and prepared for the next cast–realizing why I wanted to FF.

I probably had a lot of hits, but I’m still learning. It was the only fish I cought all day, but I will remember it forever. A 9-10 inch Rainbow Trout. A Wooly Bugger I tied the night before. My first fish on a fly!

Sorry I rambled on, but I wanted to share the experience.

Brad

[This message has been edited by Weasel (edited 08 May 2005).]

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Horrah!! Isn’t that just the kewlest thing!! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing with us…who didn’t get to go fishing this weekend!

Trouts don’t live in ugly places

3

Brad,

Congrats! If you do it right, what you felt will be the same as what you feel in 50 years.

Allan

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Congrats Brad! If at all possible, save that first fly. I wish I had saved the first fly of my own creation, that I caught a trout on.

That was great report on your fly fishing trip.

Wayne

5

Congrats on earning a multi-day smile. :slight_smile:

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Well Done Brad!!!,
Sounds as though all you need is time on the water ,You’ll get the hang of things quicker than you think. Each spring finds me going through a certian ritual of “getting reaquainted” even after 10 or so seasons…I enjoy and look forward to it year after year…

“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best

“Wish ya great fishing”

7

It’s good to be a kid. I like many others feel just like you do/did
But I must say I envy you and the other board members that have had a chance to wave a stick.
I’m a OTR truck driver and at the moment I only have a Rod with me and nothing else (It’s a long story as to why) Anyway I was in Montanna last week (I Love Missoula) and went down through Idaho. I went thru PA along I-80 today I’m in NY right now.
Every stream, River, Pond, Lake. I could see I kept kicking my rear for not having the tools to play.
Right now if I had everything to toss a few flies with me the only thing that would get me off a river would be a flood…lol

Cethern

“Information is Abundant, Wisdom is Scarce”

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That’s what got me to start tying my own flies. I ran into a guy I knew and told him that I had just started fly-fishing. He started telling about catching a fish on his own fly and had this amazing half crazed look in his eyes. Based on that look and story, I started tying a month later. Now I have my own story to tell. What a great feeling.

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Unfortunately I lost the fly I caught this fish on, but I have a burnt image in my mind. I have a lot to learn, but it’s nice to know I can do it. I’m hoping next weekend to try to fish a spot where the water’s not moving so fast. Think I might try a lake for BG. I got a lot of info from the tying board on BG flies… that way I can practice that cast.

Brad

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Brad,

Well done! I experienced your excitement in your words - and I know the “yough” too - so I am very happy for you. I am from Murrysville.

I hope to have a similar story soon. I am in the middle of my MBA and am planning on starting to tie flies myself.

We may speak again!

paflyfisher
Chris

[This message has been edited by paflyfisher (edited 08 May 2005).]

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PAFlyfisher,
Small world! If you’re interested, there’s going to be a fly-tying class at Westmoreland County Community College this fall. I think I may attend. Where are you going to school? I’ll finish my Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership through Geneva College (off site in Church Hill) in Sept.

Brad
“Work like you don’t need the money;
Love like you’ve never been hurt; and
Dance like no one’s watching!”

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Weasel, Don’t you love firsts! What a great feeling… Savor it, and look forward to your first brookie, brown, etc. I managed to bag my first trout out of a float tube last week during our local TU chapter’s “Opening Day” derby. Just for giggles I paddled in to shore (with trout in net under water) to have it measured before release. I was surprized to learn later that I had won the biggest fish award- and got a trophy. It wasn’t really a big fish, and probably had more to do with the fact that wind and rain kept participation and effort modest, but it was also the only time I ever won any type of fishing contest. To sweeten the whole experience, I had won the float tube last fall at a TU raffle… I have kind of been on a quest for firsts…trying moving waters, notable rivers out of my immediate area, and targeting species I haven’t added to my “life List”, like Landlock Salmon and Lake Trout. It’s great to experience all this sport has to offer. Have a ball adding to your own list of firsts, Jim

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Brad,

Thanks for the info about WCCC. Unfortunately, that is a far drive unless it is on the weekend. I have a two month old daughter - so I am busy.

I am at Robert Morris downtown.

Do you get up to Loyalhanna ever?

paflyfisher

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Nice work. The first trout I caught on my own tie was also on a wooly bugger. I fished the Yough growing up and I really like that river, one of the most beautiful places in the whole state.

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Weasel,

Well, a BIG congrats… Thanx for Sharing.

Betty … Season isn’t even open yet on my home waters

Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:15e20]http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/[/url:15e20]

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Thanks everyone. I had the joy of telling everyone at work my “fish story” today. I’m really hoping to get out this weekend to try and do it again, maybe with a dry fly!!!

PA Flyfisher,
Which section of the loyalhanna? My office is based in Latrobe, but I spend most of the week on the road (I’m a slaesman).

Brad
“Work like you don’t need the money;
Love like you’ve never been hurt; and
Dance like no one’s watching!”

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From 711 downstream - right across from the dirty bird (Giant Eagle). That’s where I fish it most.

Do you work for R.Rock or Lenature’s?

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I work for Quikrete. Our office is behind St. Vincent College.

The area you’re talking about on the loyalhanna, is that the FF only area?

Brad
“Work like you don’t need the money;
Love like you’ve never been hurt; and
Dance like no one’s watching!”

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No - the area is artificial lures only, but 99% of the people ff. Very nice area and very clear. Where do you fish?

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Since I’ve only been out with a Fly Rod twice, once at Jacobs Creek in Mt Pleasant and once on the Yough in West Newton. I would like to fish the Loyalhanna, but I try to go somewhere Dad can enjoy. I think this weekend we might go to Laurel Hill State Park, Dad can fish the lake–I’ll hit the mouth into the lake.