Interview with Matt from Colorado Casters Blog

Matt from Colorado Casters

Colorado Casters Blog is a very cool place to visit. To learn more about Matt and his fishing obsession, give him some love and read some of his stories. They keep us coming back!

MC: Describe your first experience fishing.

Matt: My first fishing trip is not even a blur in my mind as it happened very early in my life. I am sure the details would not be all that spectacular and would end with a diaper full of sand or me putting rocks in my mouth. The first fishing trip that I do remember goes something like this… 1974, some lake, summer. I’m about four or five and the family clan is camped out on a gorgeous scrap of sandy shoreline that is surrounded by houses now. A rod is cast out for us kids. The adults help out with casting and landing fish as necessary. This was how hippies and the less scrupulous “free-fish” back in the day. (Real fishing was something I had to teach myself later in life but we always picked up our trash.) Wham! A heavy hit comes on the rod designated for me. My uncle hands me the fishing rod launching me off my feet and straight into the drink. Reaching down he pulls me out from under two feet of water fishing rod still in my hands. He helps me land the fish and says; “I think this kid has a knack for this” Turns out the fish was a carp, 30-inches long. Not my first fish but my first real big catch and I will remember it forever. From that point on I didn’t look at water the same again.

MC: What types of fishing do you prefer?

Matt: Fishing the hot bite is without a doubt my favorite type of fishing. That could consist of prespawn bass in early summer or brown trout towards fall. I am still trying to hit a good yellow perch bite in winter but have managed to find some decent spring crappie action this year. Walleye and smallmouth offer a small window at the edges of spring and fall. 99.9% of my fishing is Artificial Fly/Lure fishing. To me this represents the pinnacle of the fishing challenge, as you have to get the fish to bite something that is completely manufactured to some degree.

MC: What would you say fuels your obsession with fishing?

Matt: I have spent most of my childhood in the outdoors and living off the land to some degree (as I was raised by wolves and drunken gypsies). This has created an inner desire to be outdoors as much as possible. Fishing is an outlet for that passion and dominates my outdoor participation these days. Each experience is educational, distressing and always gives me a feeling of exhilaration. My heart races with every bite, thump and tug at the end of the line. After so many years you would think it gets old…it never does.

MC: Where is your favorite area to fish?

Matt: You have water I will fish it. Small bass ponds 20-50 surface acres are more or less my forte but river fishing is a huge draw for me as well. Honestly I don’t think I would be happy without all of the fishing diversity Colorado has to offer.

One of many monsters that Matt has caught.

MC: Any type of fishing that you have dreamed of trying?

Matt: I have a serious jones for some peacock bass fishing as they are an amazing predator fish that is both colorful and aggressive.

MC: Give us a breakdown of the gear you use.

Matt: This is one area I am scoffed at and even ridiculed, as most of my gear is very inexpensive. For warm water I have (4) main rods, two are St. Croix 7’ M\fast action and two are 6’-6” Shimano M\heavy, Reels: I use various reels such as Pflueger’s Arbor and a couple of Mitchell Avocet 2’s that retail for about 20 bucks and take a beating. For fly-fishing I still rely on my old Shakespeare 5Wt. rod and reel. I try to upgrade at least one setup when the finances allow and rely a lot on basic quality over top shelf products. Getting the best quality you can afford is better advice than anything I can say about gear that I use personally.

MC: Coolest fishing story?

Matt: This is a difficult one to answer as I truly believe anglers are only as good as their next fish. My coolest fishing story hasn’t happened yet but will offer a few links from my blog in hopes of filling the gap. Not all of my favorite fish stories have fish.

“Red Five, I’m going in!”

Jurassic and The Land of Orcs…a two cliff-two part post

Anguish on the Cheese – a trip of pain and peril

MC: Any other outdoor passions?

Matt: In my younger days I used to hunt, mountain bike and dreamed of being an adventure race enthusiast. My biggest outdoor passion aside from fishing is trash cleanup. Trash in our wild places is an enormous blight and I combat this with every fiber in my being when possible. Writing, taking photographs and educating myself about nature are other passions that absorb a lot of my time as well.

MC: You have mentioned ecology and conservation on your blog before. What groups, do you think, have the best impact on the environment?

Matt: The biggest impact comes from protecting wildlife habitat. Organizations such as Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited and The Division of Wildlife go so much further than other groups that merely run shock campaigns for one animal cause or another. Funding for wildlife faces a very tough battle in these difficult economic times. Volunteer and member based groups continue to make a strong impact on many levels for Colorado natural areas.

MC: What can we expect from Colorado Casters Blog this coming season?

Matt: Fall of 2011 should bring some of the best trout action I have seen in a while. Water flows are better than they have been in a long time with high water conditions making the summer season a test for most anglers. Hopefully I finally land that beastie brown of my dreams in the +26-inch category. A tiger muskie would be nice but I am not holding my breath.

Winter will not stop Matt

MC: In closing, is there anything else you would like to share with The Musket readers?

Matt: Humans need to take less and give more in return to wildlife habitat or it will all be lost. It is my belief that most sportspeople are ethical, follow the rules and leave minimal traces of their existence in the wild. It is a smaller number of people that refuse to follow rules and take more than they need that are destroying wildlife areas we all try to enjoy. Each year we lose a little more quality of wilderness due to one factor or another. Instead of struggling to sustain wildlife areas we should be looking to make them optimum…more for the creatures that dwell here as opposed to making things more comfortable for humans. Thank you for this interview opportunity and I want to wish everyone a safe path to travel and a rewarding journey. My name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic.