Matt Stinnett

How many years have you been fly fishing?

30+

How many years have you been guiding?

On and off since college.

Who introduced you to fly fishing?

My father Steve, who also was a guide

Can you tell us a little about your home waters and the fish you pursue there?

My home water is the White River in Arkansas. It’s a large tailwater that comes out of Bullshoals Lake. Our target species is large brown trout. The river also has a large rainbow trout population.

What's the height of the season for you? 

The White River is an all year fishery. April-May is our caddis hatch, June-July is our sulfur may fly hatch, Aug-Oct is hopper season, and Feb-March is streamer season and you might luck in to a shad kill the time of year.

What time of year is your personal favorite?

It’s a tie between the sulfur hatch and hopper season.

What are your favorite travel destinations? What's on the bucket list?

La Ventanna, Baja California Sur, Mexico in search of Grande Rooster fish. My bucket list trip is the golden Dorado in Bolivia.

What do you like most about Thomas and Thomas rods? 

The way they present the fly and the rods keep a tight loop no matter what you’re throwing.

Which T&T rods do you fish and why?

I fish the Paradigm when I’m throwing dry flies. I nymph with the Avantt II and the Zone and I’m throwing streamers with the Exocett. I use the sextant on the salt water trips.

What's your current go-to fly?

The one that's getting eaten.

Other than fly tackle, what piece of gear do you find indispensable?

Sunglasses.

My favorite thing about guiding is:

Getting to meet new people from all over the country.

From the angler’s point of view, what do you see as the main value of going on a guided trip?

Years of knowledge of a fishery is priceless.

What can new anglers expect to get out of a guided trip?

Knowledge of the fishery and hands on instruction for casting and reading water.

My favorite thing to teach a client/new angler is... 

How to present a dry fly to a rising brown trout.

What’s your ideal lunch when on the water? What do you actually pack?

I like making charcuterie boards for my customers and an occasional steak never upsets anybody.

What fly fishing blogs/magazines do you read regularly?

The Drake, Fly Fish Journal, Fly Fisherman Magazine.

What other anglers/guides do you follow closely on social media? Who comes top of mind?

Flip Pallot, Legend!

The most important thing I've learned about fly fishing is...

The most important thing I have learned about fly fishing is patience.

When I'm not fishing you'll find me:

Spending time with my wife and kids and riding my Harley chopper.