Schuylkill Johnny
New member
In the 1970's I used money I earned from my paper route to buy a South Bend White Knight rod, an Ocean City reel and a Noll fly tying kit.
I didn't have anyone to teach me so with books from the library and a lot of trial and error I was able to catch some panfish.
I lost interest in fly fishing but continued fishing with spinning gear. I would ride my bicycle some distance to get to a fishing spot. I lost track of the rod and fly tying kit but still have the reel.
Fast forward about 50 years. I was in a thrift store near the Loyalsock when I saw a Sheakspeare flyrod for $5.00. I was a couple years from retirement so I purchased it with the aim of learning to fly fish when I retired.
With a little research I was able to determine the rod was a model 809 manufactured between 1964-1965.
My good friend Kurt has fly fished for over 50 years. He helped me get set up with proper line and a couple quick lessons on casting.
Before I actually fished with the rod it was run over by a tractor trailer. I was devastated. Once again I lost interest in fly fishing.
A few years later I was the winning bidder on an auction lot of spinning rods and a roddy caddy. To my surprise mixed in with the spinning rods was a vintage fly rod a fiberglass Herters RB6H20. The Rod Caddy held two rods still in the plastic, a 5wt Berkley Firestick and a Sheakspeare Alpha 7-8wt. The rods are nothing to write home about but my interest in fly fishing was rekindled.
Last year I attended a fishing class at French Creek State Park hosted by Orvis. Then I joined Dame Juliana League of Fly Fishers and took the 8 hour class offered by the Leauge. My buddy Kurt has really helped me a lot by coaching me on the water.
Last spring I caught trout on both the Firestick and Herters rods. I haven't fished the Alpha. That lives on my porch for quick access when I want to practice casting.
Since taking classes I was fortunate enough to hit some great sales. I picked up a TFO 4wt, Kurt gave me a custom built 6wt. I also picked up a Blood Run 10'6 ultralight/3wt with a Carolina grip and rings. It can do dual duty casting flies or spinning gear depending on which reel I hang on it.
I'm really looking forward to hitting the water this year.
I didn't have anyone to teach me so with books from the library and a lot of trial and error I was able to catch some panfish.
I lost interest in fly fishing but continued fishing with spinning gear. I would ride my bicycle some distance to get to a fishing spot. I lost track of the rod and fly tying kit but still have the reel.
Fast forward about 50 years. I was in a thrift store near the Loyalsock when I saw a Sheakspeare flyrod for $5.00. I was a couple years from retirement so I purchased it with the aim of learning to fly fish when I retired.
With a little research I was able to determine the rod was a model 809 manufactured between 1964-1965.
My good friend Kurt has fly fished for over 50 years. He helped me get set up with proper line and a couple quick lessons on casting.
Before I actually fished with the rod it was run over by a tractor trailer. I was devastated. Once again I lost interest in fly fishing.
A few years later I was the winning bidder on an auction lot of spinning rods and a roddy caddy. To my surprise mixed in with the spinning rods was a vintage fly rod a fiberglass Herters RB6H20. The Rod Caddy held two rods still in the plastic, a 5wt Berkley Firestick and a Sheakspeare Alpha 7-8wt. The rods are nothing to write home about but my interest in fly fishing was rekindled.
Last year I attended a fishing class at French Creek State Park hosted by Orvis. Then I joined Dame Juliana League of Fly Fishers and took the 8 hour class offered by the Leauge. My buddy Kurt has really helped me a lot by coaching me on the water.
Last spring I caught trout on both the Firestick and Herters rods. I haven't fished the Alpha. That lives on my porch for quick access when I want to practice casting.
Since taking classes I was fortunate enough to hit some great sales. I picked up a TFO 4wt, Kurt gave me a custom built 6wt. I also picked up a Blood Run 10'6 ultralight/3wt with a Carolina grip and rings. It can do dual duty casting flies or spinning gear depending on which reel I hang on it.
I'm really looking forward to hitting the water this year.
