Tommy Lynch
Fly Fisher, Fly Tier, Guide
Tommy Lynch is a fly fishing guide based in Northwest Lower Michigan, guiding anglers on a variety of rivers and waters in pursuit of wild brown trout and steelhead—often referred to locally as lake-run rainbows. Fly fishing has been a central part of his life for as long as he can remember. He began fishing these streams as a kid alongside his father, and his obsession only deepened once he earned his driver’s license and gained full freedom to chase fish.
With decades of time spent on these waters, Tommy brings a seasoned, presentation-driven approach to guiding. His style emphasizes streamers, mouse patterns, and thoughtfully “activated” dry flies, all delivered with an understanding that comes from countless days on the river. That experience has given him a deep appreciation for the subtle, almost mystical elements of fly fishing—insights that clients benefit from every time they step into the water with him.
Listen to Tommy Lynch's Show...
After Dark Predators: Fly Fishing with Mouse Patterns for Trophy Brown Trout
When the sun goes down, big brown trout come out to hunt—and few flies trigger more violent takes than a well-fished mouse. In this episode, Michigan guide Tommy Lynch breaks down the art and science of fly fishing with mouse patterns. We cover mouse fly design, rods and lines, presentation tactics, reading water at night, and how to safely fish after dark. If you want to target your biggest trout on purpose, this episode delivers the playbook.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What is it about mouse patterns that triggers such aggressive strikes from big brown trout at night?
- Are trout actually keying on real mice, or is it more about sound, silhouette, and disturbance?
- What time of year do you find mouse fishing to be most productive?
- Why do anglers target nighttime browns with mouse patterns, when subsurface steamers can be really effective at night and have much higher hook-up percentages?
- Are there particular geographic locations where nighttime mouse pattern fishing is most productive?
- What features do you look for in a great mouse fly—materials, buoyancy, tail, legs?
- Do you prefer foam, deer hair, or hybrid mouse patterns, and why?
- How does color matter at night—dark vs. light vs. natural tones?
- What’s your go-to retrieve when fishing a mouse pattern after dark?
- Do you prefer skating, waking, or subtle twitching—and when does each shine?
- What are the most common presentation mistakes anglers make with mouse flies?
- How do you “map” a piece of water during the day to fish it effectively at night?
- What rod, line, and leader setup do you recommend specifically for mouse fishing?
- What safety considerations should anglers think about before fishing at night?
When he’s not fishing or tying flies, Tommy is most proud of being a father to his two sons, Thomas and Alexander, and a husband to a remarkable wife who graciously tolerates his lifelong habit of staring at moving water.
Tommy describes himself as something of a one-trick pony—but one who is constantly refining that trick. For him, that’s the true beauty of fly fishing: there is no ceiling. Growth, awareness, and skill are limited only by the time and attention one is willing to invest in the craft.
The learn more about Tommy and his guide services visit thefishwhisperer.com.
