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I like to say I've been fishing seriously since I was seven years old, when my family lived in southern Alabama. I learned to fish for bass, brim (bluegill), and catfish in the neighborhood ponds as well as catch snakes, lizards, and turtles.
But truth be told, I didn't do much fishing throughout my Junior High and High School years. I didn't get back into it until I took up fly fishing while attending Ohio University (O.U.). There are dozens of farm ponds full of bass in South Eastern Ohio and a number of trout streams a short drive away in West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
But truth be told, I didn't do much fishing throughout my Junior High and High School years. I didn't get back into it until I took up fly fishing while attending Ohio University (O.U.). There are dozens of farm ponds full of bass in South Eastern Ohio and a number of trout streams a short drive away in West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
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Upon graduating O.U. I immediately took a job at The Valley Angler Orvis, a fly shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. I taught their fly fishing schools and did some guiding for trout and steelhead.
After one year in Chagrin Falls, I moved to Missoula, Montana to concentrate on guiding fly fishermen full time. I have been fly fishing western Montana since 1992 and guiding these rivers full time since 1996. It's hard to beat spending my summers fly fishing Western Montana.
After one year in Chagrin Falls, I moved to Missoula, Montana to concentrate on guiding fly fishermen full time. I have been fly fishing western Montana since 1992 and guiding these rivers full time since 1996. It's hard to beat spending my summers fly fishing Western Montana.
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During the winter months, in the early years, I honed my fly tying skills by tying commercially for many of the local shops, as well as filling special orders for clients. But, I wanted to fish - and be a little warmer. Saltwater fly fishing was the next logical step. I explored numerous saltwater fishing locations.
I fished the entire southern half of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, scoured the many different ecosystems of the Florida Keys, and trolled the big baits in the deep waters off Hawaii. I love it all. This passion for saltwater fishing took me to Costa Rica where I spent the winter seasons of 2002, '03, and '04. I worked as a captain at Crocodile Bay Lodge on the southern Pacific coast, specializing in light tackle techniques and, in particular, bait and switch techniques for catching billfish on a fly. Although I prefer fly fishing to all other techniques, saltwater fishing has brought me back to my roots in a way. One has to be versatile to be successful while fishing saltwater. After all is said and done, I suppose, I'm just a true fisherman at heart
As for fly tying, I no longer tie flies commercially, but I design flies for Umpqua Feather Merchants, where several of my patterns are currently available: Hill's Designated Hitter Skwala, Hill's Designated Hitter Golden Stone, and Hill's Designated Hitter Salmonfly
I fished the entire southern half of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, scoured the many different ecosystems of the Florida Keys, and trolled the big baits in the deep waters off Hawaii. I love it all. This passion for saltwater fishing took me to Costa Rica where I spent the winter seasons of 2002, '03, and '04. I worked as a captain at Crocodile Bay Lodge on the southern Pacific coast, specializing in light tackle techniques and, in particular, bait and switch techniques for catching billfish on a fly. Although I prefer fly fishing to all other techniques, saltwater fishing has brought me back to my roots in a way. One has to be versatile to be successful while fishing saltwater. After all is said and done, I suppose, I'm just a true fisherman at heart
As for fly tying, I no longer tie flies commercially, but I design flies for Umpqua Feather Merchants, where several of my patterns are currently available: Hill's Designated Hitter Skwala, Hill's Designated Hitter Golden Stone, and Hill's Designated Hitter Salmonfly