Beer_Trout

Just strollin'.

I began fly fishing when I was young. My grandfather took me to a small stream in North Central Pennsylvania and let me go with a fly rod in hand. That single day is burned in my memory as being life changing. After hours of tangled line, spooked fish, and cold feet I caught a fish. It was tiny, about four inches, but it sure was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. As I came crashing up stream, with that fish trapped in my hands, I got my first sense of the feelings of catching fish. When I made it to my grandfather he took the time to teach my about the fish. A native brook trout.

Years would pass and I found myself venturing away from fly fishing. Finding sports, girls, beer and other vices to control my life. Luckily a few of my friends had a similiar history of fly fishing. So upon high school graduation, in 2005, I made a trip up to the Au Sable River in Michigan for my first big fishing trip as a semi-adult. The trip was a bust in the way of catching trout. But I loved the feeling of being on a fishing trip. We made PB&J’s and had someone’s uncle buy us beer. We floated the river in a leaky raft and drank skunked Fosters. We smoked cigars like they were illegal. We started a tradition that continues to this day.

Just, thinkin....

Through college my buddies and I started taking more trips in our home state of Pennsylvania. We caught fish and had great times. We learned about fishing while growing as young adults. We started drinking better beer, but still lived on PB&J’s. We borrowed better boats and floated more rivers. We camped in State Forest’s and church campgrounds. We drove cars, vans and SUV’s from all makes and models. We were fishing.

Upon graduation it was time to make real life decisions. One went of to Law School, one got a “Green Job”, and I stayed at the Art Center. I had a lot of freedom with my job and found that solo fishing trips were becoming the norm of most weekends. Two years passed and I felt myself wanting fishing more than anything. More than graduate school, a girlfriend, a better job, a haircut, a new car, a better apartment. I was addicted to fly fishing. So, started a blog because I had to have an outlet. A way to share my fishing lifestyle to others that shared my passion. Something that was entertaining for my and you. It’s a work in progress, just like me, and I sure hope it gets better. Keep coming back and share in the progress.

beer