Background
Mark has spent over 25 years fly fishing the fabled rivers of the Catskill Mountains. When he was just 14, as is so often the custom in fly fishing, some of the local masters took him under their wings.

These were some of the leading figures and thinkers in the world of fly fishing and fly tying. For years, Mark had the privilege to draw upon their collective experience and expertise. This allowed him to grow exponentially as a tyer and angler at an early age.

They conferred to him a pedigree rich in history and tradition. Mark learned to dress flies with materials that came off the desk of the legendary Harry Darbee; a desk now enshrined behind glass at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM).

The late Ralph Graves was Mark's first fly tying mentor. Over several years, Graves honed Mark's early fly tying skills. Graves shared his expertise on wet flies and his wisdom on catching large trout. Mark's love of wet flies is a direct influence of Graves' early teachings.

Later, Mark spent four years apprenticing with a close friend, neighbor, and angling disciple of Ray Bergman. This is where Mark was encouraged to endeavor upon creative and artistic fly tying. Here he learned the importance of unique fly patterns and unorthodox techniques of presentation. It was at this time and through these teachings that fly fishing transformed from method to art. These latter teachings were profoundly influential in the way Mark approaches fly tying and angling.

By the time Mark was just 16, his talent as a fly tyer had not gone unnoticed. He received the distinguishing honor of being asked to be a guest fly tyer at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. Mark continued to be a guest tyer at the museum until he began college in the late 90's.


One of the pitfalls of fishing in an area so hallowed with tradition, is the natural inclination to follow in the customs of the past. Despite his training steeped in the classics, you will not find Mark fishing with traditional Catskill flies.

Instead, he will probably be experimenting with one of his new impressionistic patterns. Mark continues to innovate with new fly patterns and materials. He continues to believe in the importance of showing "educated" trout unique patterns. The uniqueness of Mark's trout flies is a major distinguishing characteristic.


Mark's Fly Fishing CV

	1992 - 95	Studied under Catskill legend Ralph Graves, Old Glory Fly Shop. Roscoe, NY
	1994 - 97	Apprenticed with renowned classic salmon fly tyer Paul Filippone, Donegal's. Roscoe, NY
	1994 - 97	Member: Catskill Fly Tyers Guild (CFTG)
	1995, 96	Guest Fly Tyer: Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM)
	1995	New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation: Guide License # 3010
	1996	Ramsey Outdoor: Fly fishing specialist & casting instructor. Ramsey, NJ
	2015 -	Member: Friends of the Upper Delaware River www.fudr.org
	2019	Fly Tyer magazine: Feature Article. The Emu Epiphany Autumn Issue 2019