Most of Ben Whalley’s very non-traditional youth was spent in Brazil. When he wasn’t breaking horses or working on the ranch, he was exploring the wilderness and waterways, searching for natural materials he could spin up to imitate local berries to catch Pacou. About 20 years ago, he moved to Maine, where his obsession with wild salmonids and chasing stripers on the beautiful, expansive flats in the Gulf of Maine. His saltwater flies are known for being functional and realistic, heavily influenced by the brilliance of Bob Popovic.  In 2022, Ben decided to leave his career as an engineer to pursue his tying, teaching, and guiding full time. Check out benwhalleyfishing.com to learn more.