Becoming a Fly Fisher

Bill Barker reminisces about learning to fly fish with his dad on Oregon’s Fall Creek and Umpqua River in the Corvallis Gazette-Times. “Though our creek was loaded with trout, he had the urge to take me to Fall Creek, over the ridge from our property. His estimation of my 4-year-old legs’ ability to hike long distances was a little high. He’d just planned on carrying some line and hooks to tie on willow poles but ended up packing me on his shoulders for miles. I remember heat, sweat and tiredness, but also the thrill of a cutthroat engulfing a hapless grasshopper on my first try.”