Andrew Leister
Signature Tyer
Like so many, I grew up in the Midwest, hunting and fishing for as long as I can remember. I always knew I wanted to live in Colorado but after receiving a newly minted college degree during the economic downward spiral of 2008 and not being able to find a “real job,” the choice was easy when it came to moving west and becoming a ski bum.
While working for a large ski company, I started to dabble in Fly Fishing for the first time in my life. With some help and lots of time spent floundering on the water, I finally started to have some success but still very much knew I was newbie. My professional relationship with the sport started somewhat against my will as the company I worked for needed a retail manager in one of their fly shops and I was told that would be my summer job despite my desires to pursue other passions and career avenues within the company.
In 2012, Vail Valley Anglers opened under the current name and I was eager for a change. With few fishing skills and an appetite to learn, I was lucky enough to be brought into the fold and under the wings of some of the best anglers and people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. It didn’t take long to learn that this sport and industry are what I was made to do.
While I love the Vail Valley and living and fishing in Colorado, my mind is often in British Columbia swinging for steelhead or in the Everglades looking for sleeping Tarpon or in New Zealand hunting for huge dry fly eating fish. For me, tying flies is a way of staying connected to those special places that you don’t always get to fish or have yet to fish. Finding ways to incorporate skills and techniques from my favorite destinations back into my western trout fishing is one of the ways I approach my local fishing and sometimes my guiding.
Like so many, I grew up in the Midwest, hunting and fishing for as long as I can remember. I always knew I wanted to live in Colorado but after receiving a newly minted college degree during the economic downward spiral of 2008 and not being able to find a “real job,” the choice was easy when it came to moving west and becoming a ski bum.
While working for a large ski company, I started to dabble in Fly Fishing for the first time in my life. With some help and lots of time spent floundering on the water, I finally started to have some success but still very much knew I was newbie. My professional relationship with the sport started somewhat against my will as the company I worked for needed a retail manager in one of their fly shops and I was told that would be my summer job despite my desires to pursue other passions and career avenues within the company.
In 2012, Vail Valley Anglers opened under the current name and I was eager for a change. With few fishing skills and an appetite to learn, I was lucky enough to be brought into the fold and under the wings of some of the best anglers and people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. It didn’t take long to learn that this sport and industry are what I was made to do.
While I love the Vail Valley and living and fishing in Colorado, my mind is often in British Columbia swinging for steelhead or in the Everglades looking for sleeping Tarpon or in New Zealand hunting for huge dry fly eating fish. For me, tying flies is a way of staying connected to those special places that you don’t always get to fish or have yet to fish. Finding ways to incorporate skills and techniques from my favorite destinations back into my western trout fishing is one of the ways I approach my local fishing and sometimes my guiding.