BFT WHY/WHAT

[CoyoteSpinner]

Not getting all mushy around the holidays are we?

I fished from when I was a little kid with my dad, then at summer camp, then not at all for a lot of years (what was I thinking - I lived next to the ocean! - well, there was the grunion run)

I fished a little when I moved to Utah, then got more into it when my son was 6, and figured he was old enough not to hook himself. But then it became more my passion, or obsession. Got a small boat, and that opened opportunities.
But really - when I joined the forum, I learned about so much MORE of the fishing opportunities around Utah. With the help of forum members discovered the Bass, panfish, musky and then - of course Catfish (beyond the mudders). Used to think it was hard to catch a carp.

I've met some great anglers, and have crossed into the real-world acquaintance with many. Been lucky enough to be invited out with others who showed me a fish tricks and tactics. Even got coaxed into trying ice-fishing. Used to swear I'd never do that.

But I'll admit, I had some rude interactions along the way, especially when I came in as a newbie. I'd shrug it off, or dish it back. Hell some of the same have become great friends even. I know I'm probably too silly sometimes (or stupid) for some folks, and well - sorry for that. I'M not sorry, but I'm sorry that it's taken that way.

But all in all, I've got more benefit from being a forum participant. Plus had the opportunity to start the Catfishing challenge a few years back, after being invited to run the Ice contest, and that's been so very rewarding for me. Not for any prize, or catch, but because of YOU people who participate, or cheer from the sidelines. Helping encourage anglers to get out there, and strive to reach their own goals, as well as the comradery, and smack talking. Giving us an excuse to get together for a floatilla is frosting.

I'm VERY hopeful I'll finally make it to the Disco - work has always managed to screw me out of that outing. But by Davey's Locker - not this year!

Hope to meet more of you in the future, and enjoy the reports, the questions, answers, and especially the fish-porn! Oh, and recipe ideas. We need more fish-potluck gatherings!

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[TroutBumDave]

I joined in 2011 because I wanted to get in on a fly-swap that Synergy had put together on the fly fishing forum. Missed out on the fly swap but found a few hundred new friends (pretty good trade). If I had to guess, I'd say I have fished with maybe thirty different people from this site, some of them multiple times. TubeDude and FlyGodess have been inspirational and contributed more to my Stillwater and Fly fishing skills respectively in the last two years than the thirty previous combined. I will be forever in their debts.

Other notable trips were Yuba with one of the twins ( I don't remember which one... The one with spiky hair!) -- first pike on the fly -- Willard with WiperHunter -- first Wiper on the fly -- Sand Hollow with Dubob (I still haven't posted the pictures... See the comment above), and meeting LOAH, even though we didn't fish. (Sold me some sweet old Perrine auto reels)

However, the greatest trip of all time was with Pikeman down on Powell. I think we did three or four days of hard fishing, relaxing, and laughing. That dude is top of the line, no question. Did I mentioned that we stayed in a two million dollar house boat? Ya. Awesomeness. Man, we caught a lot of fish, and he even indulged me and my silly fly rod addiction; got my first striper on the fly, my first walleye, and more smallies than you could shake a stick at. That was also the trip that I caught my first real largemouth bass, and it scared the piss out of me because it was so big. Such an awesome trip, such an awesome guy. If you get the chance to fish with Pikeman, do eeeet.

I'm really bummed I haven't met FlyFishingLover yet though; he and I will hit it off for sure.
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[wyoguy]

Thanks for sharing Dave. I don't know if it was the time you were talking about, but sbennet and I met you and at Yuba with a twin, I don't know which one either. He was trying to catch a Northen on a fly. And you are right about the Pikeman, fished with quite abit, great guy.

Also thanks to you for sharing Spinner, I haven't done much fishing in your area, yet but if I do I will look to you and Jeff to point me in the right direction.
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[TyeDyeTwins]

It was me, I not only tried..I got one on the fly after casting all day long. And what a whopper!!! A whole 20.5 inches.[:p] Evil TDT still hasn't caught a pike. Here is the beast on UTmuddguy's boat.

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[akammerman]

In the summer of 2013 I decided that fishing would be a good father/son activity for me and my fourth child. We fished maybe half a dozen times that summer, during which I maybe felt two or three nibbles and Hyrum didn’t feel anything. Absolutely nothing! Yet he was patient and didn’t complain. I had no idea what I was doing.

Then, in July, I decided I wanted to take a side fishing trip during our annual family run of the Snake River. So I spent a day fishing the Little Grey’s River. I spent a considerable amount of time on the Wyoming forum in preparation for that trip. It was during that day of fishing that I caught a 17 inch trout on the Little Gray’s (easily twice as big as anything I had caught before in my life). I was hooked. Bummer was that Hyrum was allergic to something near the river, so I had to take him back to camp midday. He missed out on the excitement of the big catch.

Then I found this forum. Dangerous on the marriage, I’m telling you.

On a weeklong scout trip, I made sure we went to a reservoir to fish four of the five days. At Settlement Canyon, Hyrum caught a bunch of baby chub? or carp? or something. He liked that--his first catch. Two days later at Vernon, he brought in a number of foot long trout. We continued to have greater success during the summer, and seldom did Hyrum get skunked. He still owns the biggest fish between the two of us, a 21’’ cat from Bountiful Pond. I knew Hyrum was hooked for good when he turned to me during one outing and said: “Dad, I want you to teach me all the fishing knots, so you can just drop me off at a place to fish and I’ll be fine all by myself.” He’s not asked me to rig his pole for him once since then. We’ve both started working on Jacob (Hyrum’s 6 year-old brother). Jacob has a couple of catches under his belt and he unwrapped his very own Dock Demon pole/reel for his last birthday.

This forum has been great. I only wish I had the time to catalogue all the information. I have a couple of Google Docs where I cut and paste information so I can refer to it later (I don’t have the elephantic memory of Tubedude). I’ve had one fishing outing with a fellow BFT member, and purchased some flies from another. I also have a small library of Tubedude’s writings. There is so much to learn; and it’s tough to practice patience and moderation when I know that fishing must come after so many other responsibilities. Cry me a river, I know. . .

Three years ago when a friend invited me ice fishing, I remarked “I can’t think of a more miserable activity than ice-fishing.” I didn’t go. I’ve since repented, and I should get a package from Amazon today with some ice-picks and ice cleats, my first purchases as I make my preparations for the hard deck.

With few exceptions, I found everyone on the forum to be helpful and encouraging. I appreciate those that take the time to moderate and participate. And I hope to meet more of you out in the field.

-Aaron
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[wyoguy]

Getting out in the outdoors and fishing with your family will create some great memories for you and them. Ice fishing can be a little addictive as well. Thanks for sharing.
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[albinotrout]

I got my wife and daughter out icefishing for the first time last year. They loved it and want to do it again when we get some ice.

My reason for joining has been long since lost to time. I have however enjoyed being here though.[]
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