Jeff "Bear" Andrews 

Jeff “Bear” Andrews will be at FlyMasters on Monday October 12th. Bear is a very well know fly fisherman, fly tier, and conservationist. He will be visiting FlyMasters for the entire day sharing his knowledge and experience with anyone who comes in the shop. Highlights of his visit will include a slideshow presentation starting at 12:00pm showcasing Labrador "Trophy Brookies".

Bear will also be leading a special “Best of Bear” tying class that evening from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Some of the flies he will be teaching will be the "Bear's Hex Nymph" "The Mine Sweeper" "Bear's Clear Wing Hex Spinner" maybe "Ben's Stone" and an "Articulating Sparrow".  The cost for the class is $50.00 and all you need to bring is your tying tools.  Seats are limited so make certain you register early!

Bear and a nice Redfish

Bear and a Big Carp

Jeff “Bear”Andrews BIO

• Michigan native Jeff “Bear” Andrews has been fly fishing and tying flies for over 40 years.
• From 1977 until 1987 he ran Bear’s Fly Shop in Grand Ledge, Michigan.
• In 1998 he was the recipient of the “Buz” Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a fly tyer by the Federation Of Fly Fishers. He was the youngest to receive this award, and at the time only the third person from the Midwest.
• He has tied flies commercially for 30 years, producing as many as 2000 dozen flies a year.
• Annually Bear travels throughout the United States and Europe sharing his tying skills through demonstrations and classes.
• Bear founded the “Tyathon” for the Federation Of Fly Fishers. During his One-Man 24hour tying marathon he raised over $125,000.00 for the Federation Of Fly Fishers conservation projects. These were held annually for ten years before he gave them up.
• In 1984 he co-founded the Michigan Chapter of The Brotherhood Of The Jungle Cock, a youth fly fishing organization. From 2005-2006 he served as the national president .
• Bear’s flies are sought after by both collectors and fly fishers.
• His flies have appeared in numerous books, magazines as well as limited edition artwork.
• He has set 3 IGFA World Records for Brook Trout.
• He is currently the Fly Fishing Editor for “Michigan Out- Of- Doors” magazine writing the “Michigan Fly Box” each month. He has done this for the last 18 years.
• In 1999 he released the first in a series of VHS tapes called “Steelhead” flies for the Great Lakes Region, followed by “Steelhead II”.
• In December 2006 he released the first in a series of DVD’s. “Best Of The Bear/Steelhead” followed by a March 2007 release of “Best Of The Bear/Tying Tradition” for trout. In December of 2007 he released “Best Of The Bear/Steelhead II”.
• Since 2000 Bear has been a Fly Designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants.
• Bear has received numerous award from the Federation Of Fly Fishers including the Presidential Award, Conservation Award, 3 FFF Presidents Pins from 3 different Presidents Educator Of The Year from the Great Lakes Council/FFF, Contributing Artisan Award from the Great Lakes Council/FFF.
• He works summers as a guide at Fuller’s North Branch Outing Club in Lovells, Michigan.
• Currently on the Pro Staff for Umpqua Feather Merchants, Regal Vise/Regal Engineering, and Daiichi Hooks, and Mystic Rod Company.