Welcome to our fly anglers!

[Bucksnbows]

When Matt first built the NJ site, he asked if I would help oversee the fly fishing forum.  Years later, my role grew well beyond just this forum. My background:  my father grew up in Big Creek, CA and really only knew fly fishing for trout. We moved to NJ from California just before I turned 5. Dad missed fly fishing and bought a fly rod mail order from LL Bean. It was the most beautiful fishing rod I had ever seen at the advanced age of 7. I was hooked, pun intended. I own that rod to this day 

Most of my early fly fishing was for sunnies and largemouth bass in the lake across the street. My first trout came from the Mad River in Vermont where we had a ski house back in the 70s and 80s. I caught a 13” rainbow on a drowned bumble bee pattern I bought at Bisbee Hardware in Waitsfield, VT for something like $0.89.  I would use all tackle to fish for saltwater and freshwater fish until my late 20s when I got diagnosed with lymphoma. A year later and cancer free, I got into saltwater fly fishing when I got a 9’ in 9 weight G Loomis and began to learn to cast far, often in the wind. I was a regular, stalking the NJ beaches for striped bass, bluefish, fluke, weakfish, and Albies. 
 

That in turn rekindled my love of trout fishing, but now only with the fly rod. The downward spiral had begun. Since those days, I became greatly involved with Trout Unlimited, including a 7 year stint on Eastern Conservation staff working to protect and restore the Musconetcong River and its many tributaries of this Wild & Scenic River. That work led me to co-own my own river restoration business out of Bozeman, MT. I was head fly fishing guide for Shannon’s Fly & Tackle Shop in Califon, NJ. Now I don’t fish nearly as often, but I get the great pleasure of making fishing better for others. I still guide a few trips each year, but only for old clients or donated trips for conservation orgs I’m involved with. 
 

So for all you fly guys and gals, you have a new home here. 

Edited November 12, 2022 by Bucksnbows
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[Bucksnbows]

Because @Rusty requires a lot of pictures to get him through his day, here are some random fly pix…

 

[The_Real_TCIII]

Weve got a lot of fly fisherman here including a famous one. Ive discovered winter fly fishing and its become one of my favorite pastimes especially to get through February and March in WNY

[The_Real_TCIII]

[mowin]

Yrs, ago I bought a fly rod, reel line combo from catalog.  I had known one to teach me the proper technique's, and got frustrated quickly.  I have no clue what happened to that rod combo.   

[Bucksnbows]

Someone asked about the West Branch Delaware on another thread. This is my PB for that river. I’ve caught bigger wild browns, but not on a dry fly and not on the WBD. I used to kid my late friend, Tom Gilmore who put this fish in his book Fly Fisher’s Guide to Eastern Trophy Tailwaters that I can no longer lie and say it was 27” or 28”. 
 

RIP Tom!

 

That fish rose to a size 14 rusty spinner on 6x in “frog water” which is where big browns spend much of their time. He had an obvious healed injury most likely due to a poor release somewhere in its past. 

[Moho81]

I’m a former fly fisherman. Use to chase steelhead and trout all spring summer and fall. Never had expensive gear and tied my own flies. Life got busy and fly fishing stopped. 
 

I almost got back into it during COVID when there wasn’t much else to do but that ended up not happening. 
 

maybe someday I’ll pick it back up. 

[left field]

26 minutes ago, The_Real_TCIII said:

We've got a lot of fly fisherman here including a famous one. 

Who's that?

I never take pics of fish but a friend captured this 23" brown leaving my net after inhaling a mouse. 

[left field]

Thanks, mate.

[crappyice]

I love fly fishing but now feel inadequate. Thanks a lot!

the tiger trout below is from the West Branch...rainbow from Painters Bend on Beaverkill and a local water brow from 3S

[BowmanMike]

2 minutes ago, crappyice said:

I love fly fishing but now feel inadequate. Thanks a lot!

the tiger trout below is from the West Branch...rainbow from Painters Bend on Beaverkill and a local water brow from 3S

Not as inadequate as I feel. I have hardly been out the last several years. I don't seem to be able to make the time and my life isn't even that busy...hmm,maybe I am wrong about that.

I never got real good at it either,but it is very enjoyable.

[Bucksnbows]

On 11/12/2022 at 9:15 PM, BowmanMike said:

Not as inadequate as I feel. I have hardly been out the last several years. I don't seem to be able to make the time and my life isn't even that busy...hmm,maybe I am wrong about that.

I never got real good at it either,but it is very enjoyable.

Can you make the Beaverkill area next spring near Roscoe?  Early May. I’d be happy to help straighten your fly fishing out. I’ve taught and guided for decades. Always happy to help. That offer stands for others.  Friendly meet up on the river. 

[BowmanMike]

25 minutes ago, Bucksnbows said:

Can you make the Beaverkill area next spring near Roscoe?  Early May. I’d be happy to help straighten your fly fishing out. I’ve taught and guided for decades. Always happy to help. That offer stands for others.  Friendly meet up on the river. 

Might have to take you up on that. That's about 2 hrs from my house. Do you know Lenny Millen? I fished the esopus with him once,that was a blast.

[Bucksnbows]

5 minutes ago, BowmanMike said:

Might have to take you up on that. That's about 2 hrs from my house. Do you know Lenny Millen? I fished the esopus with him once,that was a blast.

No, I don’t know him. I find the Beaverkill and Willowemoc are good rivers to get anglers some confidence on the fly rod.  You don’t want to hit a nearby high pressured tail water for strictly wild trout. That’s a very technical game or can be most times. The Bemoc has good hatches and a combination of stocked, holdover and wild trout. The Hendrickson hatch is excellent as it brings trout to the surface most afternoons. Most, certainly not all 

[left field]

Mike, don't overthink it.

I am a terrible caster and even worse at etymology. I am, however, very good at figuring out where fish are and how to get to them. I don't fish the BK/W much, but know it well enough to take you there if you like. I think you're a little north of me (4F?), so Charlotte Creek may be a good spot for you to try.