Ian Davis
Fly Fisher, Saltwater Program Director
Yellow Dog co-owner Ian Davis has been involved in the fly fishing industry since the early 1990s. Having grown up in the Catskill Mountains, Ian later went on to attend the Art Institute of Chicago where he studied landscape painting. In the early 90s, he moved to Colorado, where he spent 12 years as the owner of Breckenridge Outfitters, a three-time ”Orvis Endorsed Outfitter of the Year” fly shop. After leaving Colorado in 2003, Ian joined the Yellow Dog team as co-owner and saltwater program director. He has fished extensively throughout the world in both fresh and saltwater. Ian is an accomplished photographer and handles all of the art and illustrations for Yellow Dog's catalogs and other literature.
He has just completed the A Passion for Bonefish the third in Wild River Press's series. Ian lives in Bozeman, Montana with his wife Karen and three daughters Hillary, Maggie and Sophie.
Listen to Ian Davis's Show...
A Passion for Bonefish
Get ready to explore the shimmering world of bonefish with Ian Davis, author of A Passion for Bonefish. Ian shares insights from how to read a flat and choose the perfect fly to unlocking the secrets of tides, moon phases, and guide teamwork. Whether you’re dreaming of stalking the flats or planning your next saltwater trip, this show will fuel your obsession for one of fly fishing’s most electrifying and elusive species.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What features of a bonefish’s anatomy make it such a challenging and thrilling fish to pursue on the fly?
- How do their sensory systems—especially eyesight—impact how we approach them as anglers?
- What types of flats and ecosystems do bonefish thrive in across different regions like the Bahamas or Belize?
- Can you walk us through the typical bonefish diet and how it may vary by location?
- What are some of the most consistently productive bonefish flies you've seen or used in different countries?
- Have any fly patterns surprised you in their effectiveness or versatility across different locations?
- How do wind conditions affect both casting and fish behavior on the flats?
- Are there any general rules anglers can follow to understand tidal movement and its impact?
- What makes the guide–angler relationship crucial in bonefishing success?
- What visual cues help an angler read the flats for likely bonefish hotspots?
- What behaviors should you look for when trying to distinguish feeding bonefish from cruising ones?
- What does a perfect bonefish fly presentation look like?
- Can you explain why strip-setting is so critical—and how it differs from trout setting?
- What’s the best way to land a bonefish safely for both the angler and the fish?
