First Fly -- First Bass

The present that Jackie gave her daddy that Christmas was a Cabella's Fly Tying Kit. It had a vice, bobbin, bodkin and a few other things. I told her that I loved it. But it was only she that I loved. Jackie recovered and has moved on to be a Graphics Designer and married a great guy. She has a son and a happy life.

A year or two after Jackie's recovery, I found that little kit buried on my workbench. I looked at it again and all the memories came back. I really didn't know anything about the tools and other items in the kit, but I spent a Saturday figuring them out. I knew nothing about fly tying even though I loved to fly fish. I borrowed some thread from my wife, used some hair from a fox squirrel,  lashed the hair to a bait hook (3/0) and hurried to the South Branch. I loaded the leader with split shot and "let fly". On the second or third try I hooked, landed and released a smallmouth. On my own fly! Needless to say, I was hooked at fly tying and have been ever since.

Thanks, Jackie. I love you.

--Carl Defazio

PS, Jackie designed the logo for Mountaineer Flies while in college. You can see it on my Web site.