Fly Tying Area

Jeff Hoelter started lashing feathers to hooks shortly after moving to Texas from the midwest over 30 years ago. Since then he has demonstrated fly tying at many festivals and gatherings like GRTU Troutfest, FFI Fly Tyers Rendezvous, Trinity Flyest and the Sow Bug Roundup in Mountain Home Arkansas.

Some of his flys have been included in publications like “Fly Fishing Austin and Central Texas” by Aaron Reed, “Fly Tying for All Fish All Water” by Fly Fishers International Fly Tying Group, and “Favorite Flies for Texas” by Chris Johnson.

Jeff is on staff at Living Waters Fly Fishing in Round Rock, TX where he teaches Introduction to Fly Tying classes.

A TPWD volunteer Angler Education Instructor, Jeff enjoys sharing new and old patterns and techniques, and helping others enjoy their fly fishing experience.

I’m Zack Harris, and I’m obsessed with fly tying. I’ve been fishing Texas waters for as long as I can remember, and I have a little over ten years behind the vise. It doesn’t matter where I’m at or what I’m doing, I’m always thinking of the next bug to tie. In recent years, my focus has shifted almost entirely to chasing carp; there’s absolutely nothing that compares! Texas has an awesome fly fishing community, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it! Come by and hang with me at Trinity Fly Fest!

Chase Smith is a commercial fly designer who lives in the heart of the Texas Hill Country with his wife and two kids. He ties and sells hundreds of flies through his online store, www.fishchaseflies.com, and designs fly patterns for Montana Fly Company and Blane Chocklett’s Chocklett Factory. Probably best known for tying complicated bass flies like GameChangers and for designing the Spiral Spook topwater fly, Chase also avidly pursues a wide variety of saltwater and freshwater species across Texas. His flies have been published in a variety of fly fishing magazines and have fooled trophy fish across the world.

Chris is the owner and founder of Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly shop and guide service based out of Round Rock, Texas. He has guided the Texas Hill Country for nearly two decades, and has fly fished the heart of the Lone Star State for over 25 years. In addition to guiding his home state, Chris has been a licensed fly fishing guide in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska. Chris is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor, Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Tenkara USA Guide, and TPWD Angler Educator Area Chief. He is also a pro team member for Whiting Farms, Scott Fly Rods, Dyna-King Vises, and Scientific Anglers.

Chris is dedicated to sharing his passion for the sport and investing in the next generation of fly anglers. He often is a featured presenter and fly tier at fly fishing, outdoor, and community events throughout Texas and beyond.

Chris and his shop have also been featured in several outdoor publications including Trout magazine, Garden and Gun, and Tenkara Magazine. He was also awarded the 2014 Man of the Year from the FFI Texas Council and in the same year, Living Waters was the recipient of the FFI’s prestigious Lee Wulff Award.  Chris is also published author, and his new book Favorite Flies for Texas features some of the Lone Star State’s finest tiers and their fly patterns.

In addition to fly fishing, Chris is passionate about fisheries conservation. He co-produced the short film “Unspoken,” to raise awareness for Rio Grande Cutthroat trout conservation.  As a result, Living Waters is working with Trout Unlimited as a Gold Level endorsed TU Business to restore Rio Grande Cutthroat throughout their native range.  Chris serves as the current State Council Chair for Texas Trout Unlimited and is the Conservation Chair for Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited as well.  He is also a part of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and the Rio Grande Cutthroat Conservation Team.  Chris also serves as a member of the current Texas Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee and the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.

Chris is happily married to his wife Emily and together they enjoy fly fishing the world and raising their children in the sport.

Matt Bennett is a previous full-time commercial fly tyer and the owner of Fly Geek Custom Flies.  While having a varied interest in many different types of fly fishing, Matt most enjoys both tying flies and fishing for the native bass species of the Texas Hill Country and exploring the waterways in southwestern Louisiana.  Most of Matt’s patterns have a broad universal appeal to fish species all over, and he very much enjoys sharing his tying and fishing knowledge with others.  Matt has fished the waters of southwestern Colorado since he was a teenager and especially enjoys chasing native Cutthroat trout in creeks throughout the San Juans.  Matt is a member of the Ahrex Hooks, Dr. Slick and Raidzap Pro Team, and a member of Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Fly Designer program.  His initial pattern, Bennett’s Lunch $, is available in fly shops all over the world, with more patterns available soon.  Matt has previously served as the Education Director and Vice President of the Texas Council FFI, as well as President of the Austin Fly Fishers and was awarded the 2015 Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award by the International Federation of Fly Fishers.  You can often find him behind the vise at many fly fishing events and shows throughout Texas, Louisiana and beyond.  Matt resides in DeRidder, LA with his wife, Amanda, and has tied nearly 100,000 flies during his time as a commercial fly tyer.  You can view more of his work on Instagram @flygeekmatt.