MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Justin Hettick had been itching to give his elk hair flies a try. They weren’t just any elk hair rigs, these flies were hand tied using hair off the first elk captured under the Division of Natural Resources program to reintroduce elk to the Mountain State.
Hettick, told MetroNews in a December interview about his flies, he hoped to use flies from the first West Virginia elk in more than 100 years to catch a native brook trout.
He left Morgantown headed for a favorite native trout stream in Randolph County with his buddy Kent Garvin earlier this month with plans to give the idea a go.
“Kent put me on a bowhunting spot 12 years ago where I arrowed a nearly-record class black bear, a fact which he has never let me forget.,” Hettick, who is President of the West Virginia Bowhunters Association explained. “In the intervening years, he has been one of my most constant fishing buddies, so when it came time to dole out a tiny few of the West Virginia elk flies, Kent was on the short list.”
Garvin, while thrilled to be along, didn’t have nearly as much faith apparently in Justin’s fly tying talent.
“Our purpose was singular: we both planned to catch native brookies on our WV elk dry flies,” Hettick explained. “I had more confidence than Kent, tying mine on first, and heading into the stream. Kent opted to keep his in his fly box until he saw rising fish.”
It didn’t take long. Within the first 100 yards of fishing, Hettick had a native brook trout rise up and snatch a bite of “West Virginia One.” Justin carefully worked the rascal toward him and soon had him in the net. Another historic milestone, at least in Hettick’s mind.
“We cheered, and Kent convinced me to cut the fly and return it to my flybox, rather than risk losing it.,” Hettick said.
So it was Garvin’s turn, and soon the hand tied flies of West Virginia elk hair scored again when Garvin caught his first brookie on the fly within the next few minutes.
“Pictures were taken, bourbon imbibed, cigars lit. Our singular goal achieved by slightly after 9 a.m.” offered Hettick. “There was naught to do but relax, fish, and enjoy the rest of a stunningly beautiful day in the mountains of West Virginia.”
Hettick reported both of them caught a lot more fish during the day, but none were as special as those first two. Given the history of the flies, they’ll be hard pressed to catch a fish again that special.