[kane pole]

My great uncle's name was Daniel Law. I only met him once when I was very young. He didn’t visit with the rest of the family much so none of my aunts or uncles can tell me much about him other then he lived in Irvington New Jersey.
My aunt ended up with a bunch of his old paper work witch included sever folders of rod tapers that he had measured from all types of bamboo rods. Rods by Heddon #850 Tournament, Heddon Deluxe #35 , W Titus, Granger 9 ½ ft Special, Payne 7ft 2 piece, Cross, Gene Edwards, the list goes on. Most of the tapers have no name just the length number of pieces ferrule sizes and some have number of vibrations – a way of measuring the action. One name that pops up is Flatbrook fishing tackle Ernest Riddell Bevans N.J. ???? I think uncle Dan worked for him. ?? I haven’t found his name on any makers list yet. Still looking for Info.

[Notch Farmer]

My wife got me into it. I was a diehard spinner fisherman and she had never hunted or fished before with the exception of a couple of off shore trips in Florida she accompanied me on(and out fished me). One day she announced she was taking up the sport of fly fishing. It wasn't long before the beginner rig I got her wasn't good enough, so she upgraded and I got the old rig. But it wasn't until we took a fly tying class together that I really got interested. Now I tie most of our flies and she still outfishes me. Haven't touched the spinning rod since.

[Rocketroy]

As I approach my 80th.year,on this earth,the genesis of our shared sport,is a rather dim memory,as to the exact point when fishing entered my essential being......must have been about 8-10 Y.O........and get this......on Atlanta,s Peachtree creek,with a fresh cut cane pole,and string/bent safety pin/bait! The lean times of that period shaped the low,or no budget gear,so we "Huckleberry Finned it"! For the next ten years or so,till the store bought gear was acquired,as kids jobs came and went,with school/sports/girls as competing interests..... bait casting,spin,and finally the 9 ft."H" cane bass rod,were added,for the many privatehome/golf course ponds,within biking distance of Buckhead { invited or not!} Regardless of what else this outdoor guy had to do,there was always time for the seasonal pursuit of game/fish......,and usually on a learn-as -you -go basis,with buddies equally as broke and unskilled......missing often the real value of sharing a love of god,s creations! Teen years,I joined the Issac Walton league,met older experienced fishermen,and in My junior year of college{ Ga. State College} in Atlanta,was hired on as a salesman with the pre-immenent sporting goods co. in the city.......Walthour & Hood, where my co-workers/customer base included the social/sporting elite of the south,including John Martin,Charles Elliot,Everett Roach......names you may not recognize,but were a part of early TV,publishing,and reporting,thru magazines,and the outdoor happenings....on a regional and national level.........in addition, they were willing to share time and knowledge,that I found lacking! To fast forward a little, there followed graduation,military time during the Korean war,service,that had me stationed on the St. Johns river near Jacksonville { N.A.S. Jax.},followed by two years,as mgr. of a fishing lodge on the Homossasa river in S.W. Fla., where salt water/river fishing added to my experiences! Always, there was an interest in moving water,and cold water fisheries,that got satisfied in a mostly self taught manner........holding my interest thru retirement in 1989! Since that date,and move to No. Ga.,the way opened up to completely scratch that itch, that defines our sport,and expand,@ the age of 70, into a little amateur fly casting competition,environmental pay back,and to be able to pass on to the newbies I encounter,some of the intrinsic values,that have been exposed to me,over the years,since that first " TUG!" To All: Thanks for sharing......it,s a great voyage, Rocketroy

[T.E.Shuler]

This is good stuff guys. Keep them stories coming!
Its surprising how so many of us started out the same way

[Fly]

When I was growing up our family vacations where staying in a canvas wall tent, going to state park campgrounds and the like. And uncles, aunts and cousins were included, too, staying in their tents. Fishing was always a part of the adventure. Started with cane poles and then graduated to a casting rod. One time my uncle Ansel was part of the adventure and he shows up with this neat looking Wright & McGill, split bamboo fly rod and I was completely mesmerized. By the following year (1949) I had picked up a used bamboo fly rod and this began my pursuit of fly fishing. Took a break when I went off to the military in the early 50's but when I returned, bought a brand new True Temper fiberglass fly rod and it was with this rod I really learned the basics.



Fly

[bluefish]

I started fishing very young with some much older brothers. Noone in my family flyfished, but a kind friend of the family started to give me his old Field and Streams. The few articles on flyfishing caught my interest. The clincher for this wide eyed ten year old, was a 23" moth eaten brown that hung on the wall of a small tackle shop next to one of my favorite ponds. The owner of the shop told me how he had caught that beast in 1935 in the same stream I fished near every day . He showed me the wet fly pattern it was caught on, and I was hooked. I mowed some lawns and pulled some weeds and bought a Cortland rod and a Pflueger reel (43 yrs. old and I still use it occasionally) . Took quite awhile to learn how to cast, but dapping in the creek , and dragging cork poppers around the shore of ponds at daybreak proved to be effective.
Life has gotten bothersome and in the way at times, but, flyfishing still is my favorite thing.