The
purpose of this blog is to provide useful fly fishing information to beginners
and seasoned anglers alike. My 15-year career in secondary education and 32
years as the owner and operator of Stewart’s Fly Shop in Gresham, Oregon taught
me how to communicate with and teach people of all ages and abilities how to
fly fish and tie flies. Also, the importance of releasing wild fish was
stressed through guide trips, clinics, classes and chats with customers.
My
Dad, Chuck Stewart, introduced me to trout and steelhead fishing at an early
age. He primarily fly fished for trout on the Deschutes River in the 1930s and 40s,
and he used to tell me of the huge trout that were breaking him off. Of course,
in those early years anglers weren’t completely aware of summer steelhead. During
the 1950s, Dad also taught me how to fish for winter steelhead with drift rods
on Western Washington streams and on the Sandy, Nehalem and Salmonberry Rivers
in Oregon.
By
the time I opened up my fly shop in 1976, the winter drift gear was abandoned
in favor of fly fishing, and my fly fishing destinations were beginning to
expand. My passion for fly fishing took me to many streams and lakes in the
Western States, British Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Chile and Argentina. These
experiences helped to expand my knowledge of fishing techniques and gave me the
incentive to write my first book, “Tying and Fishing Outstanding Flies,” which
was published in 2006. My second book, “The Practical Fly Fisher,” is due to be
released in February of 2014.
Over
the years I have encountered my share of frustrating situations and have had to
ask other fly fishers for possible solutions. Sharing successes and failures
creates a bond between fellow anglers and is what makes fly fishing such and
infectious and enjoyable sport. With this blog I hope to provide useful fly
fishing information to beginners and seasoned anglers alike. I want to help them
find solutions to their fishing problems and to also entertain them with
stories of my favorite fishing adventures.
