Fly Fishing Friends Friday

Earlier this year I was researching musky flies, and who makes the best ones. One name that kept coming up time and time again was Tony Sandrone of Nightmare Musky Flies. His patterns were more innovative and lifelike than anything else on the market. It was very apparent that an incredible amount of detail went into each fly sold. Not just that, but to see his flies hanging out of the mouths of monster smallmouth bass and musky were testimony enough of their effectiveness. 

Tony Sandrone

For the last half dozen years or so Tony has been the owner-operator of Nightmare Musky Flies in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Even the most casual of anglers will recognize this area as home to some of the best bass and predator fly fishing in all the country, as noted by 1711 bodies of fishable water in Tony's county alone! "It was a no-brainer to become a full time tyer/guide," he says. 

"Fly fishing is a way of life, a lifestyle, and an addiction. I live fly fishing.  Everyone from Presidents, to athletes, to famous actors/actresses, to people like myself and friends love this sport the same way."

For Tony, the choice was made even easier when he was offered a job at a local musky shop. These fish of 10,000 casts are notoriously difficult to catch, but the number of casts can be cut down by using the perch, crappie, sucker, and trout imitations from Nightmare Musky Flies. The pursuit of these fish, along with smallmouth bass (Tony's favorite fish!) has made him an industry leader. 

Something that separates Tony from the rest of the pack is his willingness to give back to the fly fishing, and greater, community. Each year he coordinates an online auction to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Folks from all over the country (quite literally!) donate items or guide trips to be bid upon by anglers and non-anglers alike. This year along they raised over $5,500 through the auction. Using the platform he has earned for a greater good like this is reason enough to support Tony and Nightmare Musky Flies!

​For info on Tony's flies and guide business visit www.nightmaremuskyflies.com and check them out on Instagram or Facebook @Nightmaremuskyflies!