The Magic of My Firs
I grew up in Iowa fi
bullheads using some
imagine. But my fath
along. On one summer
the fish hatchery in
I can still remember
fisherman gracefully
the little dam feedi
cast, he hooked up w
that leapt out the w
hook.
The fisherman prevai
classic wicker creel
those days we ate a
father, I asked what
said, 'He is using a
stink?', I asked. Da
knew one day I would
at the time. I never
I would not take up
after first seeing i
to Colorado to learn
ski but I did learn
When I was starting
guides or instructor
cheap rod, reel, lin
goods store. Then I
casting until I coul
My first fish was a
the famed South Plat
rod for that whole s
caught exactly one f
upgraded my equipmen
enjoyable.
In 1972, I was back
with light spinning
releasing them was k
would have it. A fri
O'Fallon Park one Sa
'Hey, there's Frank
fishermen I know. He
fly rod.' (Frank was
some 40 years when I
Jerry introduced me
having with a fly ro
what you know about
reasonable overhand
at me, 'You know eno
with the fly when it
what the H--- to do
catching fish!', I s
'Come on and watch w
little line and let
'Tension' cast back
a nice bow right alo
'Now you do it!' I t
Finally Frank asked
bottom.' I replied.
as fishing nymphs on
little J in the line
you bounce the nymph
or right or hesitate
And don't rip the ro
quarter inch or less
that is needed.' The
two more fish.
I watched Frank and
As I remember I caug
Saturday. For me tha
fly rod. Frank and I
loosing touch with e
But I will never for
enjoyment you gave m
fine friend to wade
Whatever big river y
fish are huge and yo
Tight Lines and Good
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t Trout
shing for catfish, b
of the worst smelli
er loved to hunt and
vacation to Oklahom
Bennett Springs, MO
standing on the bri
cast a dry fly upst
ng a pool by the hat
ith a nice fat 12 to
ater 3 or 4 times tr
led and slipped the
with the slot in th
fish once in a while
the fisherman was u
n artificial fly and
d laughed and said '
become a fly fisher
touched stinky bait
fly fishing until 19
t in the Ozarks of M
to ski and fly fish
to fly fish.
out, there weren't a
s to teach fly fishi
e and some flies fro
read a lot of books
d do a reasonable ov
2 lb. brookie caught
te river. That was m
eason. For the next
ish a season on a fl
t so the casting was
to drifting salmon e
gear and was catchin
illing a lot of them
end and I ended up o
turday. Jerry parked
Aubon. Frank is one
can teach you how t
from Maine and had
first met him.)
to Frank and explain
d. Frank said, 'Come
casting.' So I dropp
casts out onto the C
ugh about basic cast
is in the water?' '
with the fly in the
aid.
hat I do.' said Fran
it drift downstream.
upstream. On the 3rd
ng the bank. He look
ried to imitate Fran
me what I had been f
'Fishing eggs on the
the bottom', said F
just at the water l
on the bottom. If t
s, raise the rod tip
d tip up. Remember t
long to the bend. A
n Frank proceeded to
tried to imitate him
ht and released abou
t was the best I had
fished together for
ach other.
get the gift of a li
e Frank. You were a
the waters with.
ou are fishing in He
u are having a ball.
Fishing,
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ass, crappie and
ng baits you could
fish so I went
a, Dad stopped at
.
dge watching a fly
ream to the base of
chery. On the third
14 inch rainbow
ying to throw the
rainbow into his
e lid. (Back in
) Turning to my
sing for bait. Dad
not bait.' 'Does it
No.' Right then I
man. I was about 14
after that.
69 some 15 years
issouri. I had moved
. Never did learn to
lot of classes,
ng. I purchased a
m a local sporting
and practiced
erhand cast.
on a brassie out of
y only fish on a fly
two seasons, I
y rod. I had
a lot more
ggs on the bottom
g fish. But
I knew. As destiny
n Bear Creek at
the car and said,
of the best fly
o catch fish on a
been fly fishing
ed the problem I was
here and show me
ed a couple of
reek. Frank looked
ing, what do you do
Frank, if I knew
water, I would be
k. Frank shook out a
Then he flipped a
drift, Frank hooked
ed at me and said,
k but no fish.
ishing. 'Eggs on the
bottom is the same
rank. 'You make a
ine and watch it as
he J twitches left
to set the hook.
hat hook is only a
gentle tipup is all
demonstrate with
with some success.
t 6 trout that
ever done with a
some 5 years before
fetime fly fishing
good teacher and
aven, I hope the
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