A Journey of Passion and Adventure
The Ordinary World – Discovering the Love for Fly Fishing
My fly fishing journey started in the wild, green landscapes of Oregon in the Pacific Northwest where the legendary rivers like the Deschutes and McKenzie ran through the tall forests. I cast my first dry fly and watched in amazement as a trout burst out of the water to grab it. The rush, the connection, the art of the cast—fly fishing became more than a hobby; it became a way of life.
But something inside me knew that this was just the beginning. The rivers had more to teach and the call of adventure was too strong to ignore.
The Call to Adventure – Exploring the Mountain West
The desire to chase bigger water and fine tune my skills pulled me to the rugged beauty of the Mountain West. I settled in Utah and found myself surrounded by the Wasatch Range with the Provo River and Weber River as my new classrooms.
I had mastered dry fly fishing but now nymph fishing challenged me to understand the hidden depths of the river. I learned to read currents, anticipate trout behavior and adapt my techniques. The river was no longer just a place to fish—it was a living breathing ecosystem with secrets to be uncovered.
Refusal of the Call – The Doubts and Struggles
Despite my growing skills I started to doubt. Could this fly fishing passion really sustain a lifelong journey? Was I just chasing water or was there something deeper?
Moving again—this time to Georgia—felt like starting over. The unfamiliar Appalachian streams were smaller, tighter and far removed from the big Western water I had grown to love. The fish were different, the techniques needed to change and for the first time I felt the weight of uncertainty.
Meeting the Mentor – Learning the Art of Adaptation
But the river always provides. In the mountains of Georgia and Tennessee I met seasoned anglers who had spent their lifetimes mastering these streams. They shared their knowledge of native brook trout, the subtle nuances of small water dry fly fishing and the patience required to succeed in the tight quarters of the South.With each cast I adapted. The water taught me new lessons and I learned to see the challenge as the gift.
Crossing the Threshold – Warm-Water and Saltwater Fly Fishing
My journey took another turn as I ventured deeper into the South where trout fishing gave way to a different kind of thrill: bass and panfish fly fishing. Warm-water fishing required a new mindset—bigger flies, different retrieves and stronger fights.
Then the ocean called. Standing on the shores of the Gulf Coast I cast into the salt chasing redfish and speckled trout in the unpredictable tides. Fly fishing had taken me from crystal clear mountain streams to the vast and powerful ocean. The journey had changed not just my skills but my very understanding of what it means to truly fly fish.
Tests, Allies, and Enemies – The Water
One day deep in the marshlands of the South a storm rolled in. The wind howled, the waves churned and the water turned wild. My casts, usually effortless, were now a battle against the elements.
But I didn’t quit. I adjusted. I trusted my instincts, my gear, my knowledge. And then the take—a redfish hit my fly like a freight train. The fight was brutal, the pull relentless. Every lesson I had learned, every technique I had honed came down to this moment.
As the fish finally surrendered I held it in my hands feeling its power, its energy, its connection to the water. This was the journey. This was why I fly fish.## The Gift – Fly Fishing with Others
Now I go back. From Oregon and Utah to the South and the flats every cast has a story.
Goat Float Fly Fishing is more than a passion—it’s a calling
A calling to share the journey, to inspire others to fly fish, to help all levels of anglers find their rhythm in the water. The rivers, the fish, the adventure have given me so much more than I ever could have imagined. Now it’s time to give back.
The water is waiting. The fly is tied. The next one is coming.
You in?