Appetizers
Influence
I can't remember where it came from, but the outdoors, fishing, and hunting were always on my mind. Some of my earliest memories are of topwater bass eats and digging for worms with my dad. Looking back, those were some of the first moments that shaped the passions I have today.
From an early age, I followed shows like North Woods Law and National Geographic, and I looked up to people like Bear Grylls and Steve Rinella almost like religious figures. I was fascinated by the way they lived and the places they explored. It made me want to be outside every chance I got.
Fishing with my dad eventually transitioned into bowhunting with my mentor, Kurt Upham. Hunting took over everything. After being handed a bow, I don't think I picked up a fishing rod, never mind a fly rod, for a couple of years. Every free moment was spent practicing, scouting, or thinking about the next hunt.
Fort Collins, Colorado
A move to Fort Collins quickly brought me back to my fishing rods. Hunting in a new state with a dorm room as my home base was a little difficult to figure out.
I became immeasurably obsessed with the Cache la Poudre River and quickly found a new home. The Poudre became the backdrop for years of adventure, and somehow it never ran out of places to explore.
After five years in Fort Collins, I regret every day that I didn't spend even more time in the wilderness along Highway 14. I have a memory or story tied to every mile of road from the mouth of the canyon stretching to Walden Colorado. Every bend in the river feels familiar. Every pullout reminds me of a fish, a friend, or a day that taught me something. Looking back I wish I could tell a story from every half mile.