Fly Field Guides

This started as a different venture back in 2020 when it was difficult for some of the guides we work with to get clients onto the water. They had prepared for the season but saw a high percentage of cancellations early in the year and bookings that stayed open later in the year and into the next. Facing a large surplus of consumable items used for clients, we pooled everything together and filled some of the retail gaps created by supply-chain and trade restrictions. That led to the Field Guides products but we continue to produce small quantities of the on-water items for clients.

Dry fly leaders

Most of our guides use knotted leaders instead extruded stuff for dry fly fishing. Cost and quality control are factors but performance and adjustability to suit the client are the primary reasons. They are still the same leaders made from the same material and by the same people as in 2020 and 2021 but are packaged differently to reduce waste.

Furled leaders

This goes back to one of the founders of our parent company. He refused to fish anything but furled leaders. Some of us learned to produce them and use them, then we designed our computer-controlled furling machine because making them with hand tools was boring. Our guides have some clients who love them and a few folks are converted every year. Despite the many advantages their popularity is relatively low, making them difficult for many small retailers to stock.

Guide Fly collections

The Guide Fly collections are distributed by our guides. They are collections of patterns the guides fish in a specific region or stream and each fly is tied by one of us.

Fly boxes

We have a single make and model of box we believe is the best available and occassionally have both Fly Field Guide and partner-commissioned designs produced. The ones with our logo are our primary marketing tool. The custom designs are created by our parent company with retail partners and non-profits for marketing or fund-raising purposes. If you need a referral, contact us.

Fly Field Guide apparel

We occassionally share some apparel but don't plan ahead of time. The work done by the consultants and marketing folks on our sister teams generates a lot of "extra" creative work. Sometimes our designer picks up one of their orphaned ideas or they offer us the ability to customize a non-exclusive design (like the "Fly or Die" shirts, hoodies, and stickers we gave away in 2023). We receive requests for the "Field Guides" trademark shop shirts but those are reserved for our team members.