Here is a tale most of us can relate to. It involves the struggle to become a fly fisher. I personally don’t believe fly fishing is supposed to be easy and it really takes a special kind of person to persevere through it especially the first bit. Here is Darrell Myskiw’s version of that journey to fly fishing.

Here's how I came to fly fishing. I would like to share how I came around to Fly Fishing more than I was. I'm sure a few people can relate . . .

I have had my fly gear now for just over the 10 year mark. Some has been replaced, most is still original. I started fly fishing and ... abruptly quit. I, like many others, got down right flustered at first, fouling lines into birds nests, not being able to cast more than 10 ft, wind knots, butt hooks (my butt), tag an ear, miscellaneous skin tags, master angler fir trees etc. After that, I essentially ended up just carrying it along as I went fishing by other means (spinning, jigging). Left in the vehicle ... just in case I felt like humiliating (or hurting) myself, or the fish that were rising to ...... something.

I've picked up a few books over the years - reading materials - wish books (I wish I could fly fish like that). I found that no one book was a concise and complete book on fly fishing. You take a bit from here, a bit from there and meld to your own method. But, it still wasn't working for me.

Then, I found Rob Burton's original message board - after a couple rounds of jests poked back and forth about the use of worms (I still chuckle over that) - Rob had convinced me to stick to fly fishing - and I did (for the most part). In 2003 I was out about 25 times - 23 times I stuck to fly fishing. Only twice did I use my spinning rods - and those 2 times were back in late May. Then, in early June (I believe) I tagged a 20" pike on Sturgeon Creek with my fly gear. I haven't touched my spinning gear since that pike. Ok, so he was a log, shook a few times, but . . . now that I think of it, I had him on a 4lb mono tippet - those teeth.......!

Now, I applied the bits and pieces I thought relevant from; the miscellaneous reading materials, what I found as helpful info from posts on the message board and patience. Boy, have I surprised myself. I'm not perfect (far from it), but some casts I've made have seemed so perfect - they felt right - and nary a ring on the water. The pieces of info I gathered from the message board (Rick, Dale, RB, Caddis Guy and many others) just seemed to finish the puzzle. As they fell into place, it felt better, and wouldn't you know it, I was catching more fish. Thanks guys.

The prize this year - a day trip to William Lake. Without repeating it (see message board post) and aside of the numerous perch it was great. I was wading and when the browns started to cruise the surface near sundown, it was almost more than I could take. I ended up tying into a monster brown, either twice, or 2 different ones, I can't recall. I didn't land them - a bit overzealous on the first and another breakoff on the 2nd. But - the suspense, thrill, and excitement just topped it all off. The picture foremost in my mind is the brown swimming between me and the shore (I was only about 30 ft off shore).

Will I stick with fly fishing? Without a doubt - YES!  Will I dabble in what now, to me, has become known as 'other' means? Maybe. But my preference will definitely be the fly rod. I've even started tying flys!

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