Fly Fishing Friends Friday

Tony Makris

Having a business in the fly fishing industry is tremendously rewarding.  The opportunity to meet other angling folks and create something of value in a competitive marketplace drives us all to be at the top of our game.  One way that businesses can differentiate themselves from the pack is through the groups and efforts they support.  Tony Markis, of Semper Fly Rods, takes this line of thinking to the next level. 

In his youth on Long Island, Tony expressed a desire to fly fish after seeing a demo at a local fishing expo.  This led him and his father to the Nissequogue River where they caught some stocked trout.  Fly fishing had already begun to sink its teeth in by the time he caught his first brown trout on a Royal Coachmen.

Building rods started at an early age since his family ran a deep-sea operation off the coast of New York and New Jersey.  Their gear took a beating from constant use from spring through fall and Tony began repairing and building their supply of rods throughout the season.

"I wanted to do something different, so I created Semper Fly Rods as a channel to support disabled veterans and their families by donating 10% of our annual rod sales to the Semper Fi Fund."

Fly fishing companies first have to have a quality product or service to offer the angling community. Tony's skill and expert craftsmanship at rod building checks that box emphatically.  What makes Semper Fly Rods so unique is their incredible commitment to veterans groups.   Ten percent of their yearly sales go to the Semper Fi Fund, Toys for Tots, and Trout Unlimited.   That's a level of charity that is matched by few in the business world. 

For Tony, fly fishing is about more than just catching fish or numbers of fly rods sold.  As a disabled veteran he knows how difficult it can be at times, and fly fishing is one of his outlets where he achieves the solace necessary to unwind and de-stress.  Lately, it's taken on a new meaning as it has allowed Tony to spend time with his wife and daughter.   

Fly fishing gives Tony an outlet to unwind and reach some peace of mind, it provides an opportunity to spend time with family, and it allows him to give back to the veteran and conservation community through his generous charitable donations.  What could be any better than that?

Follow along with Tony and Semper Fly Rods by visiting their website, Facebook (@SemperFlyRods), and Instagram (@SemperFlyRods).

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