John Smeraglio
Oregon Fly Fishing Guide and
Fly Shop Owner

Rick Hafele
Professional Aquatic Biologist and Author of Fly Fishing Books

A native Oregonian, born and raised in Portland, remembers catching his first Red Side Trout on the Deschutes River when he was six years old. Seems like it was just yesterday to him.

At age ten, John’s art instructor, Bud Lance, introduced him to fly fishing when Bud showed John a Fly Rod his was building. With an instant spark of interest, John bought the components to build his own. After completed the project, he spent most of the remaining Spring learning to cast, and by late Summer, he caught his first Trout on the rod he built, a leader he hand tappered, and on a fly that he tied.
(read more about John...)

I was born to a poor bait fishing family in central Illinois. Thus, my earliest memories of fishing are of dark nights filled with the sent of stink bait and catfish.

The TV show, "Gad About Gaddis," started me thinking about other ways to fish - like with flies! Finally, at the age of 12, a fly fishing Uncle in Missouri gave me my first fly fishing lessons and managed to get me into my first fly caught trout. I saw the light and never fished stink bait again.
(read more about Rick...)