[michaeljcluff21]

Just wanted to share with you all the joy I experienced this morning. While in Afghanistan I decided to pick up Fly Fishing after being a dedicated bait caster for the past 20 years or so. I have fished all over the world and caught some amazing fish. This morning I decided to head down to the tank crosing area on the nisqually with a frend of mine and give fly casting a little practice. After spending 4 hours throwing dry flies and watching countless fish atempt a take on my presentation I was finaly able to hook up with a very bright 7 inch rainbow. Today has been the most exciting day I have ever spent on the water.

 

[Nooksack Mac]

Congratulations, and many happy repeats. If you were a soldier in Afghanistan, you may appreciate this analogy: dry fly fishing is like setting a trap with a long handheld trip wire, and waiting until your querry steps into it.

 

[Richard Torres]

Congratulations on your first catch with a fly,

welcome to the site, and most importantly..

Thank you for serving for our country!

My grandfather was a World War II vet, was based in Ft. Lewis too, and was soley responsible for getting me addicted to fishing...

Richard

 

[Split Bamboo]

Welcome and thank you very much for your service!

Way to go on your first fish!

 

[Mumbles]

Thank you for your service and for sharing your report. Looking forward to reading more of them.

 

[Miso Harney]

Congratulations and welcome to a very healthy addiction. If a 7" trout was your most exciting day on the water, I look forward to your report after you land a 20" er............

 

[Steve Saville]

Thanks for all youhave done and continue to do. Welcome to the addiction! I hope you have many moments to share in the future.

 

[Gary Thompson]

Welcome aboard mate.
Thank you for your service.
:thumb: on your 7"er, many more and bigger to come I'm sure

 

[weiliwen]

Congratulations on that first fish, hopefully first of many.

Thanks for your service to our nation, as you can see from the many posts above, it is VERY much appreciated.

 

[michaeljcluff21]

I apriciate all the support and thank yous for my service. Its a life I have chosen and it supports my family. Luckily it brought me to washington and has kept at Lewis since 2000 the fishing in washington is so much better than ohio that I think I will retier somewhere on the banks of the cowlitz in the future.

Didnt get to hit the water today do to smashing the rear end of my jeep into a baricade on the nisqualy last night when I took my kids out to play in the water and practice my casting so I spent all morning working on my insurance claim and fixing what I could on my own. I did end up stoping by the Cabelas fly shop to add some more flies to my boxes for tomorow though. Plan on hitting the water near the tank crosing at about 0700 and spending the day in the sun.

 

[John Wallace]

You are hooked now. So start with more fly rods, lines, and reels and etc, etc. Thanks for all you do and Good luck on fishing.

 

[michaeljcluff21]

I have already bought a 6 and 9wt loomis xperience rods and pflueger trion reels. I do need some more tipets, line, and spare spools though. Now that im thinking of it I probably should have opted not to by those new Loomis steelhead spinning and casting rods.

 

[Guest]

Good work and thank you for serving our country. Keep after them fish now you have joined the good side.

 

[Wormonhook]

Michael, Cabela's is a great place to shop, I've spent a bunch of money there. I would also encourage you to shop some of this forum's sponsors that are near your residence. They can use the money and they will also help you in learning the fishery in this area.

Welcome to the sport and thanks for your service to our country.

Karl

 

[dryflylarry]

Congratulations and welcome to a very healthy addiction. If a 7" trout was your most exciting day on the water, I look forward to your report after you land a 20" er............

Yeah, he will crap his pants!

 

[Poopy McButtfart]

I've got a buddy who just got back from his 2nd tour of Iraq that I've been getting in to fly fishing. Taken him out 5 or 6 times now to a lot of surefire spots, and have failed to get him in to much of anything yet (a few 12" trout, and a few tiny bass). You're off to a much better start than the first couple trips I took him on

Put some time in on that river this fall when the chums show up. You'll have a grand time if you succeed in picking one of those off!

 

[michaeljcluff21]

I have spent a lot of time on the river over the past 10 years but all of it has been devoted to a bait caster and a little corky and yarn setup. I cant wait for the runs to start and see just how much fun its going to be hooking up with a chum or maybe a king if I keep my fingers crosed.

 

[michaeljcluff21]

Im not shure about craping the pants but it will be exciting none the less.

 

[Bob Jones]

Congratulations on the first of many fish and the service you've given your country. I'm waiting for my grandson to get back from Iraq in a few months and I can start him on fly fishing. We're so glad he's also wanting to stay at Ft. Lewis then. Take care and tight lines.

 

[orangeradish]

Congrats on the fish, Mike!

and have failed to get him in to much of anything yet

Same here. Maybe it's just him.......:rofl: