I remember first becoming acquainted with his name way back in the early 1970's from a fly fishing book my 1st ex wife bought me for Christmas. All of these exes didn't fly fish and this was inexcusable. It was a very entertaining and wonderful book written by Joe Brooks, the father of modern American fly fishing. I still reread this book at least twice a year and remember when I was a young, strong man over fifty years ago. Joe brooks was the Jack O'Connor of the fly fishing world. He and Jack both died in the 1970's. I dreamed
of being able to do the things these two sporting greats experienced in their lifetimes. I was finally able to go to the Yukon and Africa to hunt. One trip each. For fly fishing for huge brown and rainbow trout I have fished the North East Tennessee TVA Dam Tailwaters of the Watauga River and the South Holston River. Both are home to huge, huge rainbow and brown trout. My lifetime big catch was 25 years ago. I landed a 42" rainbow using a dark colored muddler minnow to imitate
a mouse and it has worked nicely ever since. Joe Brooks taught me this in one of his books. Dave Whitlock and Joe fished together quite often in Montana and used Dan Bailey's business for their meeting headquarters. Joe was always showing photos of Dave's fly patterns and commenting on how effective his flies were.
I live three minutes from the Watauga River and thirty five minutes from the South Holston River. Both are well know in the Good Ol' U.S. of A.
roanmtn
Last edited by roanmtn; 12/01/22.
