Post by Michael on Mar 13, 2013 14:03:49 GMT -5
Hey all.
A little over twenty years ago, at the age of ten, I walked into a movie theater to watch a film. The only thing I knew was that it was about fishing in Montana, which didn't mean much of anything to me. I was just tagging along with family for a day at the movies. I was being raised as an avid duck hunter at that point, and while I had had pleasant enough fishing outings on the lake up to the point, nothing about it up to that point had really stirred my imagination.
This relative apathy towards fishing had dissipated greatly a couple of hours later when the credits rolled on A River Runs Through It.
Yes, I confess, I am something of a stereotype. I didn't know a thing about fly fishing (even though I WAS only ten) until Robert Redford introduced me to the sport/hobby/religion/spiritual activity. And I'm fine with that.
The only real problem is that it took 20 years for me to finally act on this initial bit of inspiration. I didn't know any fly fisherman personally, and was hesitant to set out on my own. I did do a canoe float down the Elk River about ten years ago with my Dad and some friends, but we were using spinning reels.
It wasn't until a little over a year ago that an outdoors writer buddy of my Dad, who had heard before about my longing to try fly fishing at some point, was granted the opportunity to do a feature on a private trophy managed trout stream in North Georgia. He asked the people who run the place if he could bring a couple of friends, and they obliged.
And so it began in a cold, February rain in the North Georgia mountains. It would continue all through the Spring, Summer, and Fall, mainly on the Hiwassee, which, if I am allowed to consider a river or sream my home water, the 'Wass has certainly earned that distinction.
A year in, I still have so much to learn. I don't quite consider myself a novice, having at least lucked into some success here in there, but I'm still pretty wet behind the ears. It's a process and I'm happy and patient to learn more and more as time goes by. It doesn't hurt that all my experiences thus far have been immensely enjoyable regardless of my limited fly fishing prowess.
As I was preparing to get back out on the river for the first time in a few months, I happened to come across this board and, noting the congenial tone shared by everyone on here, thought I would drop in and introduce myself rather than just lurk permanently in the shadows. I've greatly enjoyed the insights and stories I've seen shared on here. Seems like y'all do a wonderful job with this place.
So...allow myself to introduce...myself. I'm Michael. I was born and raised (mostly) in Chattanooga. Great to be here!
A little over twenty years ago, at the age of ten, I walked into a movie theater to watch a film. The only thing I knew was that it was about fishing in Montana, which didn't mean much of anything to me. I was just tagging along with family for a day at the movies. I was being raised as an avid duck hunter at that point, and while I had had pleasant enough fishing outings on the lake up to the point, nothing about it up to that point had really stirred my imagination.
This relative apathy towards fishing had dissipated greatly a couple of hours later when the credits rolled on A River Runs Through It.
Yes, I confess, I am something of a stereotype. I didn't know a thing about fly fishing (even though I WAS only ten) until Robert Redford introduced me to the sport/hobby/religion/spiritual activity. And I'm fine with that.
The only real problem is that it took 20 years for me to finally act on this initial bit of inspiration. I didn't know any fly fisherman personally, and was hesitant to set out on my own. I did do a canoe float down the Elk River about ten years ago with my Dad and some friends, but we were using spinning reels.
It wasn't until a little over a year ago that an outdoors writer buddy of my Dad, who had heard before about my longing to try fly fishing at some point, was granted the opportunity to do a feature on a private trophy managed trout stream in North Georgia. He asked the people who run the place if he could bring a couple of friends, and they obliged.
And so it began in a cold, February rain in the North Georgia mountains. It would continue all through the Spring, Summer, and Fall, mainly on the Hiwassee, which, if I am allowed to consider a river or sream my home water, the 'Wass has certainly earned that distinction.
A year in, I still have so much to learn. I don't quite consider myself a novice, having at least lucked into some success here in there, but I'm still pretty wet behind the ears. It's a process and I'm happy and patient to learn more and more as time goes by. It doesn't hurt that all my experiences thus far have been immensely enjoyable regardless of my limited fly fishing prowess.
As I was preparing to get back out on the river for the first time in a few months, I happened to come across this board and, noting the congenial tone shared by everyone on here, thought I would drop in and introduce myself rather than just lurk permanently in the shadows. I've greatly enjoyed the insights and stories I've seen shared on here. Seems like y'all do a wonderful job with this place.
So...allow myself to introduce...myself. I'm Michael. I was born and raised (mostly) in Chattanooga. Great to be here!
lol
