Owner/Operator of Living Waters Fly Guiding LLC. I'm pretty meticulous in detail, so my flies are tightly constructed with durability in mind... and I won't send a fly to a client unless I believe it is perfect. I also won't offer a fly or even make a fly to sell, that I don't already have significant success with. Also... since I tailor my fly fishing approach to water hydraulics, trout biology & local entomology, I tie my flies with those same thoughts/intentions in mind (in the strike zone asap with speed & accuracy).
Fly Tying Experience
I've been tying my own flies since December of 2024.
How You Got Started
I paid friends to tie my flies for me previously... but my OCD tendencies forced me to abandon that approach and tunnel down the rabbit hole of fly tying for myself. Ha
Favorite Pattern to Tie
My favorite fly pattern overall is the Jack Daniels by Cory Cuje of Old Dominion. But--I tie it in an olive version... which I attribute to all my early success in fly angling. I utilize the Firehole Stick 516 & the Firehole Stones. I have created a few flies of my own though & they have been very successful (St Olive Sow, PMD Max, and Sweet Sulphur). Matter of fact, the St Olive Sow has become a big seller to folks around here.
Favorite Species & Waters
I fish mostly for brown and rainbow trout on nearby tailwaters: the Caney Fork River below Center Hill Dam; the Obey River below Dale Hollow Dam; the Elk River below Tim Fords Dam... all in Tennessee. But--I also fish a nearby spring creek, and love to visit the mountains around Gatlinburg for wild brook trout.
Fly Tying Style & Specialties
Since my area of specialty is nymphing (using single heavy-weighted nymphs), I also consider my fly tying style to be centered around that same concept. I've obviously tied other types of flies, but as my development as an angler began to take focus, so did my style of tying flies. I add extra weight to all my flies and tie the large majority of them utilizing CDC collars (tied using dubbing loops... with wax & synthetic dubbing to secure the CDC).
Why You Trust Firehole
I spent the last 3 years experimenting with different hooks and beads. Name them... and I tried them. And since I was so conscious of durability and perfection, I continued to search for beads that maintained their shine and hooks that maintained their hooking effectiveness with enough room for my material. And... since I sell flies through my business, I needed hooks & beads that were cost-effective... and that also cared as much about their products' effectiveness as I did. And eventually, I saw one of your ads online somewhere, and took the chance to order some... and immediately loved them!!! Your beads can't be beat in my opinion.
Social Media & Links
- Website: livingwatersflyguiding.com
- Facebook, TikTok and YouTube: @livingwatersflyguiding
Gear & Bench Setup
I tie from my desk... using a Renzetti Traveler. I rely on my table-top overhead light, as well as a high-powered magnifying glass/light attached to the side of my desk to see in detail... and all the normal accessories of traditional tyers.
Fun Fact
I'm a middle school special education teacher and a high school football coach--defensive coordinator. I've been an avid fly angler for the past 5+ years... but I transitioned from smallmouth fishing--creeks & small rivers around Tennessee after Covid. I will retire from teaching at the 25 year mark (earlier than the normal 30 years) so I can go full-time guiding.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.