Fly Fishing After the Military: Chris Gallagher’s Journey from Soldier to Stream
with: catskillflyfishing
We caught up with Chris Gallagher—a former infantryman, proud dad, and fly fishing team USA member—somewhere between the banks of the Delaware and the back of his old ‘97 Tacoma. Chris is a Catskills local with a deep connection to the rivers that shaped him, and his story runs deeper than just trout and tight loops. From Army life to Euro-nymph rigs and raising his kids creekside, Chris has carved out a unique place in fly fishing’s heartland. Here’s what he shared with us about the journey.
Chris, as a former infantryman and combat veteran, how did you transition from military life to becoming so involved in fly fishing, particularly in the Catskills region?
I spent my summers in Upstate NY in the Catskill Mountains , where my extended family lives, so I been connected to the area since I was a kid. I started fly fishing in my mid-teens, and the area was loaded with great streams. Throughout my time in the military, I would always find some time to make it back and hit those spots. For my last active-duty assignment I chose to be stationed at Ft. Drum, so I could be relatively close to the area. Every weekend I had available I would fish in either the Adirondacks or Catskills, camping out in the back of my ‘camper shelled’ 97 Tacoma that had a kayak strapped (full time!) to the roof. During these trips, I realized how much New York had to offer when it came to the outdoors, especially the availability and diversity of trout fisheries.
When it came time to leave active-duty, I enlisted in the New York National Guard and started a career in Environmental Protection, moving to the southern Catskills. I was fortune enough to live and work within a 45-minute drive of the Delawares, Beaverkill,Neversink and Esopus and moved within earshot ofthe fabled Willowemoc Creek- the “Charmed Circle” of trout rivers. Depending on work, deployments, school or family, my time on the water varied over the next several years from six days a week to a few days a year.
Can you tell us about your journey into fly fishing? Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked your passion for the sport?
I started fly fishing after I read an article, that appeared in ‘Field and Stream’ when I was a freshman in High School. It explained how to use a dry fly in conjunction with a spinning rod and bobber. I tried the technique described at my local creek (Warm water) and caught close to 100 smallmouth and panfish- an insane number for that area- and the damage was done! I bought a fiberglass Shakespeare fly rod kit the next week and haven’t stopped since…
You're a proud member of the Fly Fishing Team USA. How did you get involved with the team, and what has that experience been like for you?
My progression into competitive fly fishing was based on having a decreased amount of time to spend on the water. As my family grew and I took on more work responsibilities, my opportunities to get out became limited. I simply wanted to catch some fish in the time I had available. Dry fly fishing and streamers are great, but not always the most productive methods. Nymphing can produce in almost all conditions and year-round. I started with ‘traditional nymphing’ usingfly line, a tapered leader, split shot, and with or without an indicator- very similar to the technique I used for Lake Ontario tributaries. I caught some fish, but there were some obvious hindrances in how the fly is presented. This started my research into other sub surface techniques, which ultimately ended up with tightline nymphing. While going down the ‘euro-nymphing’ rabbit hole, I realized the leading practitioners were competition anglers, so this led me to signing up for my first competition about six years ago.
I did well in my first competition, but nowhere close to the experienced competitors. Realizing I had much to learn, I decided to keep showing up- and Ken Crane and Loren Williams (both longtime FFTUSA members) showed me the techniques and tactics needed to be successful in the comps. Despite the general belief that comp fishing is all nymphing- single dry, dry-dropper and stillwater techniques can play major roles and if you aren’t proficient in those, you’ll struggle under certain conditions. I was fortunate to have scored well enough to make FFTUSA last year and it was a cool experience. The best aspect of the competition scene is that everyone is willing to shareinformation on techniques, patterns or what they would have done to improve their session (but likely after the event...). Comps have been the basis for much of the innovation we see in fly fishing over the years, so seeing equipment and techniques that is the ‘front end’is exciting.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in fly fishing when it comes to selecting the right gear?
Selecting gear can be a bit overwhelming, especially for someone looking to get into the sport. My first suggestion is to seek instruction or book a guide that understands the level someone is truly at, so they can customize the instruction and help folks in selecting the correct equipment for their area and species they are pursuing. Second bit of advice is to plan on spending in the ‘upper’ end of your budget. Staying with the adage: “there is no bad weather, just bad gear”, same applies to all equipment- having functioning, reliable, durable items will make the experience that much better. Last advice on gear selection:
As a dad and an active member of the fly fishing community, how do you balance family life with your fly fishing adventures, especially in such an iconic location like the Catskills
I try to keep at least one weekend day open during the traditional ‘fishing’ season so we can do something together; generally, it ends up being an activity in the outdoors or staying home to grill/hit the pool. During the summer we do a good number of float trips on the ‘big’ Delaware, where some fishing happens, but the main effort is relaxing and just hanging out. When the kids were younger (now older teens) we’d spend most weekends at our campsite right in the middle of it, so campfires, frog catching, late night “manhunt” and listening to owls played a part in their growing up. Additionally, my wife has been cool enough to plan our family vacations in some bonefish locations so I can continue to feed my saltwater addiction, maybe a move in the not so distance future?
