My Story

In 2012 in the shadow of my namesake, Mount Owen, I caught my first fish on the fly. That first Fine Spotted Cutthroat changed the trajectory of my life. I bought a rod that day and the very next weekend I was fishing the White River in Vermont, a river I would soon call my home water.

 

For more than a decade I have centered my life around fly fishing and the pursuit of fish across New England, and beyond. Before launching Flow State Fly Fishing LLC, I guided for the Orvis Endorsed Woodstock Inn and Resort for five years, three years of them as the head guide. My guiding centers around brown, rainbow, and brook trout, as well as smallmouth bass, a personal favorite. I also enjoy pursuing less common species like longnose gar, musky, landlocked salmon, carp, and everything in between.

 

Conservation and education are the pillars of my guiding. You can expect in-depth teaching, barbless flies, wet fish, and quick photos in my boat. Fish are my business partners and I take pride and care in keeping them healthy. Replicating that first-fly-fish energy and excitement for my clients is what drives me to guide and share my passion. I love introducing fly fishing to people of all ages and backgrounds.  

I am an active volunteer with several great organizations including, Trout Unlimited, Project Healing Waters, Hope on the Rise, and Vermont Youth Trout Camp. I am a Trout Unlimited Lifetime member and I serve on the board of our local TU chapter, Greater Upper Valley TU, as the co chair of the conservation committee. I have also worked for TU in Vermont and New Hampshire as a skilled sawyer and Conservation Specialist adding woody debris back into our rivers to create flood resiliency, habitat, and refuge for cold water species. I hope to bring awareness to the perils facing cold water species, and aid in conservation efforts so future generations can enjoy these resources as I have, fly rod in hand.

 

To me, fly fishing is about more than the pursuit of fish, the beautiful locations, and the people we share them with. Fly fishing invites us to slow down and breathe deep. It offers a reset and an escape from the daily hustle and bustle. In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, take a breath of fresh air and immerse yourself in the flow state.

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Lets get on the water! - Owen