Since I just got into fly tying back in December, I made the goal to catch a fish (any sort) on a fly I tied. I've kinda blown that one out of the water so I guess I need to come up some new ones.

Deeter,
Great job man! I've caught these fish before but never that close together. I like the idea and I'm adding it to my "to do list"! Hopefully I can get it done before we lose them. My list has alot of destination species, tarpon, dorado, permit, rooster fish, mostly salty stuff. I've neglected to add too much local stuff because I fish here everyday. I need to re-evaluate my priorities and experience some local flavor! I hear there are a couple pike in Stagecoach!!! Hmmmmm!!!

I grew up in north georgia, which means I grew up flyhing all over east tennessee, western NC and north georgia for put and take stockers AND wild brookies. My dad when I was about 15 basically lost his mind. Up to this pint we had flyfished any water at all that either held or was rumored to hold trout, did 10 day backpacking trips for them, drove to them, whatever. BUT then the old man began to sink deeper and deeper into his dementia- "no let's go up just go up 2 bends before we get into the river." Even 15miles back on a trail we had to go just alittle further. He was never happy until we catching little brookies and rainbows less than 5 inches, maybe like 4 inches. This otherwise normal man bought a mountain bike exclusivly for his flyfishing, because he had a quest, a mission. He was going to catch native, or wild trout that had never heard a human foot fall or seen a fly. Needless to say he spent a lot of time bent double under the foliage dapping in headwaters 4 feet wide. It was a total blast, and happily he has recovered some semblance of sanity and can fish like a normal man again, though he still gets that wild look in his eyes- let's just push up around the next bend before we start, whattaya say?

I have never caught anything out of salt water- I want to get ahold of a sailfish or a shark- something HUGE! Just to know what it is like. Shoot, the way my schedule is these days, I am happy to fish a few times a month! In due time, in due time!

Great post, it captures the why behind the "fly"!

My goal is to have a true fly fishing adventure out west. I'm not even sure if I know exactly what it would entail. I always feel that I don't get far enough from the beaten path, that all of my trips are to the typical spots because we go to the typical towns that have the typical things for the wife and kids to do while I get to fish. Just once I would truly like to get away from it all and fish somewhere truly wild. Not extreme, I don't want to trek to Mongolia, just something a little more "un-civilized." I guess I have always had it in my mind that Wyoming might be such a place. Maybe float for a couple of days and camp along the river.

hey woodstock, i am from ak and have fished where you speak of. I fished the Ivashek River while caribou hunting. I caught lots of 25'' char and a 3.5 pound grayling. bristol bay is better, 4 pound grayling and tons of char 10+ pounds. my biggest is about 17 pounds, 33'' by 23''