The first Time I picked up a fly fishing Rod...

[Nor*Cal]

The first Time I picked up a fly fishing Rod... was last May. By that August I had my first Fly rod and had decided that I was in love with the sport.

How about the rest of you? How long have you been fly fishing??

[Dan LeCount]

I had two older brothers I'd follow all around and thanks to them I've been fishing as long as I can remember. I got into fly fishing during trips to the east side Sierras as a kid. My dad went to college at Deep Springs near Bishop. He became a teacher and during summer break every year we would do a trip up and see the alumni. On the way down the east side I fished with a fly rod for the first time on the West Walker across from the military base. I think I was about 10 or 11 and it was around 1989/1990. Later that day I fished the East Walker for the first time and made my first visit to Kens Sporting Goods. Nowadays, I cant go down there without stopping by and reminiscing.

[Jed Peters]

Honestly, I only used a spinning rod for one year when I was seven.

So I guess it's been just about 30 seasons for me?

One thing I've learned is that there are fishy people and non-fishy people. Has to do almost as a "zen" or spiritual thing. You can walk through the motions, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to be adequate/good at catching fish.

I know "fly fishing" casting instructors who can't catch a fish to save their life. Likewise I know people who fish ALL THE TIME and never seem to hook up.

Then there are those "fishy" people that go out a couple times a year and seem to hook up constantly--or catch the most and or biggest fish of the group they're with.

Jim Christenson from the shop is one example of a "fishy" dude.

[El Rey]

Giving away my age. I first tried fly fishing at Boy Scout camp (Wolfeboro) in 1953. Loved it. Caught a couple of 5"ers on a Royal Coachman. Been a fly fisher ever since.

Happy New Year,
Harlan

[John Sv]

I came into fly fishing kind of backwards.
My Dad was really active in the 60-70s Sac fly fishing scene, but he moved back east to work in the gov't. I have been fishing for as long as I can remember, chucking hardware and dunking bait in the Chesapeake. I took an interest in his fly tying at age 8 or so, and began tying rudimentary things that were attempts at flies. I don't think I fly fished until age 12 or so. I did fish some "flies" prior to that, most of which were dressed up tails for Mepps spinners and Tony Acetta spoons. Been fly fishing ever since; now I'm 40.

[Troutstalker55B]

42 years. Grew up fishing the West Branch and North Fork Feather Rivers and many creeks in the area. Dad was a strict teacher but he made it fun. Years really do not mean anything, it's all about how many days you get in through those years. I've been lucky to have a lifestyle that allows me to put in a hundred days or more a year - Though I watch other anglers more than I get to cast myself these days.

[FRSam]

I guess I was eight or nine years old when I got my first fly rod, many years ago. I look back now, 53 yrs later, and many, many fly rods later...smile...and wish I could go back to that first day.

Pete
FeatherRiverSam

[Fly Guy Dave]

I dunked bait and used lures for a long time, but I remember camping out at a lake north of Truckee when I was in my late twenties and one evening there were trout rising all over the place and I couldn't get a hook-up if my life depended on it. A guy came along with a fly rod and caught five keepers in less than ten minutes so he could give his family fresh trout for dinner. That's what hooked me. I bought a crappy fly rod kit and dabbled for a few years, but never really learned to cast, learn my fly patterns, set the hook, etc. so I never became proficient. I had a colleague at work who taught me a few things and I recall fishing dries one summer day in the Truckee River and somehow I managed to catch a few small trout on the surface. I was having such a blast, I gave up my spinning rod and now I fly fish exclusively, I guess it's been 15 years by now.

One big part of fly fishing for me is the solitude, so I avoid crowds (like Crowley on opening day or the Powerhouse Riffle on Hat), the macho pissing contests (like on far too many steelhead waters), and I frequent often overlooked streams and rivers and backpack into high country lakes and streams for good angling opportunities and that precious solitude I enjoy so much. Idaho and Montana both provide great fishing and easy to find solitude, so I usually head back that way each summer as well.

I wish I was into fly fishing back when I went to Camp Wolfboro back in the late 1970's, but I recall catching a bunch of tiny fish on lures. Still, it was a great time.

[Nor*Cal]

Fantastic answers to this post, I’m glad I posted it.
I fished with my dad as a kid (spin rods) for catfish and stripers. When I became a teenager I was suddenly too “cool “ to fish. When I went to College I was too busy to fish. I started fishing again at age 28. I looked out of my window at work and saw a guy pulling a 5 foot sturgeon out of the bed of his truck. That was enough for me to get back into fishing.
I always had a desire to fly fish but never actually thought I would learn or do it.
I met a guy through my blog and he said we should go fishing. I agreed and he also mentioned he was going to bring his fly rod out and he would teach me how to use it.
The first time I touched a fly rod (at the tender age of 30) I fished the middle fork of the Cosumnes River. I was perfectly content just with learning how to cast it but I also caught four small trout that day. Ever since then I was hooked!
This was last May so I am VERY eager to learn more about it and gain experience by getting out there and seeing what works.

Cheers,

[fishdoc1]

For me I was 7 in 1947 and I had a collapsable fly rod, dacron line, and a metal ladybug fly.I would wade out on a sandbar in a Minneapolis City lake and cast for bluegills.To this day, I still love a day with a 3 wt fishing for those scrappy buggers. 67 years for me.