Doug Lyons
Fly Fisher, Fly Tier, Author, Writer
Doug began fly fishing in his native state Massachusetts at the age of twelve. Finding the stocked trout of the Bay State somewhat lacking, Doug convinced his non-angling father to take a trip to the Battenkill; which happened in the fall of 1977. Despite a fishless weekend Doug immediately fell in love with the river. During this time Doug also helped with early habitat restoration work on a small Cape Cod wild brook trout stream; the Quashnet. This gave Doug a deep appreciation for the role of habitat protection in maintaining quality fisheries.
Doug has been fortunate to fish in many of the wonderful waters around the country. His first trip to the Catskills at 15 was magical. Other trips have brought Doug to waters as far west as Washington State and as far south as the Letort.
Listen to Doug Lyons's Show...
The Battenkill
Doug Lyons, a local expert, will help you to sort out one of the most challenging rivers to fish, the Battenkill River. He covers fishing access, hatches, patterns and strategies for both the Vermont and New York stretches. This is home to the Orvis Company and the American Museum of Fly Fishing. Join us to see if you’re ready to give the Battenkill a try.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What is your personal history with the Battenkill?
- What makes the river special to you?
- How is your book Fly Fishing Guide to the Battenkill different from other "where to fish" type books?
- Are there big fish in the Battenkill?
- What is the history of the river?
- What is the current health of the river?
- What seasons can you fish the Battenkill?
- Can you float a canoe or boat on the river?
- What are the important hatches?
- Do streamers work well on the river?
- Is the fall the best time to catch larger fish?
- Are there any special strategies or techniques that work better on the Battenkill?
- What recommendations do you have for night fishing in the Battenkill?
- What is the strangest or most unusual experience you've had while fishing on the river?
Doug is currently a board member of the Battenkill Watershed Alliance and is part of a team helping to guide the activities of the Battenkill Home Rivers Initiative, which he helped launch. He is also a past Vice President and President of the Southwestern Vermont Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Doug's work has appeared on the Orvis Fly-Fishing Blog, Manchester Journal and UpCountry Magazine.
Doug, his wife Deanna, and their dog Roscoe split their time between Maynard, MA, and their camp in Shushan, NY; a mile from the popular Spring Hole.
