Welcome to Flies & Fins Fly Fishing
Freshater & Saltwater Fly Fishing Pictures & Stories
Come Visit ME! - Things To Do In Maine
Saltwater Fly Fishing On Guadelupe Island In The French West Indies

Fly Fishing
Submit Your Fish Tale


Login
Welcome, Anonymous!
Nickname
Password
Security Code: Security Code
Type Security Code:
(Join The Crew)
Flyfishermen Online: 28
Forums
Fresh|Salt|Reviews|Other
Recent Discussions
Friends & Stuff
Online Fly Tying Videos - Learn To Tie Flies & Learn To Tie Flies Better
Cape Cod Fly Fishing For Stripers, Albies, Blues & More
Fly Fishing Reports - Fresh & Saltwater
Bristol Bay Alaska - Save It .. Watch Red Gold Documentary
 
Salt Water Bonefish: Thanks Dad
Posted by bonefisher on February 20, 2007 (2025 reads)
Post This Fish Tale on Facebook Post  Tweet This Fish Tale on Twitter Tweet  E-mail Fish Tale To A Friend E-mail  Submit Your Fish Tale Submit Your Fish Tale

I started fishing when I was 3 or 4 years old in Eagle River, WI. My dad taught me how to cast, fight a fish and put my own worm on the hook. He got me started fly fishing when I was ten years old. He gave me one of my Grandpa's 5 wt fly rods and showed me some basic casting techniques. I was kind of on my own from there. I practiced everyday at our cabin in the UP of Michigan. Everyday I would cast a little further and eventually started catching fish. When he saw that I really liked fly fishing he bought me a 5wt outfit. Soon I was crushing the bass on top water poppers and wooly buggers. When I was in the fourth grade on an early spring afternoon I came home from school to find a brochure of Chica Lodge in Islamorada. It looked really awesome. My dad explained the ways of flats fishing to me and soon we were at O'Hare airport headed for Miami and eventually in a car driving down alligator alley. My first fishing in the keys was unbelievable. Enormous schools of bones and giant tarpon littered the grassy flats. Fish so big my dad's knees even shook. We

didn’t hook up with anything major but I did manage to catch a baby tarpon and muscled a fly at a few but no takers. That was my first real fishing. Now fast forward 5 years. I have now caught more tarpon and have gained a lot of experience, but am still the only one in my family who has landed a tarpon on the flats. Actually, I am the only one to land anything substantial on the flats. This year my dad's trip for the guys was a three day expedition in the Bahamas. As usual I hooked up first and got my first boney as my dad looked on. I now realized as I pondered all of my fishing expeditions around the world that I had always taken the bow while my dad watched. He always gave me the shot at the pheasant. He always netted my fish and paddled the canoe for me. It was his turn to catch the big one. Finally on the third day my dad got his bonefish, but not without a little help from 60 year old bonefish Willy who jumped into the water from the top of the polling platform stomping on sharks who were chasing my dad's bonefish. My dad landed the 2 lb. Bonefish and got a clumsy picture with his fly rod and the bleeding fish. From all of this I realized how much I want to be like my dad. He has sent me all over the world to chase fins, and given me every chance to succeed. He is never afraid to try something new, and without him my life wouldn't be half of what has been. He introduced me to the outdoors and taught me to have respect and cherish every moment in the woods and on the water. My dad is my hero, and I hope I will grow up to be half the man he is.



The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.

No Comments Allowed for Anonymous, please Login/Create Account

Re: Bonefish: Thanks Dad
by jeremy on February 20, 2007 http://www.fliesandfins.com
bonefisher --- great fish-tale ... very cool that you recognize how your dad gives you first and best shots on the bow .. and .. has done all of those things for you throughout your life .. and that you are appreciative for all the opportunities you have had because of your dad .... certainly, sounds like the kind of guy many people would admire ... i really enjoyed this fish tale .. especially since i have 2 young boys ... not old enough to fish yet .. but, when i read your fish tale .. i thought about how cool it would be if one of my sons ever rote such a cool thing about me ... hopefully some day...



Re: Bonefish: Thanks Dad
by greg on February 21, 2007 http://www.fliesandfins.com
I started with a bobber and a worm with my Farther and Grandfarther when I was 6, I'm now 57 and am grateful for their getting me going on a lifetime of adventures. Great fish and tribute to your Dad. Thanks for the reminder of where it started.



Re: Bonefish: Thanks Dad
by hedrush999 on February 21, 2007 http://www.worldangling.com
My father was instrumental in getting me into fishing as a kid. I still remember with vivid detail the morning of my second birthday when he gave me my first rig. A silver Pflueger and a zebco 33. I can't even imagine how many bluegill and bass I slayed with that rod while growing up in Chicagoland.

Last spring my dad and I got to fish a warm spring day down here in florida. He jumped his first tarpon, which kicked his ass, and landed a bunch of small snook and jacks. I hope we can do it again soon.


 
Friends & Stuff
Fly Fishing Reports - Fresh & Saltwater
Flies For The Serious Angler
Maine Fly Fishing Guides - Western Style Drift Boat Fly Fishing
Sight fishing on Maines pristine & world class saltwater flats
Technical Fly Fishing Shirt For Both Salt & Fresh Water
Massachusetts Fly Fishing Guide
Southwest Florida - Tarpon, Snook & Redfish