About
Born to Run
Born in the tail end of spring, Hunter was just in time to make his first memories dipping his feet in the cold streams of the Catskills. I made sure this German Shepard pup knew what clean water tasted like, what the woods smell like, and what the earth beneath him feels like. Little by little we developed this unwritten rule - if I go he goes. Anytime, anywhere. Rain or shine, day trips or whole summers, fly fishing or backpacking or both. I drive, he hops in. Today Hunter loves nothing more than being out in the wild, and let’s just say he didn't have a choice not to.
As time went on some of the day trips turned into overnighters. Some of the weekend trips turned into week-long trips. Fast forward to spending the entire Summer exploring Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, living out of our car. Hunter has now driven across the country twice, exploring over 15 different states. He’s also been to Canada. Hunter is no stranger to spending days in the wild, far away from home. And when he is home, he waits for the sound of the car engine, knowing the next adventure is calling.
Curiosity Caught the Trout
Hunter has been my fishing buddy from the start, and if dogs could talk he’d tell you just how many flies I’ve lost. If we weren’t on the river we’d be home, one at the desk tying the next batch of flies and one in his bed chasing trout in his dreams. You learn quickly that a dog depends on you - especially when it comes to cleaning all the hair. Where does it all come from? What to do with all this hair? Eventually, you tie enough flies and clean enough fur that you end up putting two and two together.
Hunter’s Flies were born of two things: efficiency and curiosity. Unlimited material = unlimited flies = unlimited fish. That checks out. Beyond that, the idea of catching a trout using the fur that I've brushed and swept and thrown away really piqued my interest. To my surprise, what I tied up not only worked, but exceeded expectations. Now, Hunter’s Flies are my confidence flies everywhere, especially when prospecting new water.
At this point, no fly tied is original, each just a variation of something that's been done before. But that's the beauty of Hunter's Flies; they're the flies you know and trust, improved.
All nymphs come barbless, dry flies come with barbs. We highly recommend you crimp all barbs - better for the fish and makes a better angler!
Curiosity Caught the Trout
Hunter has been my fishing buddy from the start, and if dogs could talk he’d tell you just how many flies I’ve lost. If we weren’t on the river we’d be home, one at the desk tying the next batch of flies and one in his bed chasing trout in his dreams. You learn quickly that a dog depends on you - especially when it comes to cleaning all the hair. Where does it all come from? What to do with all this hair? Eventually, you tie enough flies and clean enough fur that you end up putting two and two together.
Hunter’s Flies were born of two things: efficiency and curiosity. Unlimited material = unlimited flies = unlimited fish. That checks out. Beyond that, the idea of catching a trout using the fur that I've brushed and swept and thrown away really piqued my interest. To my surprise, what I tied up not only worked, but exceeded expectations. Now, Hunter’s Flies are my confidence flies everywhere, especially when prospecting new water.
At this point, no fly tied is original, each just a variation of something that's been done before. But that's the beauty of Hunter's Flies; they're the flies you know and trust, improved.
All nymphs come barbless, dry flies come with barbs. We highly recommend you crimp all barbs - better for the fish and makes a better angler!
A Dog Only Sees What You Show Him
On our travels I've frequently stopped and chatted with other fly fishermen, often for more than just the all too common "any luck?" I always try to give away what's working for me, and more often then not it's one of Hunter's Flies. For us, it's more about sharing this remarkable experiment with people who might appreciate a good story and equally good flies. All proceeds of Hunter’s Flies go directly to Hunter’s belly, after all, a 75lb German Shepard’s gotta eat. Anything extra goes directly into funding his next adventure.
From thick green forests to steep rocky canyons, from hot ocean sands to cold snowy peaks, from the Delaware River to the Missouri River, from the East Coast to the West, Hunter’s been there for it all, right by my side. I can say with certainty that in Hunter’s life thus far, he has seen and experienced more than most people see in a lifetime. People seem surprised when I tell them where Hunter’s been, let alone that I catch fish using flies tied with his hair, and really, it's simple - where I go he goes. Dogs are our companions, but their lives can be so much more if we just take them along for the trip.
- Jacob and Hunter
