Celebrities:

Dave Blackburn:  Dave Blackburn grew up in western PA where his home river was the Raystown Branch of the Juniata. He was introduced to fly-tying at age 9 by a sixth grade teacher. He was schooled by both Messiah College, along the Yellow Breeches Creek, and the Letort Run. He transferred to West Virginia University where he received his BS in Forest Resource Management while working seasonally for the USFS in the Cloud Peak Primitive Area of Wyoming as a wilderness guard. He took piano lessons as a child and later applied his ear for music to bluegrass banjo when he got his first banjo at age 17. His banjo mentors include Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe, Pete Wernick and Bela Fleck. He achieved early notoriety in his banjo playing by earning several ribbons at banjo contests in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. His longtime WVU roommate inspired him to add singing to his repertoire, where they formed the group the Skeenes Brothers, later becoming part of the Trapper Canyon Stringbusters based in Greybull, Wyoming. He settled on the banks of the Kootenai River in NW Montana where he pioneered the area’s first fly fishing guide service iLandon n 1982. Kootenai Angler now includes 5 river-front log cabin rentals along with a fly shop, the River Bend restaurant and a large outdoor music venue where the Kootenai River “Runs Through It”. Dave travels throughout the country as a speaker where he entertains with his unique combination of fly-fishing and bluegrass music. His current band, the Sheldon Mountain Boys, recently released their first album entitled “Thirty Years on the Mountain”.

 

Gary Borger:  Gary Borger is one of the world’s foremost fly fishing educators. He has taught classes and lectured internationally on all aspects of fly-fishing for trout and salmon since 1972. He is recognized as one of the world’s leaders in fly designing. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin Campus in Wausau. He has published widely in sporting magazines around the world and has written six best-selling books on fly fishing. Gary pioneered fly fishing video instruction with his release of “Nymphing” in 1982. Since then he has produced 27 instructional videos and has been featured in various television programs, including his own production “The Tzar’s Trout.” Gary was a consultant on Robert Redford’s movie “A River Runs Through It.” With his award-winning CD/cassette tape, “My Madison,” he pioneered fly fishing, nature-music audios. In addition, Gary has been design consultant to a number of manufacturers in the fly fishing industry. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Federation of Fly Fisher’s fly casting instructor certification program, a member of many conservation organizations, and was a founding board member of the River Alliance of Wisconsin. He has received many awards for conservation, including the first Lew Jewett Memorial Life Membership in the Federation of Fly Fishers in 1979. Gary currently writes, lectures, produces videos, and teaches schools on all aspects of fly fishing and fly tying.

 

Mac Brown:  Mac Brown is the owner of Mac Brown Fly Fish and Fly Fishing Guide School in Western NC. Mac created the first full-time fly fishing guide service in Western North Carolina. The first Delayed Harvest on the Upper Nantahala River in early 1993 was also a result of his efforts. Check out the testimonials from others over the past three decades. He is the author of “Casting Angles” which is a fly casting handbook for those on the journey of understanding the mechanics of the cast. The ACA, FFI, and others have endorsed this text as a reference for instructors as well. Mac is a Master Casting Instructor through the Fly Fishers International.
Mac was inducted into the Southern Appalachia Fly Fishing Museum Hall of Fame under recreation on August 26, 2017.
Mac was “Angler of the Year” in Field and Stream in 1999. His articles have appeared in Fly Rod and Reel, Fly Fisherman, Angling Report, ESPN TV, Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, Fly Fishing America T.V., Fly Fishing the World, and many others.
Pro Staff Development of Fly Fishing Products
Mac is a pro staff member of Ross Reels, Simms, Maxima, and many other great companies since early 1990. He is an ambassador for the brands Patagonia, GLoomis rods, Regal Vise, Richardson Chest Boxes, and Scientific Anglers fishing lines. His most significant contributions have been the push to longer and lighter fly rods and fly line designs.

 

Frank Burr:  Frank learned Tenkara fishing in Japan in 1970 at the age of 6, followed by Fly Fishing and Fly tying the following year. A native of Southern California, Frank fly fishes throughout the United States, always looking for the elusive Heritage Trout. Although Trout is his favorite species, Frank will fly fish for any species just to get in a day of fishing, like Tilapia, Peacock Bass and native Goby in Hawaii. Frank has worked in the fly fishing industry for the past 11 years for Orvis and now for Snowbee USA, assisting in the design of Ultralight Fly Rods and other products in the Snowbee line. Frank is also a Traditional Fly Fishing and Tenkara instructor and Guide specializing in Golden Trout and other Heritage Trout species in California. Frank speaks and instructs at the Fly Fishing Show and other related events, clubs and shows in the USA on a variety of fly fishing related subjects and volunteers as many days as possible each year teaching youth fly fishing programs. He has been the Trout in the Classroom coordinator for the Pasadena Casting Club and currently the TIC Director for the Southwest Council of Fly Fishers International. You can find more information about Frank at: goldentroutdude.com, oasisflyshop.com and tenkaraguidecalifornia.com

 

Captain Bruce Chard: Captain Bruce Chard is an accomplished fishing captain and renowned expert in the art of angling, with over 33 years of experience navigating the waters of the Florida Keys. Known for his infectious passion for fishing, Captain Chard specializes in light tackle and fly fishing, guiding anglers of all skill levels to unforgettable experiences on the water.
With a deep commitment to conservation, Captain Chard emphasizes sustainable fishing practices, ensuring that future generations can enjoy rich marine ecosystems. His knowledge extends beyond fishing; he is also a talented educator, often sharing his expertise through workshops and seminars.
As a respected figure in the fly fishing community, Captain Chard has appeared in various outdoor publications and television shows, inspiring countless enthusiasts to connect with nature and embrace the thrill of the catch. Whether it’s chasing tarpon, bonefish, or permit, Captain Bruce Chard’s adventures are marked by a spirit of camaraderie and a love for all things fly.

 

Bob Clouser:  Bob’s love of the outdoors, especially fishing, led him into the fishing business. His lectures, tying demonstrations and presentations are given nationwide. Clouser has been presented numerous awards for his strong conservation work, especially work done to enhance smallmouth bass fishing in Pennsylvania. Most notable among his awards is his induction into the national Fresh Water Fishing Hall of fame as Legendary Angler. Bob has been featured in fishing and fly tying videos and DVD’s and has authored two books. “Clouser’s Flies” includes 16 of his world wide recognized patterns and “Fly Fishing for Smallmouth in Rivers and Streams” was rated by Fly Fisherman Magazine as Best on the Subject. Bob is the innovator of many fly patterns recognized and fished worldwide. Among his flies is The Clouser Minnow, claimed to be the most effective underwater fly ever developed. He is on the advisory staff for Thomas & Thomas Fly Rod Co, Ahrex Hooks, Old Mariner Fly Reels, RCI Optics Sunglasses Co., Rainy’s Flies Inc., Chota Outdoor Gear, Renzetti Inc. and an affiliate with Hareline Dubbing.

 

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.

 

Jeff Currier: Jeff Currier resides in Hayward, WI with his wife Yvonne where he bases his globe-trotting career in fly fishing. He is on the professional advisory team for Winston Rods, Simms, Scientific Anglers, Yeti, Costa Sunglasses, Outcast Sporting Gear, Aire, Kate’s Bar, Fly Fishers International and Bauer Fly Reels and a travel ambassador for Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures. Jeff is a fly fishing lecturer and well known fish artist. He has taught the skills of fly fishing, guided fly fishers throughout Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park and escorted fly fishers on six continents. Jeff has fished in over 60 countries and caught over 450 species of fish on the fly!  Jeff’s articles, photographs and artwork have graced the pages of magazines, catalogs, brochures and books. He is the acclaimed author of Currier’s Quick and Easy Guide to Saltwater Fly Fishing and Currier’s Quick and Easy Guide to Warmwater Fly Fishing guide books. Jeff is also a well sought after expert for television, radio and numerous fly fishing films.

Jeff led Team USA to its first ever top-ten finish in the World Flyfishing Championships in Jaca, Spain. During the competition Jeff managed to fool fish on every venue and placed third in the individual standings, becoming the first American ever to take home a medal in the thirty year history of the Championships. Jeff has added four more medals in World competition including a Team Gold from Italy in 2022.

Jeff lectures throughout the United States and Canada on nearly every aspect of fly fishing. He demonstrates fly casting, teaches seminars on the basics to the advanced skills of fly fishing and presents many fly fishing destination programs ranging from his home waters to the most remote corners of the globe. Some of his shows take you to destinations you’ve never heard of and will leave you in awe that such creatures can be enticed to eat a fly! Jeff brings a sense of humor, enthusiasm, approachability and more than forty years of fly fishing wherever he goes. You can follow Jeff’s fly fishing adventures, exploits, tips, advice, photography and story-telling on his expanding blog and informative web site. www.Jeffcurrier.com

 

Pat Dorsey:  A native of Colorado, Pat Dorsey has been guiding for over 30 years. Pat Dorsey spends well over two hundred days a year on the water, a combination of guiding customers, hosting destination travel-trips, and personal days on the water.

Pat Dorsey is the head guide and co-owner of the Blue Quill Angler fly shop in Evergreen, Colorado. He oversees and trains more than 25 guides, setting the standard for integrity and professionalism in the Blue Quill Angler guide operation. Dorsey also, maintains an online stream report that monitors stream flows and conditions for the Blue, Colorado, South Platte (Cheesman, Deckers, Spinney Mountain Ranch, and Elevenmile Canyon), North Fork of the South Platte, and Williams Fork Rivers.

Pat Dorsey is a Simms Ambassador, a member of the Sage Elite Pro Team, Fishpond Ambassador, Orvis Pro Team Member, Yeti Pro staff, and Scientific Anglers pro staff. Pat Dorsey is the Southwest Field Editor for Fly Fisherman Magazine.

In 2005, Pat authored the book, A Fly Fishing Guide to the South Platte River, a complete how-to fly fishing manual for the entire South Platte River drainage. It encompasses a thorough look at each section of the river detailing the hatches and recommended fly patterns for each of the four seasons of the year.

In 2009 Pat Dorsey authored Fly Fishing Tailwaters, a comprehensive book on how to fish tailwater fisheries. In 2010 a companion book to Fly Fishing Tailwaters hit the shelves, Tying and Fishing Tailwater Flies, which is jam-packed with how to tie Pat Dorsey’s favorite “guide flies”. This book includes 500 step-by-step tutorials, as well as, helpful tips and illustrations on how to rig and fish them. His latest book is Colorado Guide Flies, which was released in 2015. It features tips from the state’s best guides and includes approximately 600 proven guide flies with recipes. In 2020 Dorsey revised his book Fly Fishing Guide to the South Platte River, which includes complete updates, new photos, hatch charts, and maps. Dorsey’s latest book is Favorite Flies for Colorado: 50 Essential Pattern from Local Experts, which was released in October 2022.

Pat Dorsey is an accomplished fly tier and has originated a number of very effective patterns such as the Mercury series, UV scud, Limeade, Cherry-Limeade, Paper Tiger, Top Secret Midge, Medallion Midge and the famed Black Beauty. Although Pat Dorsey no longer has the time to tie flies commercially, he once produced over 28,000 flies in a year. Dorsey is a fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. His signature flies are available at the Blue Quill Angler and other specialty fly shop throughout the United States. Pat Dorsey is also a Pro Team Member for Whiting Farms. Many of his flies incorporate Whiting Farm products.

Pat Dorsey is a nationally known speaker. He travels the United States sharing his passion for fly fishing at trade shows and private fishing clubs. He is very active in Trout Unlimited and the conservation of cold-water fisheries.

Pat Dorsey is the proud father of three wonderful boys, Forrest, Zach, and Hunter. He is also blessed with two step children, Nicole and Michael Richardson. They, like their dad, enjoy fly fishing. His wife, Kim, is an avid angler and often appears with Pat at trade shows and other speaking engagements. Kim and Pat Dorsey, also, host a yearly trip to Alaska Sportman’s Lodge each September, Soaring Eagle Lodge in October, Nomadic Waters in Brazil in November, and Rio Manso Lodge (Patagonia) each April and December with a group of customers.

 

Ed Engle:  Ed Engle’s fly fishing articles have appeared regularly in newspapers and magazines for more than 30 years. In the 1970’s his articles on short line nymphing techniques were among the first to appear in national fly fishing magazines. Since that time he has taught thousands of fly fishers the subtle art of nymphing through his books and articles, on-the-water seminars, and at his popular nymphing class sponsored by the Fly Fishing Show. Ed’s newest book, Trout Lessons (2010), considers what to do when your usual fly fishing solutions don’t work. His interest in tying and fishing small flies led to the publication of Tying Small Flies (2004) and Fishing Small Flies (2005). The two-volume set is credited with helping create the current surge of interest in pursuing trout with small flies. Ed’s dedication to fishing bamboo fly rods resulted in the publication of Splitting Cane (2002) which chronicled the life and craftsmanship of sixteen working rod makers. His first book, Fly Fishing the Tailwaters (1991), was a groundbreaking explanation of how to fish the regulated rivers found below dams. Ed is a regular contributor to American Angler, The Boulder Daily Camera and Gray’s Journal. In addition, he has written for Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, Flyfishing & Tying Journal, Trout, Fly Tyer, Sports Afield, and Saltwater Fly Fishing. Ed’s current projects include work on a new book, coming up with new small fly patterns (he’s a Signature Fly Tier for Idylwilde Flies) guiding on Colorado’s South Platte River, and teaching at fly fishing seminars throughout he country. For more information or to contact Ed go to www.EdEngleflyfishing.com

 

John Field:  John Field is a writer, conservationist and fly-casting instructor. John has spent extensive time exploring the waters of the Northwest Territories and the provinces while on the mast of Canadian Sportfishing Magazine. He also filmed in the Amazonas in Venezuela and elsewhere while shooting and co-producing Hunt for Big Fish with Larry Dahlberg. John has decades of experience flats fishing the Florida Keys and striped bass fishing in the Northeast. John also makes regular fishing trips to the Balkans of Europe and the Yellowstone region. He is past-president of the New York City Chapter of Trout Unlimited and past president of the ACA (American Casting Association). John is an FFI Master Casting Instructor and author of two books; Fly-Casting Finesse- A Complete Guide to Improving All Aspects of Your Casting, Skyhorse Publishing, 2015 and ACA’s Beginner’s Guide to Fly Casting- Featuring the Twelve Casts You Need to Know, Skyhorse Books 2018. His newest book titled, Trophy Striped Bass on the Fly, Stackpole Books was released in 2024. John’s feature articles have been published in Fly Fisherman Magazine and many others and John has contributed to several books by other authors. Visit his website- fieldflyfishing.com

 

Tim Flagler: Tim Flagler is the owner of Tightline Productions, L.L.C., a video production company located in Califon, NJ. Although he produces video programs over a wide range of topics, his specialty is fly fishing. Tim is a well-known fly tying instructor. His YouTube videos are some of the best in the business and his YouTube channel, practicalpatterns.com currently has over 118,000 subscribers and 38 million views. Almost every week he produces a new fly tying or “how to” video which appear not only on his YouTube channel but on Midcurrent and the Orvis News fly fishing blog as well. They’re also featured on Trout Unlimited’s national website and in the Orvis Learning Center. In addition, he has a regular column “Beginner’s Masterclass with Tim Flagler” in Fly Tyer magazine, which selected Tim as their “Fly Tyer of the Year” in their Winter 2022 issue. Many of Tim’s tying videos take the viewer well beyond just the tying of the fly and show what it looks like underwater, what natural it represents and how it can be fished.

Tim’s a fixture at the Fly Fishing Shows – giving presentations, teaching classes and often as a Featured Tier. He does monthly “Tie-Off’s” with Tom Rosenbauer (Orvis) and, recently, Cheech Pierce (Fly Fish Food) as well. He enjoys guiding year round for South Branch Outfitters (formerly Shannon’s Fly & Tackle)in Califon, NJ and hosts annual trips to Patagonia in the spring and to the Kootenai River in MT in the summer. He has also started hosting several trips within the year to Spruce Creek, PA and to the Erie area for steelhead in early December.

 

Rob Giannino:  Rob Giannino is the Founder of Fly Fishing Journeys, an online fly fishing magazine, podcasting, and curated travel company.  He is a speaker, writer, photographer, and videographer. Rob lives in Greater Boston and serves as a guest speaker at fly fishing shows, Trout Unlimited chapters, and other outdoor events. Rob owns a digital media agency helping businesses around the world promote their services online. He combines his joy for helping businesses in the digital space with his passion for fly fishing and created FlyFishingJourneys.com. Bringing fly fisherman together and sharing the love for the sport, both on the water and online fulfills a lifelong dream.

 

Whitney Gould:  Whitney currently guides for Head Hunters Fly Shop on the Missouri River in Montana. She is an angler, full-time fishing guide, casting instructor and part-time painter. She has a degree in Painting from Temple School of Fine Arts and a masters degree in Landscape Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. Fishing allows Whitney to merge her creativity with her love for fishing and the outdoors. Whitney is a seven-time Spey-O-Rama World Casting Champ and is an FFI Certified Two-Hand Fly Casting Instructor. She is currently training and planning, if the planets align, to compete in the World Championships in Fly Casting in 2022. Whitney is the owner of Gould Standard Fly Casting.

 

Kevin Howell:  Kevin Howell is the owner and operator of Davidson River Outfitters Inc., located in Pisgah Forest. Kevin is the former Fly Fishing Masters World Champion. Kevin is also a Montana Fly Company Signature Fly Designer, where he helps create new fly designs for the fly fishing industry. In 2017 Kevin was inducted into the “Legends of the Fly” Hall of Fame and in 2018 he was inducted into the Southeast Fly Fishing Museum Hall of Fame.  Kevin has been guiding the rivers and streams of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee for trout and smallmouth bass since the mid 1980’s. When not guiding or tying flies Kevin can be found fishing in his home waters with his two sons David and Andrew and his wife Mellissa.

 

Steve Hudson:  Steve Hudson, a writer, teacher and lifelong fly fisher, says he may have the best of all possible jobs – one that lets him share the excitement of the fly fishing with others. An award-winning journalist and illustrator, he has written extensively on fly fishing, fly tying, hiking and travel.
Steve is the author of more than 30 fly fishing and fly tying books, including the acclaimed “101” series of introductory fly fishing and fly tying guides. These “101” guides have introduced thousands to flyfishing and fly tying and are popular “textbooks” in introductory classes across the United States.
Steve recently authored CHATTAHOOCHEE TROUT, a 328-page guide that’s been called “the definitive work on fishing for trout in north Georgia’s acclaimed Chattahoochee River.” This comprehensive and highly detailed guide covers the river’s trout water from its mountain headwaters to its storied tailwater trout fishery near Atlanta with detailed info on access, tactics, flies, gear and more.
Steve’s companion book, CHATTAHOOCHEE FLIES, teaches readers how to tie a flybox full of favorite patterns for flyfishing for Chattahoochee trout.Current projects include several new entries in the “101” series, among them a practical guide to fishing small streams for brook trout as well as a beginner’s guide to rod building.
Steve is also the creator of the award-winning TIE IT & TRY IT series of fly tying kits. Each kit includes a detailed 20- to 28-page book designed to teach you how to tie each pattern, along with materials to tie of plenty of flies too. Currently in the works are several exciting new additions to the TIE IT & TRY IT series, including kits focusing on traditional balsa popping bugs and on articulated streamers as well as kits spotlighting several classic southern Appalachian patterns.
When not busy writing, Steve enjoys teaching others about flyfishing, fly tying and the out-of-doors. He is a frequent speaker and teacher on hiking, fly fishing, fly tying, and outdoor recreation, having led seminars and workshops from Alaska to Florida.
Steve has three grown children (and two grandkids, which he will talk about endlessly if given the slightest opportunity). He lives in Roswell, Ga., with his wife Ann, Zoe the cat, and Ellie the Miniature Schnauzer.

 

Jimmy Jacobs:  Jimmy Jacobs is the editor/publisher of On The Fly South web journal covering fly-fishing destinations throughout the southeastern states, Caribbean and Central America. He is the former editor of Georgia Sportsman Magazine. Jacobs is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association Hunting and Fishing Hall of Fame and the Fly Fishing Museum of Southern Appalachia Hall of Fame.

 

Peter Kutzer:  Peter Kutzer: Kutzer has been a fly-fishing instructor for the Orvis Company for almost 20 years, and his how-to videos have garnered more than 3 million views on YouTube. He also teaches at the Orvis Fly Fishing School in Manchester, Vermont, as well as at specialty schools around the country and the globe. When he’s not helping others become better casters and anglers, he serves as Orvis’s Endorsed-operations manager, working with fly-fishing guides, guide services, and outfitters.

 

Landon Mayer:  Landon Mayer is owner an operator of Landon Mayer Fly Fishing. His angling success is fueled by an addiction to pursuing large trout with small flies and lightweight fly-fishing equipment. Mayer enthusiastically teaches and demonstrates his techniques and on-river knowledge to fellow anglers and has developed innovative strategies for sighting, hooking, and landing selective trout. He shares these tips and secrets in his books The Hunt for Giant Trout: 25 Top Locations in the US to Catch a Trophy (new for 2019), Trout Tips: A Guide’s Secrets, Tactics and Techniques, Colorado’s Best Fly Fishing, Sight Fishing for Trout, and How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life, in addition to his new film with Headwater Media: Mastering the Short Game.
Landon’s passion for fly-fishing has allowed him to make several noteworthy contributions to the sport on and off the water. This has included travels to fly-fishing related organizations of the Mid-Atlantic, West, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, and Southern states, as well Landon will be sharing his teaching through fly-fishing classes, presentations, and demonstrations of his unique techniques at this year’s Marlborough, Denver, California, New Jersey, and Atlanta Fly Fishing Shows
Mayer has been guiding in Colorado full time on the South Platte River for the last 23 years, and one full season on the Nak Nek River in AK. He resides in Florissant, Colorado.

 

Allen McGee:  Allen McGee is an innovative soft-hackle fly angler who has pursued trout all over North America and many other countries for 30 years. He is the author of three fly fishing books, has written many articles for the industry and is a fly designer for Solitude Fly Company. He is interested in creating new soft-hackled nymph, emerger and dry fly patterns that combine the best of new with the best of the old. In this regard he has a full range of trout flies that imitate all the life stages of all the important trout foods and combined with specific rigging and presentation methods he fishes his flies with behaviors that best imitate the naturals for the most selective trout. Michael Perechinsky:  I reside in Pennsylvania and was brought up loving the outdoors. Hunting and fishing were my sports throughout my school years. I started tying and fly-fishing in 1999. In 2000 and 2001, I placed in several tying competitions in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. My passion is tarpon on the fly. I am the owner of Pflies, a small saltwater fly-tying shop that specializes in saltwater patterns for tarpon, snook, permit, bonefish. I also tie fresh water patterns for trout and bass. There is no better feeling than having someone catch on your flies you tied!

 

Andy Mill:  Andy Mill’s plethoric career has had deep traction as an athlete, broadcaster, angler, and author. An elite alpine downhill ski racer, Mill was one of the best in the United States in that event from 1974-1981. For his 1976 Olympic heroics, where Mill placed 6th while skiing on a severely injured ankle, he was awarded the “Olympic Spirit Award”; in 1993, he was inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame. Mill enjoyed a 20 year broadcasting career, covering two Olympics and hundreds of network specials, including 81 fishing shows from around the world. Personally, Mill holds his fishing accomplishments close to his heart. His success is profound, winning more invitational fly tarpon tournaments than anyone, including 5 Gold Cups, and he is only one of two people to have won a tarpon, bonefish, and permit tournament on fly. In conduction with his award winning book, A Passion for Tarpon, and a trustee of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), he has found himself as one of our sports’ leading authorities.

 

Karin Miller:  Karin Miller is Owner and Founder of Zen Tenkara/Zen Fly Fishing Gear, the only 100% Women-Owned rod company in the world. Since 2012, Zen has been a leader in tenkara product design and manufacturing and the company has a reputation of being innovative, cutting edge and for pushing the boundaries of the tenkara method with high performance rods.
Karin fishes around the globe and travels extensively to test rods, target different species, and do presentation. Karin uses both tenkara and rod/reel setups in both fresh and saltwater. While she is passionate about big rainbows, permit and GT’s, currently her favorite fish are golden dorado.

 

Brian O’Keefe: I have combined a lifetime of fly fishing photography, fly casting instruction with a lot of serious fly fishing. As an IFFF certified Master Casting Instructor, I enjoy teaching and demonstrating all things fly casting, and working with first time fly casters to long bomb distance casters. My most popular fly casting seminar is on distance. The double haul is critical to all distance or power casts. The same principals apply when casting big flies a moderate distance, or casting in the wind.I use a simple step by step approach to learning the double haul and improving your double haul. It’s quite easy.

 

Allen Rupp:  Allen Rupp is a passionate fly tyer and angler with an incredible 35-year journey in the world of fly fishing. Throughout the years, Allen has honed his skills, dedicating countless hours to perfecting the art of tying flies. His creations have proven their effectiveness by enticing fish from various corners of the globe.
From the pristine waters of Africa and Belize, to the breathtaking landscapes of Chile, Mexico, Portugal, and the Seychelles, Allen’s flies have been trusted companions for anglers. These meticulously crafted flies have seduced species far and wide, leaving no doubt about their unwavering appeal.
However, Allen is not solely confined to the tying bench. Despite his mastery of the fly tying art, he always manages to find time for his true passion: fishing. Each year, he embarks on thrilling adventures, seeking out the exhilaration of battling with various fish species. Whether it’s the powerful strikes of Bass, the finesse required for Panfish, the explosive strikes of Stripers and Snook, or the delicate presentations needed for Trout, Allen embraces the challenges and joys of angling with open arms.
With an unmatched wealth of experience and an unyielding love for the sport, Allen continues to push boundaries, constantly exploring new fishing grounds, and sharing his expertise with fellow enthusiasts. His dedication to the art of fly tying and the pursuit of fish is an inspiration to both seasoned anglers and novices alike.

 

Chris Scalley: Chris grew up fishing and hunting the Chattahoochee River. He began River Through Atlanta Guide Service in 1994 and has been an ORVIS endorsed guide service since 2003. Chris was nominated as runner up for the 2007 Field and Stream Hero of Conservation Award for his 14 year data set that contains the quarterly on-stream samples of aquatic invertebrates taken, sorted and stored during that time from 1998 through 2012. There have been three published studies on this research project funded by Trout Unlimited and the National Park Service. Two papers by the University of Georgia and one by the American Fisheries Society. Come hear Chris speak about this unique sport fishery that runs through Atlanta!

 

Luong Tam:  Luong Tam, trained as a design engineer by trade and the founder of Tenkara Tanuki, is a tenkara rod designer and builder. Luong has been passionate about fly fishing since the ’90s and is a member of many fly casting clubs in California. For the last few years, he became hooked on tenkara and obsessed enough to start his company Tenkara Tanuki. He attends tenkara schools every year taught by Masami Sakakibara, a Japanese tenkara master who is a living legend. Luong has developed casting techniques and fly fishing methods that take advantage of simpler and more efficient tenkara rods. Over the years, He has been giving presentations, workshops, and on-water clinics all over the state.

 

Jake Villwock:  Jake Villwock has been an industry professional for over 14 years. Growing up in a commercial fishing family on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, fishing has been part of his life from day one – so it should come as no surprise that he has chosen a career in the fishing industry.
After graduating from High Point University with a business degree, Jake worked as a deck hand and fly fishing guide in Sitka, Alaska. He spent the winters dog sledding in both Fairbanks, AK and Deep Creek, MD. Moving back to the east coast in 2009, Jake worked for TCO Fly Shop at the Reading, PA, and Bryn Mawr, PA locations. Jake has helped open and manage their newest location in Boiling Springs, PA. After 8 years as a full-time retail manager with TCO, Jake decided to start his own business. Relentless Fly Fishing, which will serve as a contract guide service for three of TCO Fly Shop’s locations.
Jake guides in PA and NY for trout, smallmouth, and steelhead. He has a true passion for warmwater, it is hard to find him anywhere but a smallmouth river from early spring to late fall. When he is not rowing a boat, he is most likely crawling around a local spring creek chasing picky wild fish.
In addition to guiding, Jake is the author of “Smallmouth Bass Flies Top to Bottom”, Fulling Mills Signature tier, blog-writer, contributor to Fly Fisherman magazine, and Eastern Fly Fishing magazine, and serves on various pro-staffs of leading industry companies such as Hatch Reels, Scientific Anglers, Simms Fishing, Clacka Craft Drift Boats, Scott Fly Rods, and Regal Vise. He lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

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Authors:  TBA