Growing up in the Salt Lake City area, my parents would take us kids up to Green River to go camping and float the river. At a tender age, I was taken with the beauty of the river and the fish inhabiting it. Thanks to my grandfather, who showed me how to tie my first fly, I was actually tying flies before I ever learned to fly fish and had my first fly box filled before I ever hit the water; which was at the ripe old age of 14. From the moment I wet my first line, I knew I was hooked (yes, pun intended) on both fly fishing and tying. At that age, rides to the water didn’t come easily or often, so when I wasn’t fishing, I was tying. Luckily, my grandfather had a lot of fly fishing books and magazines, which I read in earnest and would then tie the flies I had seen in both.
My family supported and encouraged my new found passion for fly fishing and would try to get me to the water as much as possible. Once I turned 16 and got my license, I loaded up my gear in the back seat of my car and found my way to the water’s edge often… it was pure heaven. If it was water, I was exploring it, but it was the Provo and Weber rivers that became my new best friends.
Time passed quickly and before long I graduated high school. Soon after, I bought my first drift boat and would return to the river that held so many wonderful childhood memories for me…the Green. Like many my age, I attended college, received my degree, and went to work. But the call of the water was too strong and the passion for fly fishing was too deep. So, I quit my job and in 2004 moved to Dutch John to be a guide. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wanted to be the guy fishing, not rowing. I wanted to be the guy that went home each night after fishing and created patterns based on what he had observed that day and went out the next to try them out.
As my heart still follows the Green, I have fallen in love with other types of fish and waters and am called to the vise to create new patterns for both. So whether it’s carp, tiger muskie or smallmouth bass, I’m always anxiously awaiting my next adventure!
I’d be remiss without mentioning how grateful I am to be married to such a wonderful women who understands and supports my obsession for fishing and tying and although she doesn’t tie herself, she frequently joins me on the river. In fact, it's not uncommon for her to out fish us guys from time to time.
Thanks for taking time to learn a little about me, the waters I fish and the flies I tie. Whether you’re going to the Green, Provo or similar waters in another state, my flies are trout approved!
Here on MyFlies, I’m offering my most requested trout flies and in the near future, I will begin to offer other species specific flies so check back often!
~ Ben
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