Aaron is originally from North Carolina but relocated to Charleston, SC, from Appalachia in 2013. Over the years, he pursued a career that would somehow combine his three greatest passions: fly fishing, travel, and writing. With publications spanning the outdoor space, including The Drake, The Fly Fish Journal, Fly Fisherman, Tail, Shallow Water Angler, and more, Aaron’s ambitions paid off with the Digital Content Marketing Coordinator role at Yellow Dog.
A husband and father, Aaron treasures spending time with his wife, son, and two german pointers. A saltwater fiend, he considers Belize, Mexico, and The Bahamas to be his “happy place,” both for the fishing and their respective cultures. In his free time, he can be found tying flies or fishing in The Lowcountry or nearby Appalachia.
What is your favorite species (or hatch) to fish for and where?
It is a toss-up between permit and bonefish. If I’m chasing permit, I enjoy the challenge of Southern Belize where you’re frequently stalking actively feeding fish in skinny water. It’s not for everyone, but seeing that tail come up on a beautiful flat is tough to beat. If I’m bonefishing, The Bahamas is such a great spot in terms of ease of travel and the sheer size and number of happy fish.
Favorite Rod/Reel combo and why?
Scott Sector with a Tibor Everglades or Riptide, depending on the rod size. The Sector is so light in hand, has just enough feel, and has all the power you could ever need, while Tibors are nothing short of bomb-proof.
Favorite Fly Lines?
There are a lot of great lines on the market, but I like both the RIO Flat’s Pro and SA Amplitude Smooth depending on the setup.
Top Flies?
Raghead, Pato’s Crab, Strong Arm, Mantis Shrimp… I tie and fish a lot of different patterns, but these are confidence flies for me.
Preferred Waders and Boots (if applicable)?
Simms ZipIt bootie has worked well for me over the years. I prefer to fish barefoot from the boat, so they are fairly quick and easy to throw on if we need to wade to a fish.
What do you use for leader and tippet and why does it work well for you?
SA Absolute hasn’t failed me yet. For trout, TroutHunter tippet is my go-to.
Favorite Luggage and Pack System?
Aside from a standard checked suitcase, I like a waterproof backpack because of its versatility – It can function as your carry-on, as a boat bag for the day, or you can use it as your day pack if you are doing a long day of wading away from the lodge or home base. I’m a big fan of Fishpond because their products are functional and integrate seamlessly. I also like a traditional rod bag when I need to pack multiple setups.
Favorite Accessories or Must-Have Pieces of Gear?
A high-quality pair of pliers with leader/wire cutters is one of the first things I pack for any trip.
If you were forced to incorporate one piece of tying material into all of your flies, what would it be and why?
I tie with a lot of Arctic fox in natural colors as I like the natural movement it offers and its more durable than marabou.
For trout, CDC is the perfect material. It is super buggy when used for legs or as a soft hackle collar, and is incredibly light and hyper-buoyant when used for dries.
What are your go-to hooks?
For crab patterns, the Gamakatsu SC15 is a fantastic all-around hook--Size 1 90% of the time. It has a nice wide gap and is very strong without being overly thick or heavy. The TMC800S is also a great option and has a little more shank than the SC15, but I tend to opt for it when I'm tying a beefier fly. For bonefish, the SL11-3H or SL45 are both sticky sharp and have good profiles for most shrimp patterns.
What would your next purchase be on the Yellow Dog site?
A 9+ custom Hatch Iconic.
What are your favorite destinations you've traveled to and why?
I love Belize for a lot of reasons – great culture, friendly people, easy to travel to, English-speaking, excellent guides, and USD-friendly. A trip to Ireland last year was also incredible. I was completely taken off guard by how good the trout fishing was, and the historic sites, beautiful landscapes, and friendly people made it a memorable experience.
What's on your bucket list?
New Zealand, Alaska, Patagonia, Bolivia, Brazil, Seychelles, British Columbia… Too many to count.
Which destinations would you want to travel to from a cultural perspective?
Patagonia, Mongolia, and Spain… Destinations with unique, inviting, and immersive cultures ALWAYS make the trip better and are frequently the highlight of the entire trip for me.
