Terry Bandy
Terry Bandy is a Senior Data Scientist based in San Francisco, California. Bandy works with companies in the US and abroad to apply big data to concrete problems. He is passionate about working with his clients to grow their audience and profits. Bandy brings years of tech experience to his freelance endeavors, including the startup and management of a website analytics company in the early years of data science.
Bandy grew up with a passion for numbers and logic. Throughout high school and then undergraduate studies at Tufts University, Bandy pursued this passion with enthusiasm, which garnered the attention of his teachers and professors. Bandy was identified as gifted as a young age, and throughout college he received mentoring from professors who encouraged him to continue studying computer sciences.
As a college junior, Terry Bandy and two other students founded a tech-based company that specialized in website design and analytics. The group sold the company, which had become quite successful, five years later. Bandy moved to California to help manage the company. While helping with the companies transition over to new owners, Bandy entered an MBA program. He earned his master’s degree and then began taking on data science work on a contractual basis. Today Terry Bandy lives in San Francisco with his wife Melissa and two sons.
What is your hobby?
My hobby is fly fishing. I go every chance that I get.
How did you get started with this hobby? What inspired you?
I got started with this hobby when I was a young kid, probably five or six, and my dad took me out to the rivers with him. Back then I couldn’t fly fish, but he would and I would play around on the shore. When I got older and could manage the fishing rod on my own he taught me how to cast and present the fly.
Tell us what you love about it.
I love the serenity of being in nature, in a river or on the shores of a lake. I love walking down a river and exploring all of the hidden spots, where no one else goes. It is very relaxing. I also enjoy the fact that it is an activity that I can do with my sons. They love it as much as I do.
Are there any groups you’re a part of or events that you attend related to your hobby?
One of the things I love about fly fishing is that you can do it on your own. I’m not part of any fishing groups, and that’s the way I like it! I don’t go to events either. Usually when my sons and I go out fishing it happens very spur of the moment. Once a year we travel to Colorado for a more extensive fishing and camping trip.
Have you had to invest in equipment and if so, please share some of the things you’ve bought.
I recently bought a new pair of waders because our Colorado trip is coming up, and I know that the water is going to be cold. I chose Orvis brand Silver Sonic waders because I like the way they’ve designed water proof seams. It feels good to be out in the sunshine in freezing cold water and feel totally comfortable — not wet and cold. You can fish longer that way.
Where do you buy most of your supplies?
I usually go to Lost Coast Outfitters here in San Francisco. I also like a few shops in Colorado, where we take our annual fly fishing trip. The Colorado Angler in Silverthorne, Colorado is great. Sometimes, if I can’t find the exact thing that I want, I will shop online. I prefer to spend my money locally though.
Are there any good books for beginners?
Since I learned how to fish hands-on, from my father, I really didn’t look into beginner fly fishing books. I think that with fishing, you need to actually go out into the water with someone who knows what they are doing. One helpful resource that I’ve used over the years which I recommend to beginners is a guide to the waters in your area. Personally, I use Greg Vinci’s Flyfisher’s Guide To California, but I suppose the one that the beginner chooses will depend on his or her geographic location.
How has this changed your life?
It has brought me a lot of peace and joy. Those two commodities are more valuable than money in the bank.
What advice do you have for others starting out with this hobby?
Be patient with yourself. Have fun exploring the rivers. Approach it like a kid would — just play around and have a good time. If you approach it that way, you’ll never have a bad day of fishing, even if you don’t catch anything and your casting is awful.
Are there any other hobbies you have?
I love to read, hike, and travel.