I started fly fishing after reading a magazine
article in North Carolina Wildlife in 1991. It said get the cheapest rig you can
find and go for it. The sport wasn't nearly as popular then and I learned slowly
on my own, beating the water into submission with my $56 combo.
In 1995 I moved in with Ollie Smith, a guide
at Foscoe Fishing Company in Banner Elk. He taught me a lot about fly
fishing and fly tying.
I
eventually became a guide myself in 1999. During that time I spent countless
hours at the vice tying for my trips and testing flies the next day. I have
always enjoyed experimental tying and fishing.
After
my guiding experience, getting married, and moving into the working
world, I now get less stream time. But the flip side of that coin is
my vice is always there and now I tie more hours than fish. Tying has
truly become my artistic and creative outlet.
I am also the moderator at Fly Fish South .com
and have begun writing some short articles on fishing for my friends there. My
first public tying experience actually came with the privilege of getting to tie
at the Mountain Masters table at the first annual North Carolina Natural
Sciences museum in Raleigh last April.
I now mostly fish the tailwaters of East
Tennessee and kayak whitewater in my rare days off when I'm not fishing.
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