My name is Steven Schwartz. I'm in my early 40's (Jan 2004), living on the southside of Chicago with a beautiful wife (Karyn) and two children (Nathaniel and Eden). Thankfully, everybody in my family likes to wet a line. I'm a securities analyst following life insurance companies with Raymond James & Associates.
While stuck in an airport in 1997, I picked up a USA Today that was laying
around. Turning to the Sports section, there was an article on the 10 Best
Places to Flyfish in the U.S. including a list of schools to learn how.
About a month later, I found myself at the Orvis school in Manchester,
Vermont. Two and a half days after that, I owned a six-weight, vest,
waders, boots, various accessories and a selection of flies; I've been
hooked ever since. I started tying about 4 years ago.
I generally fish for trout in the coulee region of southwest Wisconsin,
usually for a couple of days each month during the season. My home water
though, is probably the lake in Jackson Park behind the Museum of Science
and Industry across the street from where I live. Not exactly bucolic, but
the lake has bluegills, crappies, and some really big largemouth bass and
carp.
Along with Wisconsin and Illinois, I've flyfished in southern California,
Colorado, Florida, New York, Michigan, Arizona, Virginia, Belize and the
Bahamas.