Mike Watts

“The name Papa, sometimes called Grandpa or Grandad, comes with a rather large obligation. This responsibility includes spoiling the child, sharing great stories of which only tiny parts of it may be true, being able to communicate family history, and explaining the way life used to be when you were a boy. At the same time, this obligation allows Papa the opportunity to look at nature and its intrinsic gifts once again through the eyes of a child.” “I embraced this job description and began fulfilling it several years ago. I started by taking my grandson, Rivers, fishing, always making it less about the fish and more about our time together. And while I am never too old to drown worms with my grandson in a farm pond, I always have a fly rod within arm’s reach.” This philosophy of sharing the outdoors with young people was acknowledged at Clemson University. “The work that you do has truly made a difference in the lives of students,” Mike was reminded in a letter recognizing him as an individual who has made a positive impact on the lives of students at Clemson University. Mike Watts, a freelance writer and publisher of a fly fishing website, had been the fly fishing instructor at Clemson University from 2004-2024. During that period, he introduced not just the sport of fly fishing, but fishing in general to more than 1200 students. Teaching the sport part-time at the university allowed him to share his knowledge and expertise with these young people while exposing listeners to tall tales, advice, and embellished stories about the outdoors. He believes the sport is bigger than one person and should be shared. Mike's influence in the fly fishing community is undeniable. His commitment to promoting the sport since 1976 earned him the prestigious Silver Trout Award twice from the Mountain Bridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited, where he served in various capacities. His passion for the outdoors and conservationism also led him to serve on several other boards over the years, further solidifying his role as a respected figure in the community. Mike founded this fly fishing website several years ago to allow a forum of nationally known outdoor writers and other fly fishing enthusiasts an opportunity to publish flyfishing short stories on just about “anything fly fishing.” Mike’s award-winning first book, “Riverbank Memories,” was published in March 2024, and awarded Best Outdoor Book at the South Carolina Outdoor Press Association conference in 2024. ”Riverbank Memories” is a collection of humorous anecdotes and heartfelt observations from spending time outdoors wading rivers, creeks, and streams in Southern Appalachia. Spanning more than forty-eight years honing his skills as a fly fisherman, many of his stories amplify the importance of teaching others the sport of fishing. With Riverbank Memories, “ Mike highlights this belief by sharing stories about his own family in his writings and absolutely defines the meaning of “Take a Kid Fishing.” His new children's book, “Pond Fishing Papa,” is another example of this conviction.