Sam grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina, where he spent almost all of his time in the outdoors. His passion for fishing led him to Wyoming, where he worked as a fly fishing guide all throughout college. After graduation, he moved to Wyoming full-time, where he began to dedicate the rest of his career to the fishing industry. He has also fished throughout the Yucatan and is eager to help others experience the excitement of traveling and fishing in Mexico.Â
What is your favorite species (or hatch) to fish for and where?
Probably permit in Mexico. It's such a challenging experience and can take a long time, but when you finally catch one, it's the highest high in the world.
Favorite Rod/Reel combo and why?
For permit I really like the Scott Sector or the Sage R8 with a Hatch 7 Plus reel. I like the Sector because it's soft, it's got a good feel, and it's just a fun rod to cast.
Favorite Fly Line(s)?
For freshwater, I like the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth. And for saltwater I like the Scientific Anglers Infinity Amplitude Smooth.
Top Flies?
I really like the EP Spawning Shrimp because both permit and bonefish will eat it. And for freshwater, my favorite fly is the Renegade.
Preferred Waders and Boots?
I used to work at Simms, and so I prefer Simms waders and boots. Specifically, the G3 waders and the Flyweight Access boot.
What do you use for leader and tippet and why does it work well for you?
I like SA for both salt and fresh because it's reliable and it turns over well.
Favorite Luggage and Pack System?
My favorite piece of luggage would be the Carry-It-All rod case that fits everything. They can fit a few rod sleeves, reels, leaders, tippet, sunglasses and just about all the tackle you’ll need for a fishing trip. That’s one thing I don’t travel without.
As for the pack, I really like the Simms boat bag. The magnet system on it makes it easy to get in and out of it and quickly to grab gear.
Favorite Accessories or Must-Have Pieces of Gear?
Probably a nice pair of pliers. I like Hatch pliers a lot. Nice pliers are great for saltwater because they will last forever. Buy nice or buy twice! I also think a water thermometer is very important.
If you were forced to incorporate one piece of tying material into all of your flies, what would it be and why?
Probably foam because I like fishing dry flies.
What is the go-to hook?
Whatever Alec Gerbec says.
What would your next purchase be on the Yellow Dog site?
A trip to Mexico or an Abel SDS.
What are your favorite destinations you've traveled to and why?
I'm pretty biased towards Mexico because it's easy to get to. There's a huge variety of species, the people are the best people I've ever met in my life, and the food's amazing.
What's on your bucket list?
Probably golden dorado fishing in Bolivia. I’m interested in the experience as a whole, the journey through the jungle, hiking a long way to find an elusive hard to catch predator.
What lodges do you really want to visit outside of your territory?
Probably Alphonse. Because it’s in the Seychelles... And their variety of species is amazing, the productivity looks incredible, and looks like a very dialed lodge all together.
Which destinations would you want to travel to from a cultural perspective?
Bhutan, because it's in an area of the world that I don't know anything about, and the culture looks incredibly interesting.
