What I am about to write is one of the toughest entry's to the Brookie Report. Back in late August, a chilling text chimed in about a shooting involving two West Virginia State Troopers near the Wallback exit on I-79. My first initial fear was that a fellow angler and friend was involved. That night, many of us didn't sleep, constantly checking our phones and social media for any updates available. Hours later it was confirmed that in fact, our brother Eric Workman was involved in the tragedy. Eric fought a few days longer, and then on a Friday afternoon he joined God and the angels in the heavens above.
Eric Workman was one of the top musky fisherman in the state. Musky fishing is addictive I have learned. It's an indescribable adrenaline rush that leaves your knees buckling when you see the wake of the musky chasing your fly, not to mention your heartbeat racing while holding the toothy predator. Eric was addicted to catching musky. Many say it's the fish of 10,000 casts, but it was almost if Eric laughed at that figure... decreasing the ratio to just hundreds probably. Zach Adkins told me that Eric came to the point of not fishing for any other species (other than steelhead runs in the fall).
Eric Workman was one of the top musky fisherman in the state. Musky fishing is addictive I have learned. It's an indescribable adrenaline rush that leaves your knees buckling when you see the wake of the musky chasing your fly, not to mention your heartbeat racing while holding the toothy predator. Eric was addicted to catching musky. Many say it's the fish of 10,000 casts, but it was almost if Eric laughed at that figure... decreasing the ratio to just hundreds probably. Zach Adkins told me that Eric came to the point of not fishing for any other species (other than steelhead runs in the fall).
This summer when the trout streams were low and clear and battling warm temperatures with minimal flow, Zach and I began musky fishing. On WVAngler.com, a few of the guys such as Nathan Rees and Craig Miller were constantly posting pictures with gigantic flies hanging out of the predator's mouth, all tangled in their razor-sharp teeth. I said to myself, "This I gotta try!" I soon found out it was much harder than it looked. My first time out, I was with Grant Harsh last summer and unexpectedly I had a 36" musky inhale my fly. I battled it to the boat, and like a rookie, I tried putting the fish on the reel as I would with most other large fish (the big salmon species that I'm used too). The musky laughed at me and spit the fly as I gave him too much time to win the battle. In the next couple of days, I saw Grant catch one on the fly and we raised probably 8 more muskies but they never committed. This is when the seed was planted. I love a challenge and at this time, it was on my list. So a year later, this summer Zach and I started fishing for muskies more and more. I would rarely raise one on the fly, and also watch Zach catch a few on his baitcaster....
....Yeah, I was discouraged. It was around a few months back in July that I remember talking to Eric last. Zach was driving and I was texting Eric on the way home about my frustrations. He explained to me it isn't easy trying to catch one on a fly and I can easily wear myself out doing so. I asked "Eric, should I just put the fly rod down and try to catch one on the baitcaster?" Of course he said yes and that Zach would take care of me with the gear and what to do. So I kept trying... and nothing. I just kept raising more musky but they wouldn't take the lure. I even tried fly fishing for them again and no luck. The day that it was announced Eric would rest with God, my boss told me "Get your ass out of the office and make him proud." I went to the stream and had an amazing day moving five different muskies, one of them was a baby and struck my spinner, but he missed, and I also fought a pretty big musky that of course got off the hook. I was jumping up and down in excitement yet full of frustration as I was so close to catching one. I knew Eric was looking down, entertaining me and probably laughing at me at this point, calling me a rookie!
A few weeks later, Curtis Fleming (host of Fly Rod Chronicles) called the WVAngler guys and friends wanting to dedicate a show in honor of Eric's life. Everything came together smoothly and I had a good feeling about it. So many people contributed to the weekend filming. Graceland at D&E provided lodging for the crew and Eric's family, Texas Roadhouse provided amazing dinners, and top 20 billboard country artists "Taylor Made" provided the entertainment. It was an amazing weekend to say the least. All we needed was musky to be caught on film in honor of Eric. If there was going to be a time to catch my first musky, this was it.
Wednesday evening, Nathan Rees and I took his drift boat out and basically did a warm-up session. Nate is the man when it comes to musky on the fly. I consider he and Craig Miller to be the godfathers of casting flies for toothies in West Virginia. After getting some tips and fine tuning what I had already learned over the past year, we called it a night and headed out the next day with the camera ready. We took turns casting and rowing, enjoying the great weather and sharing memories of Eric. I came upon a log jam that just looked "musky-ish"... I had a perfect cast, the giant meaty fly sunk low and I began stripping the line violently back in. As there were logs everywhere I was trying to watch for any type of movement to dart out. "Musky... Musky.... Nate.... Musky...." One came out of the depths and then it froze. Nate questioned me if it really was a musky. I second guessed myself because it had been a slow day thinking maybe it is just a log and "am I seeing something??" So I gave the fly line a fierce rip and then saw the musky quickly follow...
"MUSKY! MUSKY! MUSKY!" Nate finally saw what I had and we went spastic. I stripped the line in so fast, my fly was at the boat right next to the oars. At this point I didn't even flinch and I ripped the fly out of the water. Nate screamed "NOOOO!!!!" ...as I probably should have kept the fly in the water and started to figure 8. The only explanation I could think of why I did that was early in the summer, Zach and I crept up on a musky "sunning" in the open water. He said "Paine, cast that fly right on top of the musky." I followed "Seriously?? I don't want to spook it man!" He said "trust me...." Well, he was right and that musky immediately tuned in and followed the fly. So that's exactly what I did all in one motion. When I stripped the fly to the boat and saw the ore, I ripped the fly up and slapped it as hard as I could back in the water in a split second. After one giant strip of the fly line, the "baby bass fly" darted and the musky INHALED it!!!!! It was unreal!! The beast started thrashing on top of the water and this time I wasn't about to put that baby on the reel! Nate netted the fish within secondas and the celebration began. I think everyone within a mile radius could hear me. "I DID IT!!!! I CAUGHT A MUSKY!! THIS ONE IS FOR YOU ERIC!!" I think Nate was just as ecstatic as I was. We were both shaking and my knees were buckling holding this 40" fish up for photos.
....Yeah, I was discouraged. It was around a few months back in July that I remember talking to Eric last. Zach was driving and I was texting Eric on the way home about my frustrations. He explained to me it isn't easy trying to catch one on a fly and I can easily wear myself out doing so. I asked "Eric, should I just put the fly rod down and try to catch one on the baitcaster?" Of course he said yes and that Zach would take care of me with the gear and what to do. So I kept trying... and nothing. I just kept raising more musky but they wouldn't take the lure. I even tried fly fishing for them again and no luck. The day that it was announced Eric would rest with God, my boss told me "Get your ass out of the office and make him proud." I went to the stream and had an amazing day moving five different muskies, one of them was a baby and struck my spinner, but he missed, and I also fought a pretty big musky that of course got off the hook. I was jumping up and down in excitement yet full of frustration as I was so close to catching one. I knew Eric was looking down, entertaining me and probably laughing at me at this point, calling me a rookie!
A few weeks later, Curtis Fleming (host of Fly Rod Chronicles) called the WVAngler guys and friends wanting to dedicate a show in honor of Eric's life. Everything came together smoothly and I had a good feeling about it. So many people contributed to the weekend filming. Graceland at D&E provided lodging for the crew and Eric's family, Texas Roadhouse provided amazing dinners, and top 20 billboard country artists "Taylor Made" provided the entertainment. It was an amazing weekend to say the least. All we needed was musky to be caught on film in honor of Eric. If there was going to be a time to catch my first musky, this was it.
Wednesday evening, Nathan Rees and I took his drift boat out and basically did a warm-up session. Nate is the man when it comes to musky on the fly. I consider he and Craig Miller to be the godfathers of casting flies for toothies in West Virginia. After getting some tips and fine tuning what I had already learned over the past year, we called it a night and headed out the next day with the camera ready. We took turns casting and rowing, enjoying the great weather and sharing memories of Eric. I came upon a log jam that just looked "musky-ish"... I had a perfect cast, the giant meaty fly sunk low and I began stripping the line violently back in. As there were logs everywhere I was trying to watch for any type of movement to dart out. "Musky... Musky.... Nate.... Musky...." One came out of the depths and then it froze. Nate questioned me if it really was a musky. I second guessed myself because it had been a slow day thinking maybe it is just a log and "am I seeing something??" So I gave the fly line a fierce rip and then saw the musky quickly follow...
"MUSKY! MUSKY! MUSKY!" Nate finally saw what I had and we went spastic. I stripped the line in so fast, my fly was at the boat right next to the oars. At this point I didn't even flinch and I ripped the fly out of the water. Nate screamed "NOOOO!!!!" ...as I probably should have kept the fly in the water and started to figure 8. The only explanation I could think of why I did that was early in the summer, Zach and I crept up on a musky "sunning" in the open water. He said "Paine, cast that fly right on top of the musky." I followed "Seriously?? I don't want to spook it man!" He said "trust me...." Well, he was right and that musky immediately tuned in and followed the fly. So that's exactly what I did all in one motion. When I stripped the fly to the boat and saw the ore, I ripped the fly up and slapped it as hard as I could back in the water in a split second. After one giant strip of the fly line, the "baby bass fly" darted and the musky INHALED it!!!!! It was unreal!! The beast started thrashing on top of the water and this time I wasn't about to put that baby on the reel! Nate netted the fish within secondas and the celebration began. I think everyone within a mile radius could hear me. "I DID IT!!!! I CAUGHT A MUSKY!! THIS ONE IS FOR YOU ERIC!!" I think Nate was just as ecstatic as I was. We were both shaking and my knees were buckling holding this 40" fish up for photos.
Myself holding that 40" on the fly! This one was for you Eric!
As I'm holding the toothy fish, I started laughing... I said "Eric, I proved you wrong brother, I got my first one on a fly!" I guess he figured I had put enough time and frustration in to get one. Nate and I continued to scream, laugh, and I think a few tears in happiness may have snuck out. About 15 minutes later I remember total silence. Nate and I looked at each other and words couldn't describe what we were feeling. We broke into laughter and relived the catch. After Nate rose a few more musky but no takes, we headed back to Graceland and it was all smiles and high-fives from there on out. This was definitely my most memorable catch ever.
The next day Zach and I headed out in his John boat and it was unreal. We both hooked into musky and lost them on the fly within 45 minutes of fishing. By the end of the day, we moved a total of 13 muskies! Zach ended up catching one on a crankbait as we hit some deeper water. That's what Eric would have wanted him to do anyways rather than continue to wear ourselves out casting flies that weren't getting down enough. The next day we floated along side to Nathan and Zach "Woolybugger" Pittman. It was a colder, rainy day and we didn't even move a fish. However, Nathan finally got one to take in the afternoon and was able to get the action on film.
The next day Zach and I headed out in his John boat and it was unreal. We both hooked into musky and lost them on the fly within 45 minutes of fishing. By the end of the day, we moved a total of 13 muskies! Zach ended up catching one on a crankbait as we hit some deeper water. That's what Eric would have wanted him to do anyways rather than continue to wear ourselves out casting flies that weren't getting down enough. The next day we floated along side to Nathan and Zach "Woolybugger" Pittman. It was a colder, rainy day and we didn't even move a fish. However, Nathan finally got one to take in the afternoon and was able to get the action on film.
Zach Adkins with a Musky for Eric
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Nathan Rees with a Musky on the Fly for Eric
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What a weekend, what an experience, and what memories were created... We presented his parents the honorable WVAngler of the Year Award for 2013, listened to them speak and his baseball coach tell some stories, and shared the brotherhood of what WVAngler is all about. It truly is a family and I would do anything for these group of guys.
Presenting Eric's parents the WVAngler of the Year Award - 2013
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The WVAngler Crew with Curtis Fleming
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Eric, Rest in Peace brother. May God bless your soul. Keep watch on us anglers and let us carry out your passion. Thanks for everything and you'll never be forgotten. This was truly a celebration and in honor of you. As Zach said best, "Fish on brother, Fish on..."
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Matthew 5:9
Thanks to everyone involved for making last weekend a success and celebrating the life of Eric Workman. For those interested, the show is projected to appear in late January on the Outdoor Channel.
Tight Lines,
Jonathan "Brookie" Paine
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Matthew 5:9
Thanks to everyone involved for making last weekend a success and celebrating the life of Eric Workman. For those interested, the show is projected to appear in late January on the Outdoor Channel.
Tight Lines,
Jonathan "Brookie" Paine
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