I am originally from Canton Ohio. I started fishing the Keys in 1981 while on vacation from my conventional job in Ohio. I was so excited about what I had found here in the Keys that I told everyone I knew about this incredible fishery. They listened to my fish stories of giant tarpon and 12 pound bonefish for years.

When I later moved here full time to pursue my own dreams of fishing these flats on a daily basis, I found that I had what seemed like an endless supply of friends from up north that wanted to experience first hand the excitement of casting to tailing bonefish or the bite of a 100 pound tarpon as he eats a fly 30 feet from the bow of the boat.

No I didn’t become a guide so I could charge my friends money to fish. What I discovered is that I enjoyed taking others fishing as much as I enjoyed fishing myself. I will always remember the first tarpon and the first bonefish I ever caught. The thrill and excitement I felt can not be described in words. Now I find the same thrill and excitement in introducing others to the sport I love when they catch their first tarpon or bonefish.

Of course I have a mentor. He guided me to my first tarpon on fly, my first bonefish on fly, and my first permit on fly. He also guided my two sons when they were 9 years and 12 years old to a flats grand slam, both in the same day! He was willing to teach me when I knew nothing. He taught me about the fish, the flies, the flats, the tides, the moon.

He taught me how to fly cast even when I thought I was an expert. Yes he taught me a lot. I will never be able to thank him enough for that. More importantly, because of his knowledge, his excitement, his enthusiasm, and love for this sport, he nurtured in me a deep love of this art form that will last a lifetime. For that I am forever grateful. My mentor is legendary guide Captain George Wood.

No I haven’t. I can only wonder what it must have been like for George Hommell to guide President George Bush on his frequent bonefish trips here in Islamorada.

Tarpon season normally runs from about the 1st of April through June. Those are the most predictable months. If the weather is stable you can have opportunities to fly cast to “laid up” tarpon as early as the end of February, and of course there are smaller resident tarpon that live in the Islamorada area year round.

In Islamorada, bonefish can be caught on fly any month of the year. Some of the largest bonefish are caught in the winter but you have to fish around cold fronts and wind.

Bonefish love stable weather conditions, so the spring and fall offer more days of stable weather patterns. I am especially fond of October. Stable warm weather and very little fishing pressure makes the big bones more agreeable.

It depends entirely upon where you are fishing and what time of day or night. On the ocean side of town I would prefer a smaller sparsely tied fly of lighter colors, maybe a little bunny tail fly.

In the backcountry a larger bulkier fly will usually out perform the ocean side type of fly.

Now for the night time. Let’s just say that if you have never fly cast to tarpon at night you are missing one of the best opportunities to catch these monsters.

There is a pattern or two in my box that gets bit pretty good at night.

It’s hard for me to think of my worst fishing trip. Even on days when we can’t catch them we still manage to see some incredible things here in the Keys.

However I think the worst days are when a person travels a long way to fly fish here and only allows for one or two days on the water and if the weather conditions are not right it can make for a long day. Imagine coming here to sight fish bones or tarpon only to find that the day you plan on fishing is overcast with no light to see the fish and the wind is blowing 25 knots.

My most memorable trips by far are when I get a chance to fish a person who has never caught a bonefish or tarpon before. Whether it’s on fly or bait, it doesn’t matter. The thrill of guiding somebody to their first tarpon or bonefish is as rewarding to me as when I caught my first.

Many guides down here prefer to fish people who have done this before and know how to catch them. I like fishing those people too, but I like a challenge and I really look forward to working with someone that wants to catch their first bonefish or tarpon. When it all comes together for the first time it’s so much better than what you read about or what you see on TV. When the fish finally rolls over next to the boat and everyone is hollering and slapping high fives, the feeling at that moment is almost intoxicating.