Nothing Beats Time on the Water
..and Timing is Everything
How I Can Help
Fly Casting Instruction
As a Fly Fishers International(FFI) Casting Instructor(CI) Candidate, I would love to help you work on your cast. From beginners to intermediate casters I can either help get you started on the right foot or help dial in the details and help iron out any issues in your casting stroke.
Fly Fishing Instruction
On-the-Water Lessons in the Core Skills needed in fly fishing.
1. Reading Water
Understanding fish behavior and the dynamics of moving water in order to locate fish.
2. Rigging
Choosing the right technique and style of presentation for the conditions at hand, and setting up your rig to deliver a successful presentation: fly selection, line/leader/tippet sizing and tying knots.
3. Casting
Delivering your fly or flies to the target.
4. Line Handling
Managing your line while your fly is in the water. Minimizing slack, preventing drag, active presentations and setting the hook.
5. Fighting and Landing Fish
The fish eats your fly, then what?
6. Handling Fish and Conservation
Safe and respectful fish handling practices are essential for catch and release angling. We’re responsible for caring for the natural recourses we’re all lucky to enjoy.
Pinch your barbs
Fly Tying Instruction
Fly Tying Instruction
Fly tying is a great way to deepen your connection to the fish you pursue. There is a ton of great content out there to teach you how to tie every fly imaginable but sometimes having someone there to help walk you through the techniques can really flatten the learning curve.
Made-to-Order Flies
Fly Tying Instruction
Dries, Wets, Nymphs, and Streamers
Quality materials tied on quality hooks.
Orders are filled first come, first served and may take a while to complete.
Hand Tied Leaders
Hand Tied Leaders
Dry Fly Leaders
Wet Fly Leaders
Indicator Nymphing Leaders
Euro Nymphing Leaders and Monorigs
Streamer Leaders
Topwater Bass Leaders
A Little About Me
Matt Bernet
I grew up fishing with my dad. From dunking worms for panfish to casting lures for trout and smallmouth in upstate New York. I was introduced to fly fishing around 12yo when my dad and uncle attended a fly tying course and came home with a vise, materials, and a fly rod. I thought it was the coolest thing. I’d spend hours casting at the lake for panfish and bass, and making up fly patterns to try the next time I was out. But as life goes sometimes it all kinda fell to the weigh side for a while. Moving around a few times as a teen and then serving in the Navy for 5 years, I kinda forgot how much I enjoyed fishing.
In 2022 after a great trip to western North Carolina, throwing spinners with some old friends, I was hooked again. Within a month I purchased a decent fly outfit and started ingesting all of the fly fishing content I could find; books, podcasts, videos, articles, and forums. But most importantly I spent as much time as I could on the water, or casting on the lawn. After a couple more months I dug out Dad’s old vise and started tying flies.
My passion for this sport continues to grow and I’ve found that sharing the knowledge and experience I’ve gathered is also a great joy. I’m certainly no expert but I feel I have a lot to offer others in the pursuit and hope I can be of service some folks who need that little nudge over the hurtles we encounter chasing fish on the fly.
I’m creating this page in the fall of 2025 just to kinda throw it out there and see what comes of it. I may add some blogs and eventually link it to some social media profiles, but for now I’ll just be here.
Good luck out there!
