Guest Angler Q&A Series: Jeff Liskay
In this monthly series, we sit down with guests from across to angling community to bring new perspectives and share a glimpse into different aspects of the sport, fisheries and watersheds, and culture. This month, we spoke with Jeff Liskay from Great Lakes Fly Fishing and host of The Great Lakes Dude podcast. Enjoy!
Tell us about yourself and how you got into the sport.
My journey started back in the early 70s. At the time, I worked at a local bait and tackle shop and began fishing my home waters (the Rocky River and the Lake Erie shoreline) primarily using conventional gear fishing my home river. My introduction to fly fishing was 5 years later when I purchased my first fly rod – a 5 wt. Fenwick Fenglass - which I used to chase trout on Michigan's AuSable river during the summers.
When did you start guiding and what do you love the most about it?
My first experience guiding was as a first mate in the mid 70’s on Lake Erie’s western basin, netting walleyes and smallmouth bass for six-pack charter captains. After logging enough sea time, I started captaining my own boat targeting walleye, smallmouth bass, salmon and Great Lakes steelhead during the summer months – then, in the fall through spring, I switched over to “walk and wade” trips targeting Great Lakes steelhead and salmon.
As the years passed, I slowly immersed myself more into the fly fishing world thanks to the help of a good friend, Jerry Darkes, who started up a fly fishing product representation company. It is then that I made the switch to fly fishing full time and have enjoyed the challenge to this day.
In terms of my love for guiding, my office is out with Mother Nature - some days, it’s the most beautiful thing on the planet but there are days when I think I’m nuts based on the conditions – but it is hard to beat. There are so many things that make up my love for spending water time with people that it’s hard to point at one thing. That said, I love watching first time anglers connect with a special fish and seeing that happy grin all the way down as well as having great conversation throughout the day sharing life and fish stories with my clients.
Personally, my drive and motivation for guiding is the daily puzzle of figuring out the fish while navigating changing conditions and working on improving each anglers skills as the day progresses.
Ohio might not be at the forefront of anglers’ minds when it comes to the next trip they plan. Speaking with you, I’d call it a “sleeper destination.” What makes it so special?
“Why would I go to Ohio?” That is what most anglers would likely think and say. Well, from my home base (which is on the central south shore of Lake Erie), I can target almost any warm water species that calls the lake home and also enjoy one of the best migratory rainbow trout fisheries in the US which is only a few hours away. Imagine being able to access freshwater skinny flats to sight-fish for drum, catfish, gar, carp and offshore reefs for smallmouth bass and walleye on offshore reefs during the summer and then switching over to swinging flies for Great Lakes rainbows on one of the many Erie tributaries in fall through early spring. And if you expand your radius to three plus hours, you can now chase Pacific & Atlantic Salmon, Lake St. Clair’s Musky or trout in the streams of Michigan and Pennsylvania. With all those opportunities to challenge your skills, it’s a no brainer to visit Ohio if you are an angler.
You are also very active in the angling community, whether it’s participating in Spey claves across the US or serving on the board of your local steelheaders club…all this on top of your guiding commitment. Why is getting involved at this level important to you?
I’m blessed to be an ambassador in the fly fishing community. To me, it has nothing to do with catching fish or being a badass angler. It’s all about sharing my passion with others and growing the sport for everyone to enjoy.
The cool thing is I share my knowledge of course but I learn just as much or more from other anglers…that’s why we call it a community right. Over the years, I have made many mistakes fishing my home waters that I feel bad about so it’s important to share that with other younger anglers so they have a vision for the future.
When you aren’t guiding and manage to find time to get on the water yourself, do you have a favorite style of fishing (whether it’s throwing big streamers or euro-nymphing) and what are you chasing?
On the rare off day, I love spending time on the water with my wife Karen, no matter the species or technique (but as a FYI, she is a hard core Musky gal.).
When I get some time to myself, you will find me fishing one of the Great Lakes exploring somewhere where the fish have never seen a fly or on a river stepping through a run swinging a fly.
Thanks Jeff for sitting down with us and sharing your story!
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Your Name: Jeff Liskay
Location & Home Water: North Central Ohio and Lake Eries south shore
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Favorite Species: All species that inhabit the Great Lakes & Tributaries
Favorite Fly Pattern: Craft Fur Patterns (unweighted & weighted with tungsten beads or eyes)
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Favorite Rod / Reel Set-up:
Great Lakes Big Water
Scott Wave & Sector rods (6 wt. through 1 1wt.) matched with Ross Evolution R & Evolution FS reels
Great Lakes Migratory Trout (Steelhead)
Scott Swing rods (11’8” 6 wt. & 13’ 8'' 7wt.) matched with click-pawl reels
