

Sue Armstrong: Sue has been an avid fly fisher and tyer since moving to Colorado in 1981.
Lee Baermann: Lee’s love of fishing began at an early age when his maternal grandfather showed him how to catch Musky in the lakes of Northern Wisconsin. After his family moved from Milwaukee to Oxnard, California in the early 60’s, that love continued, not only at the local lakes in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, but on the beach, where he grew up.
Thomas E. Baltz: A
New Mexico native, Tom Baltz has been a fly tier for over 46 years, the
last 32 spent among the legendary tiers and anglers of the limestone
valleys of south-central Pennsylvania, near Carlisle. Tom is the only
four time Pennsylvania State Fly Tying Champion and his flies have
appeared in Field & Stream, Fly Fisherman Magazine, Art of Angling
Journal, Eastern Fly Fishing, and American Angler magazines, the Orvis
catalog (I.C.S.I Midge, MuddBugger, Hatching Nymph and Beetlenat) and
the recently published book “Guide Flies”. He is a regular contributor
to the Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide and appears at fly-fishing shows
around the country.
Capt. Mike Benson: My name is Capt. Mike Benson. Some people call me “Mad Mike”. I live in Charleston, SC where I work for The Charleston Angler, a local fly-shop as a fly-fishing specialist, and also guide inshore light tackle and fly trips. I am a fly-designer and a writer as well. I have four fly patterns that are distributed worldwide through Pacific Fly Group, and have been published twice in The Drake magazine. I was born and raised in western North Carolina, and grew up fishing the small mountain streams in and around my hometown of Morganton. I moved to Charleston in ’05 to pursue a degree in marine biology from The College of Charleston, and have been living and fishing here ever since. The endless creeks and inshore waters in and around Charleston have given me the inspiration to continue writing and tying, and sharing the passion for both with other anglers around the world.
Ed Berg: Ed Berg has been tying and designing flies for over thirty-five years. Ed ties flies for a wide variety of fish including trout, bass, panfish, and a variety of saltwater species. He does some custom commercial tying, and has been published in a number of fly fishing magazines and books including David Klausmeyer’s ‘Guide Flys’ and Steve Thornton’s ‘Flytyers of the World’.
Travis Betz: Born and raised in Colorado, I have been fly fishing for over 15 years and tying flies for almost 11. In addition, I occasionally help as a fly fishing guide with South Platte Anglers throughout the year. Some of my favorite places to fish include the Taylor River (a.k.a.., the ‘Hog Pen’), Delaney Buttes, Spinney Reservoir, and the Encampment River. When not fishing or tying flies, I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife, playing racquetball, getting together with family and friends, and going to the mountains to look upon the beautiful scenery of God’s handiwork.
Max Birnkammer: I started tying flies seven years ago. I tie mostly warm water flies which I use to catch largemouth, spotted and shoal bass in the rivers and lakes close to my home in Smyrna, Georgia. I have tied at fly fishing shows and have conducted seminars at local fly shops. In 2007, I had my first fly tying article published in Fly Tyer magazine. My favorite bass flies are my hand painted poppers and streamers. I build my own fly rods and can often be seen fishing from one of my vintage wooden boats. Every summer I travel to Maine to fly fish for northern smallmouth bass which I believe to be the ultimate trophy in warm water fly fishing.
Marla Blair: Fly-Fishing Guide/Instructor for Western Mass. & North Western, CT.
Tyler Bowman: Tyler Bowman is a fly fishing guide for Bucking Rainbow Outfitters in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Tyler calls the Steamboat area home where he can be found actively pursuing trout and the various warm water species the valley has to offer. Unique to Steamboat is the ability to fly fish year round due to the pristine tail water sections of the Yampa. Instead of daydreaming about next summer, meet up with Tyler in the winter months and enjoy a snowmobile trip into the Yampa tail waters sight casting to large wild rainbows! When he is not guiding or fishing, Tyler can be found tying flies. Tyler enjoys creative tying, attempting to dream up new tying concepts and patterns for trout, saltwater, and warm water species. Tyler’s greatest passion is to travel to new fishing destinations to test new fly patterns. So far he has traveled to Alaska for large rainbows and salmon, Belize for bonefish, The Florida Keys for tarpon, and the gulf coast of Texas for redfish.
Dick Brown: Dick Brown has stalked bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, and other tropical saltwater species for over 30 years and he’s fished extensively for bones in the Bahamas, Caribbean, Pacific, South America, and Florida Keys. He is one the foremost authorities on bonefish and author of Fly Fishing for Bonefish and Bonefish Fly Patterns considered by many to be the bibles on this great game fish. A new edition of Fly Fishing for Bonefish from Lyons Press features the latest discoveries in bonefish behavior and prey preferences as well as new angling techniques, strategy, equipment, and flies.
Ben Byng: Fishing has been in Ben’s blood since he was a young boy. His grandfather took him on many journeys from the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys. His father took him on summertime trips to Eastern Idaho for remote small stream fishing and high mountain adventures. These experiences have armed Ben with lessons that would follow him into fly-fishing. Having the California Delta in his backyard, Ben has spent many hours jamming in his boat through this 1200-mile waterway looking for Striped Bass. This is his fly-fishing wintertime playground.
Joe Calcavecchia: Joe Calcavecchia is a production tyer, one of the true masters of fly tying, and the creator of many splendid fly patterns. He has been tying commercially for the past twenty years for fly shops in the New England region. He is also a fly designer for Pacific Fly Group. He is a master teacher in fly tying and instructs students with a jovial manner that is always infectious to everyone in attendance. Joe has taken part in many fishing Expos where he has been presented as a premier fly tyer.
Bill Carnazzo: Bill has been fly fishing for nearly 50 years, and guides on the Upper Sacramento, McCloud, Middle Fork American drainage (including the Rubicon, the North Fork of the Middle Fork, and all other streams and tributaries of this drainage), and North Yuba rivers. His guiding career began approximately 17 years ago when he bought his first home in Dunsmuir. Bill is also a master fly tyer who ties at many fly fishing shows; he also is responsible for the Fly-Tying How-To Center at the ISE show at Cal Expo each January. He was recently awarded the coveted “Ned Long Fly Tyer of the Year” award by the Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers. He has designed many original fly patterns that are known as “fish catchers,” including Bill’s Stick Caddis and other October Caddis imitations. Bill also works part time at Kiene’s Fly Shop in Sacramento, and teaches fly fishing courses at Sierra Community College and San Mateo Community College. He has authored a number of articles for The Sierra Fisherman, and California Fly Fisher magazine on a variety of topics, the latest of which was on his set of five October Caddis patterns. He was a founding member of Granite Bay Flycasters and has been club president twice. When not guiding, Bill teaches fly tying classes and clinics on nymphing and pocket water fishing.
Scott Cesari: Scott Cesari began tying flies six years ago after a trip to Maine introduced him to the sport of fly fishing. Since that time he has had the good fortune of winning both the 2006 Pennsylvania state fly tying championship as well as several medals in the Federation of Fly Fishers fly tying contest that same year. Scott is known for his unique, custom made wooden fly boxes, creative displays, and artistic flies, most notably his realistic butterfly patterns. Scott enjoys presenting his work at various sports venues almost as much as he enjoys a day on the water. He looks forward to connecting with greater numbers of fly fishers and tyers as his involvement in the sport of fly fishing grows. He is always happy to discuss fly tying or fly fishing with fellow anglers and welcomes any comments, questions, or discussions. Feel free to contact Scott at smcesari@epix.net or (610)-730-7928 (his business line, Scott Cesari’s Fly Tying) if you have any questions or if you would like to order some of his flies, custom made fly boxes, or unique gifts featuring his flies.
Lawrence Clemens: This is Larry’s thirteenth year tying at the Fly Fishing Show. Larry is a past president of the East Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited where he was a member and served on the board for a decade. Now residing in Virginia Beach, Virginia, he is a member of the Virginia Coastal Fly Anglers and has served as its’ president for three years. Larry is a Propeller mechanic for Murphy’s Propeller Shop in Norfolk, Virginia and a professional trumpet player. Residing in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Larry stalks the fish of the Lower Chesapeake Bay and its’ tributaries. You can visit the Virginia Coastal Fly Anglers at VCFA.org to get more information on the club and fishing conditions of the Lower Chesapeake Bay.
John Collins: As a life long resident of NJ, I got into Trout fishing at about the age of five, but it wasn’t until my mid twenties that I discover the long rod and I have never looked back.
Kevin Compton: Kevin is a 38 year-old commercial tier, fly designer for Solitude Fly Co., author, and fly-tying instructor. His company, Performance Flies, also distributes DOHIKU European Barbless Hooks in North America. Kevin lives in the Great Lakes, in Cleveland, Ohio where he ties patterns for the steelhead fisheries of Ohio and Michigan and for the trout waters of central Pennsylvania. He also spends part of each summer in the Colorado Rockies, fishing and tying patterns for guides and competition anglers. In 2006, Kevin was the runner-up in the Team USA National Fly Tying Competition sponsored by Fly Tyer magazine. In September of 2006, he traveled to Portugal to the World Fly Fishing Championship where he tied flies for the US Team. In 2007 and 2009, he contributed flies to members of Team USA at the National Championships and at the America’s Cup. Kevin's flies have been featured in magazines such as Fly Fishing and Tying Journal and in collections such as Go-To Flies: 101 Patterns The Pros Use When All Else Fails and Modern Midges. His article, Going Barbless appeared in the August 2008 issue of Hatches Magazine.
Joe Cordeiro: Fly Tying is not just a hobby for this man it is a passion. Joe Cordeiro has been tying flies for over 25 years. The past 10 years focusing on teaching, presenting at shows and marketing salt water flies. Joe has been fishing his entire life growing up near Cape Cod. Fly-fishing has been his main focus for many years His salt-water fly patterns have been tested in waters for their imitation to the bait they mimic. Many of his patterns are lifelike imitations. The materials used are natural and add to the authenticity of the product. Joe’s style and tying technique have caught the attention and admiration of many seasoned fly tiers and his passion for the art is evident.
Gordon Cordova: I started out tying two years before I took up flyfishing,I watched a TV show with Leroy Hyatt tying some flies and I was hooked! I tie realistic and midge patterns and tie at the Fly Fishing show(Pleasanton), The International Sportsmans Expo,FFF conclaves(Oregon,Idaho and California) I am also a life member of the FFF and on the Board of Directors for the NCCFFF; I am also member of the Pro staff at Jay Fairs Eagle Fly Fishing Products.
Bruce Corwin: I own a Graphic Design and Printing company in New York, 30 minutes north of New York City. I was fortunate enough as a youngster to spend summers in the Catskills where I learned to fish and appreciate being outdoors. My days were filled with discovery as I explored the treasures of a nearby creek. During a hot July day in the 60’s, a kindly farmer offered to let me fish his little, stream-fed pond. He handed me a “fly” and a small, clear, bubble float. Needless to say, the only thing hooked that day was yours truly!
Armand Courchaine: Armand J. Courchaine born in Fall River, MA. Life long fly tyer, fly fisherman, photographer and instructor currently residing in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Life member of United Fly Tyers, Rhody Fly Rodders. Founder of Crossroads Anglers.
Henry Cowen: Henry has been pursuing striped bass for over 30 years in both salt water and fresh water. He is currently guiding in fresh water on Lake Sidney Lanier (located north of Atlanta). He fishes for landlocked stripers & spotted bass as well as other salt water game fish approximately 150 days a year. Henry is an accomplished fly designer. His trademarked fly patterns are sold nationally through Umpqua Feather Merchants (largest fly wholesaler in USA) as well as Orvis. His patterns will appear and are available in the Orvis catalogue as well as Cabela’s, LL Bean, Bass Pro Shops and all fly shops across the United States that carry Umpqua flies. His fly patterns as well as articles on how to tie them continue to appear in magazines such as American Angler, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, Fly Fish America, Fly Tyer and Fly Fisherman. Articles on fly fishing techniques and tactics appeared regularly in Salt Water Fly Fishing Magazine as his name appeared on their masthead as a contributing writer for them. Currently Henry’s name appears on the masthead of both American Angler & Fly Tyer Magazine as a contributing writer/editor. He is an FFF certified casting instructor. Henry continues to give seminars on salt water fly fishing as well fresh water light tackle and fly fishing for striped bass. He has taught fly tying classes for salt water patterns. Henry has appeared as a guest on a number of nationally televised outdoor shows (The Orvis Sporting life, The Reel Guys, One More Cast w/Shaw Grigsby, O’Neill Outside & Hook n’ Look) as well as some regional outdoor television shows (Georgia Outdoors and Growing Up Outdoors…etc). He was featured as the fishing personality on a video entitled “Fly Fishing for Landlocked Stripers” which is available at many fly shops across the country. Henry is currently on the guide programs for Ranger Boats, Honda Marine, G3 Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Johnson Outdoors (Minnkota trolling motors), Sage Fly Rods, TFO, Simms, Tibor Reels, Rio Fly Lines and Orvis. You can visit his web site @ www.henrycowenflyfishing.com
Jerry J. Criss: I retired to Central Oregon for the fly fishing in 2004. Before making the move from California I was fortunate to have as my fly tying mentor Andre’ Puyans’, he believed that “with great technique there is no fly that couldn’t be tied.” I continue that mantra today in my own teaching.
Casey Dunnigan: My Name is Casey Dunnigan and I am fairly new to flyfishing and Tying as well. This will be my first year tying in the public eye. This year is my 3rd season fly fishing and I have been tying for just over a year and a half. I live in Golden, Colorado, but I am originally from Pennsylvania. I have some great patterns of my own to share with the public, as well as some traditional patterns for all of you that are new to the tying world. I have fished over 100 days each year since i have began flyfishing. I fish a lot of rivers in Colorado so do not hesitate to ask for tips about fishing them. I am more than happy to share my experience and knowledge with anyone who is serious about the fly fishing world. Tyers such as Brian Yamauchi, A.K. Best, Charlie Craven, and John Barr are my biggest inspirations. You will notice a little style of those tyers in some of my own patterns. I look forward to meeting all of you. Don't be a stranger, stop by my bench and say hello.
Chuck Echer: Chuck
Echer began his fly tying career at the age of seven in 1948. He has
been actively teaching Fly Fishing and fly tying classes and seminars
since 1978 in the San Francisco bay area, Sacramento, and northern
California. Over three decades, he has literally taught thousands of
students the art of fly tying and Fly Fishing. During his thirty plus
years of public appearances, he has demonstrated his fly tying skills
at both international and domestic venues, i.e., sports expositions,
fly fishing clubs and appeared as a keynote speaker at many prestigious
club events from coast to coast. Chuck was the 1993 recipient of the
FFF Buz Buszek memorial fly tying award. He was inducted into the
NCCFFF Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, February 2009, for his lifetime Fly
Fishing contributions. Chuck has also set two IGFA fly rod line class
world records set in 1990 and 1991.
Terry Eggleston: I have been fishing for 60 years and tying flies for 51 years. I first became interested in tying flies after checking out Ray Bergman’s Trout from the public library. I fell in love with the color plates of the popular flies of this time. I was an art major at the time, receiving many awards for my paintings and sculptures. I switched all of my energy over to fly-tying. I have tied in exhibitions worldwide, extensively throughout the United States and Europe. This includes all the major sports shows and FFF conclaves.
Faruk Ekich: Inventor of the Ekich Automatic Bobbin (The Ultimate Bobbin) and the Damaseal Vice
Phillip Fischer: Phil Fischer is an avid fly fisherman and fly tier who counts his home fly waters as those throughout Northern California and Central Oregon. He has 40 years of experience tying flies, teaching fly tying and fly fishing. He owns Phil’s Custom Flies (www.philscustomflies.com) and ties flies for customers throughout the United States. He is a Whiting Pro Team member, and regularly speaks at fly clubs throughout Northern California. Phil has published articles in California Fly Fisher Magazine on fly tying and fly fishing, and also serves as the managing editor for the Northern California Fly Fishing Board.
Michael Frank: I was born and raised on Long Island in New York. As a young man I was introduced to fly fishing by Charlie Nardi, then fly fishing manager at of the Camp Site Sports Shop. Charlie watched me browse through the shop as a kid trying to understand why any fish would eat the tiny bundles of fur and feather in the fly bins and why anyone would collect the various animal parts hanging from the walls.
John Gantner: John Gantner has been fly fishing for over 40 years and fly tying almost as long. He has written well over 50 fly fishing articles for magazines including Fly Fisherman, Fly Tyer, and American Angler. He presents programs to fly clubs and does fly tying presentations for FFF functions and others. John teaches fly tying in Redding, CA where he lives with his wife Maggie and dog Riley. He is on Dr. Slicks advisory board.
Chad Gauerke: I am originally from Appleton Wisconsin, where I was introduced to fly fishing as a child by my father. The sport kind of disappeared from my active lifestyle and it wasn’t until my late 20’s that I would pick up the sport again. When I did, I also picked up fly tying. I took a fly tying class at a local shop in Denver and it kind of took off for me. Found that I had a knack for tying flies. It would be a few years that I would really develop into a good fly tier. After a few years of tying and really expanding on my tying and starting to go outside the comfort box and trying new materials and patterns not to common here stateside, I began to get noticed by the likes of Charlie Craven, Rick Takahashi, Kevin Compton to mention a few. These are the guys that really help me launch into the fly tying circles of Colorado’s Front Range. Charlie gave me my first opportunity to demonstrate some of the techniques that I had developed and some of the patterns that I brought to the table from my research of patterns from across the pond. I started sourcing out materials, hooks, techniques and patterns that mainly originated in the areas of Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland and adding my own twist these designs. These are the patterns and techniques that helped me get noticed in the fly tying circles of Denver and beyond. I am always looking to expand my knowledge, techniques, and patterns from across the pond to turn around and share them here stateside.
Mike George: I work with Deer Hair. I have tied at various venues including The Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Missouri, Sow Bug Roundup, Southern Council and International Conclaves, Fly Tying Festival in Houston, Texas, and the Small Mouth Rendezvous in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
John Gordon: I was born in 1964, and have fished my entire life. I started out in the Pacific Ocean and on the piers of Southern California. Eventually, I fished my way around the world, some of it courtesy of the United States Navy. I began fly fishing in 1997, tying flies in 1999, and building rods in 2000.
Matthew Grobert: Matthew Grobert is a life-long resident
of New Jersey. He has traveled the country extensively in search of
trout and a better understanding of the rivers and insects they live
in. Matt published his first book in 2008 – Fly Fishing New Jersey
Trout Streams, and he is currently working on a more in-depth fly
tying/fishing book due out in late 2010. He previously wrote the
weekly New Jersey Fly Fishing column for The Star Ledger, Beginners
Corner for the Northeastern Fly Fishing Guide, and has appeared in Fly
Fisherman and Fly Rod and Reel Magazines. Matt is an expert fly tyer
and has been teaching all disciplines of fly fishing for over 25
years. He lives in Central New Jersey.
Ken Hanley: 2005 Hall of Fame Inductee, Federation of Fly Fishers (N. California Chapter)
Mike Heck: Mike Heck has been fly fishing the beloved Cumberland Valley streams since boyhood. Mike was blessed to have been able to learn the art of fly fishing on some of the hardest and most famous spring creeks in the country. Mike is a graduate of Penn State where he acquired a degree in Forestry.
Greg Heffner: Greg Heffner is an avid fly tyer and fly fisher from Bath, New York. He is president of the Conhocton Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and a member of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, Federation of Fly Fishers, Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers, Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club of Canada, and the Atlantic Salmon Federation. He is a demonstration fly tyer at numerous fly fishing shows, and has had articles about his flies and fly tying in the Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide, the United Fly Tyers Roundtable, Fly Fishing New England, and the Federation of Fly Fisher’s Patterns of the Masters, Vol. 6, and has published a book, Some Old, Some New, Some Borrowed: A Fly Tyer’s Notebook of Favorite Patterns to Tie and Fish. His special fly tying interest is in traditional flies and techniques, including classic salmon flies, Catskill patterns, and New England streamers. He hosts a website www.conhoctonriverflyshop.com offering flies and fly tying materials and information about fishing the Conhocton River, and is a licensed New York fishing guide. When not fishing or tying, Greg is Planning Director for Steuben County, New York.
Nancy Hopping: Fly fishing is a disease that I want no cure for! I have traveled the northeast in my truck camper for over 25 years always in search of a better place to fish. I have learned
Eric Ishiwata: Eric Ishiwata splits his time between Fort Collins and Tokyo and his tying introduces Japanese methods and materials to the trout streams of the Rocky Mountains. In 2008, he co-authored with Rick Takahashi an article on tying and fishing sunken hopper patterns for Fly Fisherman Magazine.
Tim Jacobs: Tim Jacobs is a master fly tier from the Roaring Fork Valley. He is incredibly proficient in creating a wide range of multi-colored deer hair flies. Tim teaches at Glenwood Springs Middle School and works as an instructor at the Michigan Youth Trout Camp each summer. Aside from published articles and the numerous clinics he conducts, Tim is an FFF certified casting instructor who taught the Sage Casting Clinics during the 1990’s. He has guided in the Steamboat Springs area and the Roaring Fork Valley. Tim is a member of the Whiting Farms Pro Team.
Gene Kaczmarek: Gene has been tying flies for over 20 years and teaches fly tying classes for the beginner, intermediate and advanced tiers. He can be found demonstrating advanced steelhead tying technique’s at a number of the western fly fishing shows and clubs.
Bryan Kirk:
Cecilia "Pudge" Kleinkauf: Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf is Alaska’s leading woman fly fishing instructor, fly tier and guide. Renowned for her teaching skills in both fly fishing and fly tying, she is also the owner of Women’s Flyfishing®, Alaska’s premier fly fishing company offering lodge-based flyfishing schools and small-group guided trips for women and couples to a wide variety of Alaska’s best known fly fishing locations. She also leads guided trips to Argentina and, for saltwater fly fishing, to Mexico each year.
Matt Koles: Matt"Gilligan"Koles began fly fishing the waters of the Eastern Sierra and Tahoe Region when he was 13. Gilligan brings to the river over 20 years of experience fishing and tying flies for Sierra Nevada trout. Gilligans Guide Service runs trips year round on the Truckee River and Little Truckee River.
Jackson Leong: Hi, my name is Jackson Leong. I live in Portland, Oregon with my wife and 2 young daughters. I am a practicing pharmacist/manager who specializes in long term care pharmacy, where we take care of the elderly.
George Maciag: George Maciag has been involved in fly tying and fly fishing since childhood. While obtaining college degrees in biology, he studied entomology and stream ecosystems learning much about the life cycles of both fish and insects that reside there. As a person who taught high school and college biology for many years, he is skilled at communicating with both new and experienced tiers. He keeps pace with technological advances in fly-tying supplies and fishing equipment while maintaining his passion for classical patterns and materials used in the past, particularly the Catskill style of tying wet and dry flies.
Tim Mack: Tim began tying at age 12 after receiving a tying kit for Christmas from his grandparents and has been tying for 21 years now. In 2004 he left his career in pharmacy to manage ATF Fly Shop where he began tying for the shop and also tying commercially. Tim ties for his guides on the San Juan and with their help, designs new flies for that river. In 2007 Rick Takahashi asked him for some midge patterns for a new book and this past year, twelve of his patterns made it into Modern Midges. Tim is the head tying instructor for the Ft. Bliss/MVFF charter of Project Healing Waters, the instructor for Mesilla Valley Fly Fishers' "Liars and Tyers" and fly tying instructor for Borderland Fly Fishers. Tim is a pro staff member for Nymph-Heads Pro-Team.
Michael Mauri: The fish management technician caught his first fish at age six in a small stream in Bavaria.
David P. McCants: Dave has been tying for over 43 years and tie everything from size 28 zebra midges to size 8/0 Atlantic Salmon flies
Allen McGee: Allen McGee grew up fishing on the family's farm ponds in Missouri for bass and bluegill. He has been fly fishing and tying flies for trout for nearly 20 years. Allen has fly fished extensively throughout the United States and even as far away as South Korea. He enjoys pursuing big fish with light tackle particularly on difficult spring creek-type streams. He is a fly designer for the Montana Fly Company, an outdoor photographer, and author. He has written many articles for fly fishing magazines and is the author of Tying & Fishing Soft-Hackled Nymphs. Much of his fly tying has focused on developing new and innovative soft-hackle techniques and fly patterns. He believes in designing and fishing flies that imitate movement and behavior feeling that these trigger a trout’s feeding instinct. He lives in North Georgia with his wife and son.
Bob Mead: Bob Mead's creative realistic flies have inspired tyers throughout the world.. His Praying Mantis, Walking Stick, Water Scorpion, Mosquito and Ladybug, to name a few of his patterns, have appeared in books, magazines and newspapers internationally.
Kenneth Miller: Kenneth Miller prides himself in producing well proportioned and consistent flies; even if he only ties a few per a relaxed session. He is most notable for his delicate epoxy applications and other unique synthetic material pattern coatings.
Rickey Mitchell: Kayak
fly-fishing guide, professional tier, freelance writer, photographer
and Author, Rickey Noel Mitchell, started out closed to twenty years
ago with a fly rod and float tube exploring the lakes and rivers of
Central California. After a year of or more fishing reservoirs and
dealing with the float tubes limitations he moved up in the water level
to a pontoon boat. The pontoon boat gave him the golden opportunity to
explore and fish his all time favorite waters…rivers. However it didn’t
take long to learn…on open waters this inflatable craft was a wind toy
and it lacked speed.
Walt Mueller: Walt Mueller, aka “The Otter” (always in the water and sometimes catching fish!), has been an avid fly tier for over 50 years. Living in the mountains of Colorado, he fishes all the major western rivers from New Mexico up north to Montana plus the Great Lake tributaries each fall and spring for steelhead.
Jay Murakoshi: Jay has been in the fly fishing industry for 35 years. He has been leading fly fishing specialty programs since 1973. He is a
Rich Murphy: Rich Murphy is a Professional Civil Engineer in Massachusetts, a published author, a professional fly designer, a salt water fly fishing junky, and a pretty good husband to a lovely wife.
Lori Nicholson: Lori Nicholson bought her first fly rod (a Fenwick fiberglass pack rod) from a small fly shop south of Denver, when she was 14 years old. An avid angler, ski patrolman and Outward Bound instructor, the majority of her days were spent outdoors, in very wild places, fly-fishing and tying was her constant companion. Twenty-five years later she married the same retail stock boy who helped her to make that original fly rod purchase, Terry. For over a quarter of a century together, they have built Anglers All into a Rocky Mountain retail powerhouse. She was victimized, early-on, by her love of andaramous fish and the techniques, spey casting, and flies used to catch them. For the past dozen years or so, Lori has been tweaking all things spey to work on our local Rocky Mountain streams. This includes some revolutionary tube fly designs, swinging or skating for trout, as well as classic steelhead and salmon tubes.
Carl Pennington: As a young adult after fishing for many years with friends and family I decided to teach myself to tie flies to save a little money. Armed with a Thompson Model a vice and basic tools and materials I got started on what would become a life long pursuit of knowledge and skill in the art of fly tying. Twenty years and thousands of flies later I realized that I wasn’t saving any money bout I had developed a love for tying flies for trout. Fly tying has been a passion of mine and has grown in recent years with my appreciation for Colorado and all the great fishing waters it holds. I don’t travel much and may never fish anywhere else which is fine by me.
Roger Plourde: My journey into flyfishing is different than most. I did not get interested in this sport until I was in my 30’s.I woke up one day in 1991 and realized that I’d been in business as a building contractor for 16 years. I also realized that there had to be more to life than just working; I needed a hobby. Although in my youth I had lacked the patience to fish, I thought it might be relaxing to walk in a river and learn to flyfish. I decided to join a local club, The Connecticut Flyfisherman’s Association. I signed up for their flyfishing course, made friends with club members, asked a lot of questions, and fished the local rivers as I put into practice all that I was learning from my new friends. The following year I took the club’s flytying course and I was off on a journey into this new world of feathers and furs, the world of trout and saltwater flies. I was content to tie these types of flies as I worked on the efficiency and quality of my tying.
Steve Potter: Christmas of 1990 is when Steve received the gift of his first fly tying kit. In complete enjoyment he practiced for hours upon end, tying many different types of flies. Steve gained further expertise in this area from studying the pros like Billy Munn, Jimmy Nix and Chris Helm. As time went on, spinning deer hair not only became a favorite of Steve’s, but he was a natural at it.
Juan Ramirez: Juan received his first tying kit when he was 15. After a few disastrous “creations”, it was put away for a few years. In college at Durango, CO the kit was opened and a new appreciation for the globs of fur, feathers, floss and thread was created. Now after 15 years of tying Juan is an accomplished fly tier. Currently a part time guide for Anglers Covey and a fly tying instructor for Ghillies Fly Shop in Colorado Springs, there are not many seconds that pass without the thought of fishing or tying that go by. Juan is also a member of the Montana Fly Company design team and runs a bog about fly tying and fly fishing (hopperjuan.blogspot.com)
Craig Riendeau: Craig Riendeau is an ardent warm water fly fisherman. He is the Warm Water Fly Fishing Director for the Atlanta Fly Fishing Club, VP of the Fall Line Fly Anglers in Macon, GA and founder of the Bass Bugger Division of the Smallmouth Alliance. Craig is also a fly designer for Rainy’s Flies and his patterns are often found in the pages of Fly Tyer Magazine. At River Bassin’.com Craig is the resident fly fishing pro staff member and he is also a part-time guide on Lake Lanier for spots and stripers.
Al Ritt: ...Began tying flies in earnest while in California in 1983. In 1989 he moved to the northern front range of Colorado. Al guides in Rocky Mountain National Park, private lakes in Red Feather and Sylvan Dale Ranch for several area fly shops. While working in the robotics and industrial automation field the majority of his career, he has also worked for 2 large sporting goods retailers and a local fly shop. Al has offered fly tying classes independently and in cooperation with area fly shops since 1995. He appears at tying demonstrations and fly fishing expos throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. To see Al’s schedule go to www.AlRittFlies.com. To contact him about an appearance or class, e-mail him at al@alrittflies.com. Currently Al is a member of the Whiting Farms, Nymph-Head, and PEAK Fishing pro staffs and is a fly designer for Montana Fly Company. Al’s articles have appeared in Flyfishing and Tying Journal and Hatches Magazine. Al and his fly patterns have appeared in Colorado Trout Flies by Todd Hoseman (Streamside Press), 100 Best Flies for Montana Trout by Thomas R Pero (Wild River Press), and Modern Midges by Rick Takahashi and Jerry Hubka (Headwater Books).
Mark Romero: My name is Mark J. Romero and i have been tying flies since 1993, and fly fishing since 1989. I began doing shows as a fly tyer in 1997, having joined the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild in 1994. I began travelling all over the country to do shows in 2002, and have been specializing in Salmon/Steelhead and Artistic (framed for the wall), flies since 2005. I was born in California in 1950 and grew up there. I moved to N.Y.C. in 1981 when i was 31. I spent 30 years working in the music business travelling all over the world with the biggest names in Jazz, working as an audio engineer (live sound & recording)/road manager/stage manager/driver/psychaitrist/baby-sitter/trouble shooter and all the rest that comes with the territory. It is this experience that influences the designs, meaning and purpose of my flies. And while they are also meant to be fished.....i tye them to be infused with the messege within the music. My flies have now become known as, Jazz Flies. I am currently working on a book all about my life, and my flies.
Carl Ronk: Carl Ronk has been fly fishing since he was eight years old. At age ten he learned to tie flies and has been tying since. Carl is now in his sixties and continues to tie and teach fly tying.
John Ryzanych: Through his modern approach in the use of fur, feathers and synthetics John has become widely recognized as one of the sports leading creative tiers. His original designs, including the Fat Head bait fish and Air Head top water fly, are used the world over and considered cutting edge for their unique functionality and greater representation of the things sport fish eat.
Dave Schmezer:
Mike Schmidt: Mike Schmidt is known by all of his friends as a fish junky. Every spare He is always thinking about new techniques, fly patterns/applications and fishing opportunities. Mike started tying his own flies in college and converted, with near exclusivity, to fly-fishing. For over a decade he has tied commercially for his company located in Dublin Ohio, Anglers Choice Flies (www.anglerschoiceflies.com). Though classic winged wet flies are his mainstay at shows Mike does not focus on one particular style of fly but rather is a jack of all trades, tying patterns and refining them to fit whatever the situation may require. Mike ties a large catalogue of standard patterns as well as employing his knowledge of the sport and creativity to come up with new and innovative patterns to fool even the most wary fish.
Steve Schweitzer: Steve is a regular presenter and guest tyer at flyshops & clubs throughout the country each year. His Tabou series of wet flies, particularly the Tabou Caddis Emerger, has become a favorite go-to fly for local shops and guides. Steve is best known as co-founder of Globalflyfisher.com and his association with Whiting Farms, where he served as VP of Sales and is currently serving on the Farm’s Board of Directors. On Globalflyfisher.com, Steve’s popular Hyper-Compleat Guide to Tying Leaders & accompanying Leadercalc software has surpassed 1/4 million downloads since first published in 1998. It remains the most comprehensive guide on tying leaders, including formulas for over 120 leaders. Steve has authored several articles appearing in Fly Fisherman Magazine, Angling Trade, Trout, Wall Street Journal and a myriad of other regional angling publications. He also is contributing author & illustrator for Drag Free Drift – Presentation Techniques for Fly Fishing. His fly tying patterns appear in books by Chris Mann, John Shewey, FFF Masters, Rick Takahashi and others. Steve is currently working on his second book, concentrating on fly fishing a very special region in Colorado. If you stop by his tying desk and inquire, he just might discuss it with you!
Preston Singletary: Introduced by my father to fishing for salmon, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout here in western Washington, it took me until my teen years to come to fly fishing. By the time I was in my twenties, tying flies had become something more than a favorite pastime and remains so. Over a decade ago, my acquaintance with outdoor writer Les Johnson led to an opportunity to begin writing book and product review columns, and the occasional article, for Flyfishing & Tying Journal.
Capt. Ray Stachelek: Rhode Island guide and renowned saltwater fly tier. A licensed U.S.C.G captain, he operates Cast a Fly Charters full time since retiring from teaching. With almost fifty years on the Southern New England waterways, Ray has gained a wealth of knowledge about our fishery and ecosystem. He has put clients of all abilities on larger stripers never thought attainable on a fly.
Harrison R. Steeves III: I come from a long line of fly fishermen and tiers. My great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father were all avid anglers and tied their own flies.My love of tying came from my father’s efforts at the bench, where he excelled. I learned a great deal watching the intricacies of tying through observation and pretty soon I was catching fish on my own flies.
Mike Stewart: I started fishing on the Canadian border in Vermont about 50 years ago. Currently, I am a freshwater and saltwater fly tyer / fisherman who has had the opportunity to fish in many of the most beautiful places in and outside the US. I have been tying for over 27 years. I taught myself to tie. Through the opportunities made available by the Connecticut Fly Fishermen’s Association, I further refined my techniques such that I was confident to be a demonstration tyer, sell my flies, and ultimately teach fly tying. My bit to pass on the art to the next generation.
R. L. “Stew” Stewart: R. L. “Stew” Stewart has been fly fishing and tying for over 40 years. He was a founding member of the Shasta Fly Fishers and was a Director with the Northern California Federation of Fly Fishers (NCCFFF) for 25 years. He received the NCCFFF “Man of the Year” award in 1990 and 1999. In 2004 Stew received the Federation of Fly Fishers “Charles Brooks Memorial Life Award”
Eric Stroup: Eric Stroup is one of the most successful fly fishing guides in the country. As one of the few who make their entire living in the guiding industry, he has solidified his reputation with years of satisfied customers. Eric founded the Spruce Creek Fly Co. in central Pennsylvania and soon after began guiding in Montana on the Ruby, Madison and Beaverhead rivers. With the addition of his wife Tracey, the company transformed into Stroup Outfitting Company and now includes Holistic Wellness principles interweaved with the same great guiding service that the company has always provided.
Vincent Su: Vincent Su, an outdoor enthusiast who lives in the Denver area, was introduced to fly fishing by his father-in-law in 1997. He quickly grew to love both fly fishing and fly tying. After catching the first fish with a fly he tied himself, the excitement got him hooked and gave him ideas for some innovations. Vincent ended up designing his own fly tying vise, the 720 VISE. He also enjoys photography and by studying aquatic insects with macro photos, he has developed some of his own tying styles and techniques. He prefers dry flies, nymphs, and emerging fly patterns when it comes to fishing and tying. Vincent enjoys sharing knowledge and learning more about fly fishing and fly tying techniques.
Rick Takahashi: I had $.25 in my pocket when I entered that hardware store that stocked a few items of fishing tackle. I spent a long time looking at the various pieces of equipment, much as I do today, when I spotted a hook covered with feathers; my first fly. I purchased that beautiful fly but had no idea what so ever what you were supposed to do with it. I learned that the name of the fly was a Royal Coachman. I took that fly home and looked at it for several days. I finally decided that I needed to cut the thread at the head of the fly…out popped the hackle and from that very moment I knew I had to learn how to tie flies.
Dick Talleur: Fished:
Since I was a kid in rural Dutchess County, east of Poughkeepsie, N.Y..
Got into "serious" trout-fishing circa 1953 [worms & minnows].
Started fly-fishing in 1955 [badly]. Started tying flies in 1959
[clumsily]. Decided to stick with The sport anyway, thus wasting my
life [joyously]. Apologies to my parents, who expected more and
deserved better, likewise to my former wife, and also a black kid named
Wilson Duke, to whom I sold my chance to become President for a quarter
in 1942.
Frank Thompson:
Will Travis: Will is a seventeen-year-old high school senior from Dana Point, California. Born in Dallas, TX, Will moved to Dana Point three years ago, but he has been fly fishing and tying for over nine years. Living in Southern California, Will does the majority of his fishing on the coast and in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.
Michael Tucker: Flytying for 50 years. Designed and developed Liquid filled flies with a Video out entitled Mike Tucker Liquid Filled flies. I have been written about in numerous books. The newest book is Colorado Flytyers written by Todd Hosman. The fly tyers that worked for me when I own custom aquatics 1985 was Charlie Craven, Marty Bartholemew and Shane Stalcup only to name a few tiers. Famous for The Tucker Scud. My dearest friend is George Grant and I tie his flies with computer backs and Tuckers Crawfish. New developments is flies designed with Sarah's Twist which my daughter showed me one day with lace. This is the first of its kind using Lace and Dubbing tied as one! You can go to Flytyingclips.com to see some of my work. I will be tying Tuckers scud,Crystal twist woolybugger, George Grants flies and weaving hackles to name only a few. I speacialize in the world of optics and functions of flies.
Ben Turpin: I’ve
fly fished the Mid-Atlantic Region for over 20 years, spending
thousands of hours on the water, teaching hundreds of people of all
skill levels how to fly fish through both formal fly fishing schools
and personal lessons. It all started in 1996 when someone asked me to
guide them on the Limestone Spring Creeks of Central, PA. I had a
blast and realized that I could earn money doing what I loved, teaching
people how to fly fish. In 2001 I became an Orvis Endorsed Guide.
Glenn and Andrea Van Benschoten: Glenn and Andrea Van Benschoten have been fly fishing the lakes and ponds of northern New Jersey as husband and wife for close to two decades. With a professional background in education, the couple has focused much of their time instructing newbies through magazine articles, demonstrations and lectures throughout the northeast on a sport that can seem overwhelming to a new angler. The Van’s have also authored a book “Ten Ties, Simple Flies,” which gives the newbie ten basic flies that can be used on a variety of species while utilizing and reinforcing a few fundamental techniques to tie them. As residents of North Jersey, Glenn and Andrea take advantage of the many lakes and ponds of the area to fish for bass, muskie, pickerel and more on fly while still getting on smaller streams for trout. Glenn is a certified New Jersey educator and Andrea is a casting instructor with Casting for Recovery. More information can be found at http://www.reelsimpleflyfishing.com.
Ken Walrath: A fly tyer for over 30 years, Ken Walrath learned to tie from his grandfather. Born in Pennsylvania into a career military family, he had the opportunity to travel and fly fish all over the US, including both east and west coast waters, and some overseas. He has had the opportunity to fish for Stripers in Rhode Island and to fish the renown San Juan River on many occasions. He relocated back to the Denver, Colorado area after having lived in Massachusetts for many years. Ken spends many hours each week out on the rivers and streams of Colorado or at the fly tying bench. You can see many of the flies that he ties at www.kenscustomflies.com
Frank Whispell: My name is Frank Whispell and I have been fly fishing for the past 20+ years and tying flies for the past 15+ years. I am 51 years old and have been an avid fisherman and outdoorsman since early childhood. Since I moved to Colorado in 1987, I have developed a passion for everything fly fishing and fly tying related. I tie every year at the West Denver TU Fly Tying Clinic as well as at the Angler’s Roost in Fort Collins. I also teach fly tying and fishing.
Vincent Wilcox: I started Wiley's Flies in 2003, shortly after my second open heart surgery. I was born with a hole in between the chambers of my heart, which was repaired in 1977 with a Tetrology of Fallot repair. Almost 25 years lapsed without me having any major difficulties, in fact I was able to far exceed any doctors expectations, not really having any physical limitations. I was able to race Adirondack Guide Boats, run track, play football, baseball, basketball, and hockey growing up. I also tagged along with my father, an Adirondack Guide and fly tier, just about any time he left the house to fish and hunt. (I would cry hysterically if he didn't take me...works every time!) Having five generations of our family born and raised in the Adirondack Mountain town of Saranac Lake dating back to the founders had its advantages. Knowing when and where to find the best hunting and fishing, and how to go about it when we got there. Growing up we traveled the vast water routes available and I spent the majority of my time hunting and fishing with my father and his friends; whether it was spin fishing, ice fishing, or fly fishing right up until about the time I was entering my sophomore year in high school. Even though I still tagged along with dad occasionally, I found there where other things to chase then just fish & Pheasant tails. I found myself distracted by those other things right through college. I moved to Colorado in 1995 and soon realized how much I missed hiking and being on the water and shortly after became obsessed with doing just that. I was able to hike four of Colorado's 14ers, which are peaks over 14,000' in elevation, and back packed from Colorado all the way to the southern edge of the Yukon territory exploring national parks like Rocky Mountain, Glacier, and Yellowstone in the United States and Canadian national parks like Banff and Jasper in British Columbia and Alberta. Just as a side note Glacier International Peace Park is my absolute favorite, spanning from the NW corner of Montana into the Canadian Providence of Alberta, absolutely amazing park! After my second open heart surgery in December of 2001 things for me where never quite the same and I was unable to continue working a regular schedule with any consistency. I found that most days I just couldn't function on the level necessary to go about a normal day and my doctor and I decided it was time for a change. By this time I was completely obsessed with tying flies and fly fishing so it seemed like a logical step to take. I followed my heart (no pun intended) and began Wiley's Flies. Since that time I have written for Fly Fisherman and American Angler Magazine as well as becoming a contributing writer for Fly Tyer Magazine and have been working on putting a second book together. I became a Signature Tier for Idylwilde Flies in December of 2004 and I am extremely excited about working with them to develop more patterns and make these flies available to people around the world. I now have 28 patterns available through Idylwilde Flies www.idylwilde.com . Although a lot of things have changed for me in the way I live my life, in many ways I am living out a dream and truly blessed. I have also returned to the Adirondacks as of February 2007 and opened up the new fly shop in Rainbow Lake.
Leslie Wrixon: Leslie Wrixon, a life-long New Englander, grew up fishing for striped bass and blue fish on the shores of Connecticut and on Long Island Sound. She spent summer vacations in the Catskill Mountains where she watched her grandfather fly fish. She marveled at the delicate flies, equipment and techniques of fishing with the fly. It was that time spent in the Catskills and on the Connecticut shores that left an enduring impression on her.
Brian Yamauchi: My name is Brian Yamauchi and I'm a native fisherman to the shores of Oahu, Hawaii. As a child I was lucky enough to have an Uncle that had a boat. He would take my father and I out on the weekends and fish the deep Pacific blue. Pelagics was the only thing on our minds and pelagics we caught. From blue marlin to ahi to mahi mahi and ono. My uncle always knew what was biting and where to find them.
Tom Ziegler: Tom is a recent transplant to the Front Range, lured from his hometown of St. Louis to work for Ball Aerospace in Boulder. He cut his fly fishing teeth on the crystal clear spring-fed streams of the Missouri Ozarks, specializing in both wild trout and, in the warmer streams, the wild and native smallmouth bass. His love of warmwater fishing was mated with tying bass bugs after watching a deer hair spinning demonstration at a local fly fishing club as a teenager. The method he witnessed, and eventually learned, was the Lacy Gee method (aka the Wapsi method) of spinning hair. In combination with demonstrating this method, Tom will discuss its history and the use of the final product on local ponds and streams.
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