Troutfest TX Fly Tyer Bios

Troutfest Reels

Troutfest TX 2025 Fly Tying Bios

CHASE SMITH Chase Smith – @fishchaseflies

Chase Smith has been tying flies commercially through his company FishChaseFlies for several years now. He recently became an MontanaFly Co signature tyer and a member of the Renzetti pro staff. Chase is renowned for his Blane Chocklett’s GameChanger and articulated flies.

Chase ties flies for a wide variety of species in both fresh and saltwater, but he especially enjoys tying flies for aggressive, predatory species. Aside from tying hundreds of flies every month, Chase also spends plenty of time on the water tweaking new patterns and sight casting to anything that swims.

His favorite species to target are carp, bass, and redfish and many of the patterns he designs revolve around those species.

MATT BENNETT Matt Bennett – @flygeekmatt

Matt returns to Troutfest and the Texas Hill Country for this one time special event after a recent career change. If you miss seeing Matt around the circuit, this is the time to visit him and catch up.

Matt Bennett is an Umpqua Signature fly tyer and a 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. 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 Renzetti Ambassador and also a member of the Ahrex Hooks and Dr. Slick Tools Pro Team.

MIKE MORPHEW Mike Morphew

I am originally from England and have been tying flies and fishing for trout, salmon and saltwater fish for 40 years.I was first drawn to the art of tying as a boy when I watched a guy tying at a show in the UK. I watched him for hours until my father pulled me away. As I was leaving the guy said “come here” and he gave me all his half empty packs of materials I was feeling like Christmas morning! I tied my first fly in a pair of needle nosed pliers held in a woodworking vise. I later found out that the guy was the legendary John Veniard who I later became friends with whilst starting up a Fly Dressers Guild club.

Other achievements that I am proud of is in 2003 whilst living in the British Virgin Islands I was asked to tie and present Her Royal highness Princess Anne with a fully dressed salmon fly display, which I presented to her. Being awarded the Gold certificate for the IFFF tying awards is another achievement. Every year I attend The Sowbug tying event in Arkansas. I now live in the quaint historical town of La Grange.

Zack Harris Zack Harris

Zack Harris is a native Texan, born and raised in San Antonio. He’s been tying flies and chasing fish all over the hill country for the last decade.

“The world of fly fishing has introduced me to some of the most important people in my life, and it’s shown me some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Fishing and tying are some of the only things that I do that completely separate me from reality. Everything can be going wrong, but when I pick up a fly rod or spin those first few wraps of thread, I forget about it all. We have a fantastic fly community in Texas! If anybody is considering joining us, don’t hesitate!”

Lu Padilla Lu Padilla

Lu is from Argentina and grew up fly fishing for trout in Patagonia. Although she learned how to tie flies as a kid, it wasn’t until 2 years ago that she started taking it seriously as a hobby

Fly fishing has a special way of bringing an angler closer to nature, and nature has always been a big part of her life. It’s for this reason that she’s so drawn to the sport. Observing what a fish is eating and trying to recreate that meal with feathers and a hook, then watching a fish either eat or refuse that fly is the most entertaining game she has ever played.

CHRIS SKINNER Chris Skinner – @chrisskinner713

Hi, my name is Chris Skinner, I’m a local guy who grew up learning to fly fish on the Guadalupe River and surrounding waters for trout and warm water species. Since the first time I landed a fish on the fly I just couldn’t get enough and I’ve now been fly fishing for most of my life!

Nothing quite compares to catching a fish on a fly you’ve tied yourself, and I enjoy tying flies almost as much as I love fishing them. From size 28 midges to 6/0 saltwater flies, there’s always something new to learn, and that’s what makes it so much fun!

From Trout to Tarpon, I’m always Game! I’ll catch y’all on the water!

Chris Kowaleski Chris Kowaleski

Chris is a Houston native growing up fishing the ponds, creeks, and ditches around the Woodlands area. Chris is also an avid Bmx rider taking advantage of the very same ditches and the urban landscape with his bike. After moving to San Marcos with his wife and dogs in 2012, a friend introduced him to fly fishing and then gained an interest in fly tying after tying his first fly at Troutfest.

Shortly after Chris became enamored by the aggressive size and flashy nature of musky flies which is evident in his tying style. This influence has been translated into flies tied for fresh and saltwater species found in Texas. Chris is known for his use of bright and vibrant materials paired with professional technique and consistency. Chris supplies orders to some of the premier fly shops around the state and can be found to place orders through his Instagram account @ditch_fishin_flies. “Fly or Die.”

Justin CrockettJustin Crockett

Justin Crockett was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, where he became obsessed with fly fishing at a very young age. He has been involved in the fishing industry since he was eight years old, when he sold Wooly Buggers to his local fly shop. At twelve years old he started as a “bait boy” on salmon fishing charters, and at eighteen, he travelled to Alaska, where he guided for two seasons. In his mid-twenties, he owned a fly shop in Destin, Florida, where he learned saltwater fly fishing from some of the best to ever do it. Ten years ago, Justin and his family moved to Texas . After learning the waters of the Hill Country, Justin started his own guide service, The Texas Gillie. Specializing in trout and bass, Justin brings more than forty years of fly fishing experience to south-central Texas, where his unique approach to fly tying and fishing has brought him success on both the water and social media.

Brian Hilbert Brian Hilbert

Brian Hilbert is a seasoned fly fishing guide with over 21 years of full-time experience, sharing his passion and expertise with anglers of all skill levels. A Montana Fly Company Signature Fly Designer, Brian’s innovative fly patterns have gained recognition throughout the fly fishing community. His guiding career spans the trout rich waters of Wyoming and Colorado, where he’s honed his craft in some of the West’s most renowned trout fisheries. He also seasonally guides the Guadalupe River in Texas, serving clients on one of the premier destinations for fly anglers in the South. Dedicated to sharing the art of fly fishing and fly tying, Brian combines deep knowledge, patience, and a genuine love for the sport to create unforgettable experiences on the water.

Dutch Baugman Dutch Baugman

Demonstration Fly Tyer:
FFI Expo, Northwest Fly Tying Expo, East Idaho Fly Tying Expo,
Sowbug Roundup, Trout Fest, Fly Fest

Awards:
Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award, 2023
Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award, 2022
Darwin Atkins Fly Tying Award, 2020
FFI Fly Fisher of the Year Award and a President’s Medal, 2019

FFI Fly Tying Group: Board of Governors

Affiliations:
FFI Life Member, , FFI Board of Directors (10
years), FFI Texas Council (10 years), Fort Worth Fly Fishers, Dallas Fly Fishers

Barry Webster Barry Webster

Barry Webster lives in Farmers Branch, Texas (a Dallas suburb) with his wife Teresa. He has two grown daughters and granddaughter who is his best fly tying and fishing buddy (along with his Golden Retriever Wally).

He is retired from the IBM corporation after a career in technical sales management. Barry holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas. Previous to IBM, Barry worked for a Consulting Engineering firm in Houston (Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam).

Barry has been active in the Fly Fishing area by serving on the boards of Ft. Worth Fly Fishers (he was the Tying Director) and on the board of the Dallas Fly Fishers. He is an active member in both clubs. He has also served on the board of directors for the Texas Council of FFI and on the Board of Directors for FFI, serving as the Membership Chair and on the FFI Executive Committee. Barry is also currently serving as a member of the FFI Fly Tying Board of Governors.

Barry has been an active demonstration fly tyer at several FFI Expo’s and FTG Rendezvous’, Sowbug Rendezvous in Mountain Home, AR, the TRWD Fly Fest, the Texas Fly and Brewfest and the Northwest Fly Tier Epo in Albany, OR. Barry is a proud member of the Roadkill Roundtable, a group in the DFW area that has been tying together since the early 70’s.

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CONSERVATION

Protecting, reconnecting, restoring and sustaining our cold water fisheries. It’s what we are here to do.

LEASE ACCESS PROGRAM

Our lease access program allows members access to fish the Guadalupe River at 14 private locations.

YOUTH TROUT CAMP

Engaging our young people in river ecology, conservation and fly fishing with an expert hosted parent/child weekend on the river.