Enrico Puglisi
Fly Fisher, Fly Tier, Product Designer
Enrico Puglisi learned about fishing before he could walk. Surrounded by the Mediterranean in his native Sicily he watched his father and uncles catching dinner with all manner of bait. It sparked a passion within him that continues to grow.
While working as a chef in Sicily he met his American wife Karen and and in 1980 he moved to her hometown of New York City. There he pursued his passion for fishing on the Connetquot River and other New York streams.
Listen to Enrico Puglisi's Show...
Flies That Catch Fish
Enrico Puglisi’s flies and fly tying materials continue to have a groundbreaking impact on the future of saltwater and freshwater fly fishing. His unique hand-tied flies are recognized around the world. Listen in and learn how Enrico designs his flies and how he creates the one of a kind materials he uses to match specific baitfish and to catch fish.
Questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What inspired you to start creating specialized fly tying materials?
- What was the first material you created?
- How many different fibers do you have?
- What are your different fibers best used for?
- What's your best tip for making working with fibers easier?
- Why are Trigger Fibers so deadly?
- What material shouldn't you add to saltwater flies?
- What three types of threads do you use when tying your flies?
- Why did you create the line of brushes and what are they best used for?
- What is the biggest mistake most tiers make when tying saltwater patterns?
When he hooked his first trout it sparked an insatiable thirst to understand why fish “eat” artificial flies. He began experimenting with various materials and patterns. At the same time he was trying to improve his English by reading fly fishing books and magazines. Yet something inside him was always drawn to the sea and he began to shift his focus to fly fishing in saltwater, starting with local Long Island beaches.
In 1992 Enrico took his passion for fishing and tying and opened The Practical Fly Shop in Little Neck, NY. His customers encouraged him to create original flies. He began to experiment with more durable synthetic and natural materials to create flies that eventually became part of the catalog offered through Enrico Puglisi Ltd. as EP™ Flies and EP™ Fibers. Today, Enrico no longer maintains The Practical Fly Shop, but through Enrico Puglisi Ltd., his innovative products continue to have a groundbreaking impact on the future of saltwater fly fishing. His unique hand-tied flies are recognized around the world, and he has been invited to demonstrate his meticulous tying techniques across the United States and Europe. All of his patterns are designed to match specific baitfish and to be eminently fishable.
Visit Enrico Puglisi Flies to learn more about his flies and materials.
