Location: Florida
Species: Redfish, Snook, Tarpon, Bass, Brown Trout
Follow Jesse on Instagram @backwaterflyfishing
Jesse Males is an avid fly fishing, snook snatching, kayak paddling, tarpon slaying, mountain hiking, manatee swimming fool from Central Florida who is currently living the high life in the jungles of Costa Rica. Jesse is a father, husband, fly tyer, and passionate outdoorsman. Not only is he the owner of Backwater Fly Fishing, but also the fly tyer at his online fly shop, www.backwaterflies.com. In addition to spinning bugs for money, he is one of the guides/owners of the adventure guide service in Costa Rica, 506 Outdoors. They offer jungle trout fishing, machaca fishing float trips, pacific coast kayak fishing, as well as overnight beach camping tours to remote sections of the country.
Why do you enjoy fly tying?
Since fly tying has been a hobby and a profession for me I have had the pleasure of tying for fun, for sport, and obviously for money. Overall it is the perfect activity for a creative person and something that always keeps you thinking about fishing even when you can’t get on the water!
How did you get into tying flies? Any big inspirations or fly tiers you admire?
I started tying flies immediately as I learned how to fly fish because I just thought that was what everyone was doing. Once I learned that not everyone tied their own flies I quickly got into tying custom orders for people I knew and then branched off with my own custom fly tying business. After that it was no turning back. I definitely admire people like Bob Clouser and Lefty Kreh, but also more contemporary guys like Drew Chicone and Nick Davis as well. I think that, like myself, they have done a lot to promote the activity and also put their artistic abilities into designing flies that catch fish.
What is your favorite species to chase and why?
As someone that has grown up in Florida and spent most of my time targeting saltwater species, the redfish is definitely my favorite fish to target on fly. They are found in a massive variety of fly fishing scenarios and if everything is done right, they will typically eat a fly pretty happily.
Favorite piece of water to guide/fish and why?
So far my favorite place to guide has been in Costa Rica fishing for tarpon near the border of Nicaragua. The fishing there is incredible and the jungle scenario is certainly breathtaking. What do you enjoy most about outdoor photography and filmmaking? Both photography and filmmaking are such a complicated way to interact with the outdoors that I can’t begin to explain what it actually is that I enjoy most about it. Probably mainly just being able to immortalize these awesome moments and environments we find ourselves in by capturing them through the lens.
What do you enjoy most about outdoor photography and filmmaking?
Both photography and filmmaking are such a complicated way to interact with the outdoors that I can’t begin to explain what it actually is that I enjoy most about it. Probably mainly just being able to immortalize these awesome moments and environments we find ourselves in by capturing them through the lens.
What are some of the challenges our fisheries face that are important to you?
Being from Florida and spending plenty of time in Central America, water quality is certainly the top threat to our fishery. Coming in at a close second would be sustainable fishing practices for commercial fishermen and bag limits that make sense for recreational guys.
