Fly fishing appeals to die-hard competitors and also to the yogis on their solitary journey towards Zen. From Alpharetta, in a little over an hour, we can be wading the Toccoa River or floating the Chattahoochee in pursuit of trout, flies considered and fly rods rigged. Attitude adjustment underway.
"Some people say fly fishing is too much work, but that’s exactly why I love it! I’ve never been so relaxed yet so focused at the same time as I am when I’m fly fishing," says Tiffany Barker of Woodstock. "Watching the drift, mending the line, adjusting the depth, changing the fly, casting the line and stripping it in, all while being immersed in the beauty of nature. When most people are retreating indoors because of the colder weather, we bundle up to go fish. The Waders practically make you a superhero… you’re waterproof, cold doesn’t phase you, and you kinda feel invincible. What’s not to like?"
Tiffany, who lives in Woodstock with her husband Brad Barker, and their daughter, Taylor, wanted to learn how to fly fish so enrolled in Orvis casting classes. Her casting 201 session was led by Rebecca Sue Kline who introduced her to Georgia Women Fly Fishers. "I didn’t know anyone who fly fished, I didn’t have anyone to learn from, and I didn’t even know where to start. Joining GWFF provided a wealth of resources and put me in contact with a group of amazing women who all share the same passion for being outdoors and fishing. It was just what I needed to feel confident enough to get out on the water. There’s a wide range of experience levels in the group, so whether you’ve been fly fishing your whole life or you’re just starting out, there’s something for everyone," says Tiffany.
Tiffany joined a group from work late last year for a guided float trip down the South Holsten in Bristol, TN. While she was posing with a pretty brown trout she'd just caught, with her rod tucked under my arm she felt a repetitive tug on the rod. "I thought, no way. I’ve been trying to catch fish all day, and when I’m not trying, I end up catching one.” There was a rainbow trout at the end of her line. "So I guess you could say I learned you can catch fish when you’re not even trying."
Tiffany makes the world a brighter place as a brand representative for lighting manufacturers. When Tiffany isn't fishing, her family enjoys JD’s On The Lake for the beautiful view and fantastic fried shrimp.