On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, Bob Ksiazek set out for his graduation trip to Montauk with the Professor (Terry Seaton) as his witness. Bob had taken one of Kenny’s first-ever fly fishing classes, at Ellisville United Methodist Church, in the early 2000s. He also took a refresher course a couple of years ago, but he had still never officially “graduated” as a FATC member. Heavy spring rains threatened to thwart the trip, but Bob was determined to make it happen. Bob was very well prepared and proved to be an excellent student! After purchasing our tags, we pulled into the parking lot near the Naturalist cabin. Standing right in “our spot” were 3 other FATC guys (Brett, his son Sam, and Sid) so it was a very fun start to the day. We headed upstream toward the spring with the idea that the water might be a little clearer. Water flows were increased but fishable. Within a very short time, Bob graduated by swinging a white wooly bugger with a sink-tip leader. His first catch was a very nice rainbow! Everything else that happened that day was a bonus! Several more fish were caught as we worked our way back to the car for lunch. After lunch, it was time to get some experience with dead drifting and nymphing. Bob was equally impressive by catching another nice rainbow on his very first cast near the area of the boulder! He must have been thinking “this is easy”! We caught fish in the afternoon on big stuff like a mop fly and little stuff like a P&P and a Sunday Special. All in all, it was a highly successful and very enjoyable day for the two good friends! Bob said he wants to go again someday so that’s a good sign!

Terry Seaton