 'PK' PornKingRaised in Montana's Bitterroot Valley, the young PK's early introduction into fish was in cold water streams like Rock Creek, Rattlesnake 'Crick', the Blackfoot River, the Clark Fork and some other lesser know streams, rivers and lakes. It was in these early formative years PK found the beauty of the mighty trout and the 'lure' of hooking into a solid specimen of fishing porn. 2 horsepack trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness had PK hooking into some high country cutthroats that would feed his passion for fishing even further. The party had to end as PK's father's work had the family moving from the great state of Montana. PK jumped from warm water states until finally landing in Michigan. It was in Michigan that he reconnected with fishing and his passion for all things fly fishing.
It was also in Michigan that PK met Cletus who introduced him to the Pere Marquette River on a April 2000 weekend Steelhead Camp. It was on this fateful weekend trip of 2 days of 'longer than should have been' floats down the famed 'PM' that he became hooked on the PM waters. Cletus would become a future third of the trifecta that is the fishingporn.com crew.
PK met Dallas by accident while working on a project for an employer. PK stopped into Dallas' office to meet about the project and was amazed by all of the fishing porn on the walls, in frames on his desk and on his screen saver. From there, talk turned to fishing and PK was shocked to find that Dallas had grown up and lived in Detroit and all of these fish had been caught in Michigan. 8 years and dozens of trips later PK had amassed a collection of Great Lakes fishing Porn. The stage was now set for the trifecta that is the fishingporn.com crew.
While he enjoys any time on the water, PK relishes a quiet cold water stream, a fly rod, a few good friends and...if fishing gets slow, a nice game of cards. PK's full name, PornKing, originated because he was the only one with the camera on most every trip, snapping pictures of...you guessed it...fishingporn.  Dallas "The Mayor"
My fly-fishing experience started when I was working at a bar during a busy shift I was eavesdropping on a conversation with some regulars. These guys were the big shots of the bar. The 40 to 50 something guys that know how to tell stories. They were talking about browns, steelhead and salmon fishing. What flies they were using and how many fish they were catching.
The stories went on for hours as they drank their drinks. I was trying to figure out the whole fly thing. It didn’t make sense to me. They were using weird names I have never heard of. I went home and got on the computer and started doing some research on what the hell a fly was.
I was amazed at what I found. I went to the local sporting goods store that had a fishing section. Nothing in the store for fly-fishing so I asked the guy behind the counter and he sent me to a little bigger place that had a small section of flies and had a fly tying kit. It was the Thompson tying kit and when I got home with a book and a kit I went at it hard for a few hours trying to ty a Wooley Bugger. Wow how far I have come.
It took about a week but I finally got the wooley buggers to look like the ones in the book. So I got into tying bugs before I even cast a rod. I made friends with the GM of the sporting goods store and made a nice trade out for a fly fishing package for some rum and cokes.
I became good friends with Tommy, one of the guys that was talking about fly-fishing. We did a lot of drinking and chasing women but I never thought of asking about fly-fishing. Then one day in late summer the group was back at the corner of the bar telling stories about salmon camp. I got up the nerve and asked, “ Hey, why don’t you guys bring me this year?” Tommy was the first one to say yes.
Now, that night he gave me some pointers and told me I should get up there and at least cast for some trout before you even think about salmon. I booked a trip and had a blast.
I have never look back since that first trip. As a matter of fact, that first trip in a drift boat, I let the guide know that if he ever wanted to sell his drift boat to call me first. He did and I bought it.
I could never thank Tommy enough for letting me come on that trip and the pointers he gave me that night. Tommy past away a few years ago and past on to me more than just his thoughts about fly-fishing, he also gave me his gear in the last will and testimate.
The pointers he gave me that night in the bar: - Fish always live in beautiful places
- It’s about being there not catching the fish
- Buy the right equipment for the fish not for your budget
- Have fun with your fishing partners
- Get a guide often when your new or in a new area
- Tip your guide no matter how the fishing was
- Look like a fly fisherman
- And Dallas, never forget I like very little cranberry with my Sky Vodka. I don’t want too much blood in my alcohol system.
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