Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co.

09/28/2026

Less than 40 minutes from the family cabin, and somehow Bear has already figured out how to make college a little more convenient for his old man.

He popped by last night to see Sarah and me — our first time seeing him since we dropped him off at UW–La Crosse.

This morning, he and I snuck out for a little fishing before he had to head to class.

Pretty damn special kid.

Even more special when he’s standing in a river with me at sunrise.

And the fishing? Unreal.

I’m starting to think this whole college thing might work out just fine.

09/27/2026

Today is a tough one for our family.

It’s Dave’s last day at Tight Lines.

Dave came to us just after the pandemic, when the world was still trying to find its footing. He had already spent years immersed in this crazy little world of fly fishing — managing the fly shop in Redding, California, and The Trout Fitter — and when Charlie Piette moved on from his role as our shop manager, Dave stepped in.

We knew we were getting a damn good fly shop manager.

What we didn’t know was that we were getting a friend who would become family.

Dave became so much more than the guy running the shop. He became someone Pam, our entire guide staff and I could count on. Someone who cared about Tight Lines, cared about our customers, cared about our guides and cared about our family.

And somewhere along the way, Dave just became one of us.

There are people who pass through your life because of a job, and there are people who leave a mark on your life because of who they are. Dave is the latter.

His fingerprints are all over Tight Lines, and his contribution to fly fishing in the Midwest will be felt long after he walks out the door today. From building beautiful rods through Sierra Builders to managing some of the most respected fly shops in the country, Dave has devoted a huge part of his life to this sport.

We are going to miss having him around here. A lot.

But this isn’t goodbye to fly fishing. It’s goodbye to one chapter.

Dave is heading into the next one — pursuing his passion as a guitar luthier — and while we’re selfishly sad to see him leave Tight Lines, we’re incredibly excited to watch him build whatever comes next.

Dave, from our family to yours: thank you.

Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for the countless conversations, laughs, problems solved, fish stories and everything else in between.

Most of all, thank you for becoming part of our family.

We love you, Dave.

Now go build some beautiful guitars, chase some fish and enjoy the hell out of this next chapter.

We can’t wait to see where the road takes you.

09/20/2026

Well this was fun! Stay tuned!

09/20/2026

09/20/2026

09/10/2026

APRIL VOKEY IS COMING TO WISCONSIN.

Yep. You read that right.

The famous April Vokey is making her way to Northeast Wisconsin to spend some time with Tim Landwehr and Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co. working on a pretty exciting Smallmouth Bass project.

We’re not going to give away all the secrets just yet, but we can tell you this: there will be smallmouth, fly rods, rivers, cameras, and probably a few opinions about how we’re supposed to catch these fish.

April Vokey will be here also filming an episode of The Ten Thousandth Cast, showcasing the incredible fishing opportunities we have right here in Northeast Wisconsin.

And because it would be a little rude to keep April all to ourselves, we’re opening things up for a special few hours where YOU can come meet her.

MEET APRIL VOKEY

Discover Green Bay Visitor Center 1945 Argonne St. Green Bay WI 54304. SEPTEMBER 18 4:00 PM till 6:00 PM

Come hang out with April, talk fishing, learn the basics of fly casting, and hear a little about what brought her to Wisconsin. Never fly fished? Perfect. Been fly fishing for 40 years? Also perfect. You can tell us how we’re doing.

There will also be a chance to win some great prizes from Mayfly. This is a pretty rare opportunity to meet one of the most recognizable names in fly fishing while she’s here chasing Wisconsin smallmouth with Tight Lines. Come say hi. Bring your questions. Bring your fishing stories. Maybe leave the 17-foot leaders and complicated fly boxes at home.

We’ll see you at Discover Green Bay.

09/01/2026

Last day of the 2026 guiding season.

After 25 years of guiding smallmouth, you’d think I’d be used to the last day.

I’m not.

There’s always something a little sad about making that final cast and pulling the boat off the river. But today was about as good a way to close it out as I could have asked for. I got to spend the day with guests I’ve had the privilege of fishing with for more than 25 years. That’s pretty damn special.

The flying ants came off today, and the smallmouth absolutely lost their minds over them. One last reminder from the river of why we keep coming back.

It’s hard to say goodbye and thank you at the same time. But mostly, it’s thank you.

Thank you to every person who climbed into my boat, trusted me with a day on the water, laughed at my bad jokes, and helped turn 25 years of guiding into something far bigger than a job.

There’s still plenty of fishing left this season with the rest of the Tight Lines crew, so the river isn’t quite done with us yet.

But for me, the 2026 guiding season is officially in the books.

25 years. A hell of a lot of smallmouth. Even more friendships. And somehow, I still haven’t figured out how to make the last day feel like anything other than the first day of missing it.

Until next season… thank you. Truly.

08/29/2026

There’s Still Plenty of Summer Left — And The River Is Fishing

Late-summer smallmouth fishing is heating up: cooler water, low levels, and aggressive fish—bad news for anything that looks like a snack.

A few prime September and October dates just opened with Nate Sipple and Gavin Marquart .

Limited musky trips are also available. Big flies, big fish, and enough casting to make your shoulder complain.

Ready for one more smallmouth trip—or finally chasing a musky? Call 920-336-4106 for current availability.

The season isn’t over, and the next cast is definitely the one.

08/28/2026

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06/17/2026

Mother Nature has been keeping things interesting lately. One day it’s sunshine and happy fish, the next it’s rain gear, dark clouds, and checking the radar every 15 minutes.

The weather on the river has been a little wet and more up-and-down than a smallmouth on a fly rod, but there’s one thing I can tell you for certain: you can’t possibly have a bad day when Pam and Jane are in the boat.

The storms tried. The wind gave it a shot. The rain certainly clocked in for work. But not a single cloud could put a dent in their spirits.

Some folks bring lucky fishing hats. Some folks bring lucky flies. Pam and Jane apparently bring their own weather system—one powered entirely by laughter, optimism, and a complete refusal to let Mother Nature win.

The fish cooperated just enough to keep things interesting, the stories got better as the day went on, and somehow we ended up having one heck of a day despite the forecast’s best efforts.

Proof that sometimes the best thing in the boat isn’t the guide, the rods, or the fish… it’s the company.

Thanks for a great day, ladies!