Hello everyone, I am new to the SWC team and just wanted to share a little bit about myself and my fishing background.
I started fishing around the age of 2-3 in a little pond behind my house in Collierville, Tennessee. Ever since then, I have been “hooked” you might say. I started out fishing with regular tackle up until the summer of 2012, that is when I purchased my first fly rod. I definitely like fly fishing more than spin fishing. The sense of accomplishment of catching a fish on a fly rod, no matter the size, is for sure the most incredible feeling a fisherman could have. Another passion of mine is fly tying. From giant articulated streamers to tiny little midges and anything in between. Catching a fish on a fly you have tied is also one of the most amazing feelings of accomplishment you can get from fly fishing (aside from landing a 20″+ trout on 7X tippet.). These are just some of the things that keep me coming back for more.
I am currently 15 and live in the upstate of South Carolina. I love to fly fish for bass and other warm water species, but my favorite fishing is just over the border in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. Brook, Brown, and Rainbow Trout are what I mainly pursue here, along with Smallmouth Bass.
Big thanks to my father for driving me everywhere and purchasing a portion of my equipment!
Below are some photos from recent outings. (All photos taken on iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s.)
Tight Lines!
-Ryley Batewell