It was 1980 something

                                                                      
When I started fly fishing had no idea what I was doing ‘’seriously ‘’ I was in the dark. But wanted to learn. So Reading books and trying to get as much information as I could. Not having a whole lot of money to just go out and find a guide or paying someone to teach me. I had decided to tech myself... You know, how hard it could possibly be, “right “wrong!  I though fishing was fishing. Well I come to learn that this Fly fishing was a whole new world and I was stepping way out of my zone. But I was egger to learn and ready to try.

 They first book that I picked up I think was, “the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide” or something along that line. Did I mention that I did not like to read back then . Back then I thought  if it didn’t have picture’s it wasn’t worth reading.. As I started to read I realized there was a lot of thing in here that did not make any since to me.

 Like tapered  leader, what was tapered leader ??? Leader is leading right.. NOT.  Tippet?? What do they mean by tippet??  What’s a nymph? No the other one. HEY!! Let’s get back to the story.. Wow there was a lot to learn and a lot of things to comprehend.  Continued to reading the book and going to the only sporting goods store I had back then. (Allied and Sunset Sports.) 

To ask and get as much information as I could (without it costing me) the spring of 1989 I had saved enough money to buy me my first ever fly rod. I didn't know what to look for in a rod as far as weight, action, Length.  Didn't know any of this.  what was this thing  5 weight rod or 5-6 weight so again talking to the clerks and reading books I chose a 5 weight  9ft rod.. Learning as I go..

 Most people would say I was naïve... NOPE!! just having a blond moment… anyway back to the story as I was buying the rod and the real I was looking at the fly line. Now at this point I had not read anything about fly line and backing. While the clerk was explaining these things to me a BIG light flipped on and now it was all making sense the way he was explaining and in the books that I was reading it all started making sense.

                                                                   "It was 1980 something"
                                                           
 I finished getting all my gear and realized I had no place to put these things too much stuff to put in my pocket. Well maybe a fanny pack would work for now. The night before I was to go fishing I had pulled everything out to make sure I had everything for my first trip to that Provo River trying to find something to put my gear in I had a surprise lying on the couch. It was a fly vest; my wife had bought it without me knowing. WOW thanks honey... after filling up my vest and packing a lunch I was ready.

The day of the trip we loaded the truck and off we went. We drove the 45 minute drive to the river. Getting things ready for the first day of Fly Fishing the river.  Excited and overwhelmed to try this new type of fishing was a cool felling. Having the new gear and headed to the river I was ready to give it a good shot at this new sport (well new to me).

 As I approached the Provo river for the first time with a fly rod in my hand.  As I was standing near the water tying to look the part of a fly fisherman. ‘’ I was all but that.’’  Trying to fish with this new pole and present the fly like I had read in the book was harder than I thought.  Trying different things and still with no luck I beginning to wonder if I would ever would catch a fish or become a Fly fisherman.

4 hours later and several  knots to untie and nothing to count for (no fish) a gentleman came up and asked if he could fish in the spot  next to me and I said yes since I wasn’t catching anything maybe he could. Watching him flip his line out and watching his technique. I still didn’t know what I was doing wrong. (In my mind I thought I was doing everything that I just witness)    4 minutes later he was fight a fish that I had been trying to Catch.

                                                              "It was 1980 something"

  I said nothing to him and then caught and other and then another. Finally I had to speak up and ask him what I was doing wrong. He then watch me has I flipped my line out and let it drift down the river. he told me that if he showed me some of the thing I need to do on Fly fishing  that for payment  I  had to promise him that I would share that with every person the same thing he taught me. And to share the passion and the love for the sport.

 After a good firm hand shake he began to show me a couple of things that I needed to adjust and I did. As he was standing there teaching me a few things I started to catch fish. After a few hours fishing with the gentleman he decided to move on to a different spot and again we shock hands and parted ways. I said thank you again never to see this man again. The rest of the day was a fish catching haven.

With time at my side and Fly fishing when I can, still learning different technique and passing my knowledge onto others. Teaching my boys at an early age and other friends and family members, just make me a better person.

With 24 years of fly fishing behind me, I still share the same information that gentleman shared with me and what have learned over the years Too anyone that wants to learn.  I will never stop showing others what I have learned.  It was 1980 something.  Well it was 1989  a year I will never forget.

to this day that fly rod is still being used by my oldest son.

 “Time spent fishing cannot be deducted for a man’s life”

A day on the Weber River

                                                       
                                                                  June 9  2013   


            A day on the Weber River to Fly Fish with my boy’s Randy Jr. aka (Lil ran) and Scott. 

 

 

 

 me and my boys at the beginning of the day decide if we are going to hook and cook or play catch and release. That day was a hook and cook day. we were at a different place than we normally go we wanted to try a different area that day. we need to try a different area so we have a few places to go instead of fishing the same hole every time we go. The day started out slow with my youngest in a not on the first cast.  (he's  kinda rusty) Within a few minutes we were back fishing all three of us had on different fly’s to find what they were feeding on . We did not see any risers hitting the top that morning so we decide to fish the bottom. With the water levels  a little high that day. We all decided to use different types of nymphs and wet flies to Fish at different depths. I myself was fishing very deep  in the hole I was in I would say I was fishing about 6ft deep with the strike indicator about 7.5 feet from my flies the current seemed to be about normal so I was fishing the river to the best of my knowledge and Within the first 20 minutes I had hooked into a nice fish using one of my flies that I had tied, I call a GOLDIE.

 

 

Landing the fish we had weight it at 4.3lbs white fish. Moments later Lil ran had one on and that also was a white fish at 4.5 lbs. with a few tangled lines and a quick rest and regroup we were back fishing the river hard, hitting the holes and the lanes and the back eddies and everywhere we thought we could catch a fish.

 

 

We had found what there were hitting on. and how deep. Using the two hook method with a pheasant tail on the top and followed by the Goldie witch that was the target fly they were hitting. Lil ran was using a beaded caddis followed by a Goldie. Scott was using a hairs ear followed by a Goldie.

 

there is nothing like catching a fish on something you made. the night before I had tied up about a dozen or so of these Goldie's.  

Scott hooked in to one, as I was headed over to help him net it and Lil ran had on.  FISH ON!!  he said with a holler YAHOO!!

We had a double I was "stuck" witch fish do I net first. Lil ran had his under control and was playing fine wearing it out and taking his time so he would not loose his catch. so I continued over to help Scott we got his fish netted and was taking the hook out and we noticed that it had hit the Goldie.  within minutes randy had found his honey hole and was fighting another fish then Scott hooked in to another but soon lost it. I started fishing the hole again that I had caught my first fish from and had one on with the first cast fight that fish and just taking it all in catching fish and doing it with my boys there is nothing greater than fishing with the boy's and making memories.  

 

 

 

 With a couple more pan size fish I the basket I think we had enough for a good dinner. so what ever we caught from on would be catch and release. my boys had no problem with that they like to release them so they or someone else can have the fun of catching them as we did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The temperature was heating up a making the water temp rise and the fish seemed like they just stop hitting seemed like hours went by and no hits no risers. Moving to different spots on the river. hit that spot with everything  I and Lil ran had some light strikes, Scott had one on fighting it but did not land it. But nothing that really took the hook and ran with it  As we moved up river back towards the truck we keep flipping the fly and hopping for something to happen before the day end.   

really not knowing what the water temperature was all day ( lost the thermometer) I think we had tackled the day of fishing pretty well.

fishing with friends or family and getting out doors is what it's all about catching something is just icing on the cake.

 

"time spent fishing can not be deducted from a man's life"

My Passion

I have fished in 4 different state around Utah and have found that my home state has quality fishing.
Utah is home to some of the greatest fly fishing rivers and streams in the world. Three rivers in particular are very well known and rank high on the lists of best North American fly fishing streams. the Green river, the Provo river. and the Weber river. all three are blue ribbon fisheries.

being an avid outdoors man, and just being in the outdoors with family and friends. I love to fish. I started fly fishing 24 years ago and I have never looked back. learned from reading  from books and videos. self taught by trial and error, there is no greater feeling than to hook a fish on a fly rod. teaching friends and family over the years. the love and the passion I have for this sport and now teaching. now fishing with my cousin Larry Benzon  we will bring you tip and techniques for you.
we will focus on rivers, streams, and lakes. what we use and how we use it (tackle wise) we will tell you water temp and depth, if we were use a nymph or dry fly. we will include dates.