I started fly tying and fly fishing back in 1976 along the shores of Lake Erie in Western New York at ripe age of twelve. In 1978, a local fly shop gave me the opportunity to start my commercial fly tying career. Through the late 70’s and early 80’s I spent most of my free time chasing stream trout and smallmouth bass on the fly. After graduating from high school, a newly-found fishing buddy (Frank Zak Jr.) introduced me to Great Lakes fly fishing and I traded in 12-inch stream trout for 12 pounds of raging steelhead, oversized Chinook salmon, lake-run brown trout, musky and common carp on the fly.
I currently reside in central Michigan with my wife our two children who enjoy the sport of fly fishing and the art of fly tying almost as much as I do. Their love and support fuels my passion and our geographical location couldn’t be better. Michigan is known as the “Great Lakes State” but I call it “Paradise for the Modern Fly Fisher”! The number of inland lakes, rivers and streams, not to mention being surround by Lake Michigan to the west, Lake Superior to the North, Lake Huron to the Northeast and Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie to the east, a fly fisher could not fish all of these waters in a lifetime!
As a member of several National Pro Staff Advisory Teams, I have the opportunity to consult and develop new products for the fly fishing/tying industry. Being innovative and motivated on a daily basis is the key to my success! I’ve published freelance articles in FLY TYER, WARMWATER FLY FISHING, FLY FISHING AND TYING JOURAL to name a few and video authored several fly tying DVD’s too! Renowned outdoor writer and dear friend, Jim Bedford and I have coauthored THE RIVER JOURNAL – GRAND RIVER, published by Amato Publications back in May of 2001 which compliments my part-time warmwater guiding career on this watershed. The Grand is a very special river with endless fly fishing opportunities for those willing to explore!
During the winter months, I travel around the Great Lakes region giving lectures and seminars on tube fly tying and fill my fly boxes with a new supply of offering for the coming season! My involvement with the fly fishing industry is non-stop and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
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