TEXAS HILL COUNTRY FLY FISHERS
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Fly TyingOne of the most frequent comments we hear is "I would love to learn to tie flies". No doubt about it Fly Tying is one of the most satisfying skills a fisherman can have. Fly tying is both simple and complicated but for sure it is fun. Most everyone begins by getting to know a seasoned fly tyer. They will get you pointed in the right direction. Check out the list of seasoned tiers on this page. Then check them out on the web and social media. When you find a person you like...contact them and ask their help in getting started. Chances are they can or they know of someone in your area that will help you. | ![]() |
Don Anderdson - Fly Tyer and Freshwater GuideDon Anderson is an active member of THCFF and serves as the club's Fishing Lease Manager. Don's passion is teaching others to fly fish, fly tying, and carp fishing. Don is a life long sportsman with most of those years fishing the Texas Hill country. He is a professional taxidermist/artist by trade and manages a taxidermy shop that serves an international cliental. |
Chase Smith - Professional Fly TierChase Smith has been tying flies commercially through his company FishChaseFlies for several years now. He recently became an Umpqua signature tyer and a member of the Renzetti pro staff. Chase ties flies for a wide variety of species in both fresh and saltwater, but he especially enjoys tying flies for aggressive, predatory species. Aside from tying hundreds of flies every month, Chase also spends plenty of time on the water tweaking new patterns and sight casting to anything that swims. His favorite species to target are carp, bass, and redfish and many of the patterns he designs revolve around those species. Check out Chase Smith's website to get a basic overview of each pattern’s fishing style and the species a particular fly will target. |
Most know Martin as the owner Country Fly Fishers Shop, but hundreds of students can attest he is also a top notch teacher with a huge knowledge of fly tying. If you want to get started tying flies, Martin is a great place to launch. | Martin Pursch - The "Godfather" of Hill Country Fly Fishing |
Photography on Instagram | Odom WuOdom Wu is an avid fly fisherman and fly tyer. After he moved to Texas, he fell in love with the Hill Country and quickly adopted fly fishing as one of his passionate hobbies. Odom's passion is sight casting for fish from his kayak and Euro-nymphing for trout. His other passion includes photography, where he incorporates the love of fly fishing into his art. Odom's work has appeared in magazines. When you don’t see him on the rivers, Odom spends time with his wife, two children and their two dogs in San Antonio. |
| Jack GillisJack Gillis is a life member of FFI and the Fly Tying Group. He holds the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for fly tying. Jack is the Vice President of Dallas Fly Fishers, Chair of the for Ft. Worth Fly Fishers Fly Tying Group, Vice President - Education for FFI Texas Council, member of the FFI Education Committee, and a Certified Fly Fishing Instructor and Area Chief for Texas Parks & Wildlife. He's a demonstration fly tyer at such events as Oktoberfisch, Texas Fly Fest and Brew Fest, TRWD Flyfest, Sowbug, and moderates the online demonstrations for the Roadkill Roundtable. |
Dutch BaughmanDutch Baughman is an ten year veteran of the Fly Fishers International Board of Directors and now serves on the Executive and many Board sub-committees. Dutch has also been Chair of the Education Committee and led development of the FFI Learning Center. Dutch received the 2019 FFI Fly Fisher of the Year Award and a President’s Medal. He received the 2020 Darwin Atkins Fly Tying Award. Dutch serves as an Area Chief for the Texas Parks and Wildlife and is a certified Angler Education Instructor. For many years, Dutch has taught two fly fishing classes at a local College, as well as personal instruction for fly tying, fly fishing, and two-hand casting. Dutch has been a demonstration Fly Tyers at many national fly fishing and fly tying shows, and is a 25 year member of the Roadkill Roundtable Fly Tyers. Dutch completed an apprenticeship with Michael Radancich for Salmon Fly Tying. |
| Deighan CherryFourteen year old Deighan Cherry began tying flies at the age of 5. Deighan is the cofounder of the international tying group @fly_girl_global where she shares her numerous patterns with other young lady anglers around the world. A creative, well rounded tier focusing on techniques rather than individual patterns, she ties for cold, warm, and salt water with success in all three. She enjoys competing against adults in professional fly tying competitions and traveling to fish with her online tying friends. |
| Mason PafkMason Pafk started tying flies at nine years old beginning with his first Brushy Creek Streamer. It was then he was hooked, finding his passion for tying and testing his creations on local waters at an early age. Mason has continued to grow his knowledge, tying custom and production flies for Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly fishing retailers in Round Rock, Tx. Mason now works at Living Waters where he loves to share his passion (and fishing stories) with the fly fishing community. When Mason's not in school, most days you can find him on Brushy Creek or at the fly shop, talking all things fly fishing.
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| Gabe CrossGabe Cross has been tying flies and fly fishing Hill Country waters since he was 10 years old. Now a student at Texas State, he enjoys tying custom flies that target popular species in fresh and salt-water. Gabe especially loves inventing new flies, and has several unique, successful patterns under his belt. Most people know Gabe for his passion for fly fishing for carp. Gabe loves to share his knowledge of catching carp on the fly and creating and tying flies that specifically target this rarely fished species. Contact gabecrossflyfishing@gmail.com. |
Contact: Jefe Fly Co Contact | Jeff DavisJeff Davis—‘Jefe’ to his friends — is the owner of Jefe Fly Co., specializing in simple, durable and effective flies for native Guadalupe bass — found in a select few rivers exclusively in Texas — and largemouth bass swimming in the numerous lakes and rivers throughout the south. Jeff is a long time tier and with 30+ years experience, one Texas’s most experienced freshwater fly fishing guides—with over two-decades guiding on Texas Hill Country rivers and lakes—spending 150+ days a year on the water. He began canoeing, kayaking and fishing the San Marcos, Guadalupe, Blanco, Colorado and Llano rivers in the mid-1980’s. |