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Our Team

Andy Partlo - Andy has been running a fly shop so long that when he started, he had hair. The stresses of college and trips out West for trout at every opportunity have long since said goodbye to it. But in all seriousness, he is a walking encyclopedia of fly fishing. With twenty years of angling experience under his belt, and over half of that running shops, both in Michigan and Montana. He has crafted his skills not only with rod and vice, but with the anglers that share in his passion. If you get the chance to stop into our shop you’ll probably have the pleasure of talking with Andy about one thing or another, and if you have a question, he’s got the answer that will help put you on trout. In fact, Andy and all the guys at the shop are the kind of people that leave you feeling that you were just talking to a friend that you haven’t seen in a long time, but never missed a beat. That’s Old Au Sable Fly Shop. Email him at andy@oldausable.com.

Joe Ferrigan - Although, Joe is one of our younger guys, his entire life has been wrapped around the Au Sable River. He started his fishing career on the East Branch, but was brought into the sport as a child when he learned to tie flies with the local legend Bob Smock Sr. Ever since he has developed his skills throughout the seasons on both the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers. When it comes to knowing the waters and hatches of either stream, Joe is the man to talk to. He has been working in fly shops for most of his adolescent life and it shows; both in the way he is with people and with product knowledge. Email him at joe@oldausable.com.

Jamie Clous -

Alex Lafkas

Alex Lafkas has been a fly-fishing guide in Northern Michigan for 10 years and has been fly-fishing the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers for over 15 years. He has learned from the best anglers and guides on the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers since he was 15. He is very passionate about fly-fishing, guiding and fly-tying. Throughout his years on the Au Sable he has learned the finer points of fly-fishing that make a difference on a daily basis. As an avid fly-tyer he spends the winter coming up with the perfect fly for the next season and filling the fly boxes at The Old Au Sable. Alex is well versed in all the techniques that account for fish on the Au Sable; nymphing, streamer fishing, dry-fly fishing, night fishing and everything in between to catch trout all year round. There is no off season for him as he takes advantage of the extended seasons on both the Au Sable and Manistee. Recently he has started heading to Arkansas in the winter to help him through the winter months and his obsession with fly-fishing. As an instructor we have received many emails from clients saying how much they enjoy his teaching style and how easy it was to learn from him.

Not only does he fly-fish but spends many days a year on the local lakes and Great Lakes learning about fish, their feeding habits and behavior. Whether it is chasing musky, walleye, or perch or tournament fishing for salmon, he lives and breathes fishing. All of this knowledge helps him recognize when and why fish are active and how to catch them in different conditions. We would guess he spends roughly 200 days fishing a year and even if he’s not out there it’s on his mind. Fishing is not just a hobby for him but a lifestyle.

He can be reached at Alex@oldausable.com

Jerry Regan -

Peter Jones - The happy Welshman who knows more about cane rods and vintage fly fishing gear than anyone you’ll likely ever meet. We’ve become bamboo central with Peter’s help and we have some interesting things in the works. Come cast some wood sticks with Peter. Email him at peter@oldausable.com.

Sam Surre – Sam's been guiding on Michigan streams for nearly four decades. He guides on the Au Sable, Manistee, and Betsie Rivers all in pursuit of fulfilling his clients expectations. Being a guide for that long, you know he not only fulfills expectations, but blows them completely away. Not only a gifted guide, but he has been tying flies commercially for forty five years. Sam used to tie with Art Neumann when he still had his shop, but continues to tie for us with a level of quality that is second to none. Being in a a AuSable riverboat or a drift boat on any water with Sam, is not only productive time, but its time that we anglers come to appreciate because of his presence. The best part of spending some time with him is that he still finds the greatest pleasure in just being on the water. Email him at sam@oldausable.com.