Matt Murphy became the first graduate of the 2026 FATC Spring fly fishing class. The class ended on April 29th, and Matt was ready to graduate on May 7th. He was joined for his graduation by several FATC members to include Jim Craig, Dan Staggenborg, Al Blair, Don Varner, Ken Welter, Harold Bates and was instructed by Kenny Klimes. It was a beautiful weather day with mostly sunny skies and no chance of rain.
The FATC gang came in from all areas for this trip. Jim and Dan were already in the Montauk earlier as they fished the day before. Al Blair travelled in from Columbia, Missouri and Kenny from Springfield, MO. Matt and the rest of the gang drove in from the Eureka commuter lot. But we all met around 8:30am and ready to fish the day at Montauk State Park.
As during all graduations most of the guys spread out throughout the fly only area and Kenny and Matt went to the “boulder” to practice casting, fishing streamers, swinging flies and dead drifting nymphs. Matt had two trout before lunch, one on a wooly bugger and one on a P&P midge. Matt had a few misses but had the chance to learn several techniques before lunch. At lunch the guys got to know Matt a little better but most important strategies were discussed. Overall, the catching was tough as the reports determined. So, nothing was working the best. We hit the water again after lunch with high hopes of a few more fish.
Kenny and Matt headed to the top of the river and worked their way down until the end of the day at 4:30pm. The fishing overall was rather tough for the entire day. Most guys worked very hard for the fish that they did catch. Sounds like the best flies were flies fished dead drift (nymphs, emergers, larva). But a tough day fishing is always better than a day at work. We all met up for dinner in Salem at the Pizza Inn as we found out that all senior citizens got to eat all at one low price of $10 – sorry Matt, you looked like a baby with all of us old farts there. Time to get out before the state parks get crowded when school gets out.
