I was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996 and came to the United States in 1998.

As far back as I can remember I have had a fishing rod in my hands. I grew up fishing local streams for trout and salmon in the central New York region. I do not recall exactly how old I was when I began fly fishing in my local streams, but I do remember that I was eleven when my mother bought me a fly tying kit for my birthday. What began as a means by which to save some money on flies and stay preoccupied when not out fishing or at school, eventually turned into a kind of mild obsession as I strove to become an increasingly competent tier.

I vividly remember flipping through books about tying classic Atlantic Salmon flies. I was mesmerized by the beauty and symmetry of the flies and in awe of the skill of the tiers who produced them. Also, I was inspired to learn how to tie the classics myself. With patience and persistence (and the guidance of many of my peers to whom I am eternally grateful) I eventually got the hang of it.

I look forward to meeting you all at the 2019 ASFI!