I began my fly-fishing career at the age of seven in the heart of the Adirondacks around the Saranac Lake area where I grew up. When I turned 21, I set out for living in the Colorado Rockies in the town of Ft. Collins where I spent well over a decade fishing extensively across a five state region exploring the best of the west tailwaters and freestone streams along the way. The majority of my time was spent on my local waters of the Cache La Poudre, Big Thompson and the North Platte.
I have “created” over 50 patterns of which 27 are available commercially through Idylwilde Flies, for whom I am a Signature Tier. I have written for American Angler, Fly Fisherman Magazine, Southwest fly fishing, and I’m also a contributing writer for Fly Tyer Magazine, which means you can regularly find something of mine to read about. If you do not have access to the magazines where you live I also post the articles on my site at Wileysflies along with fly tying tutorials and an on-line store where you can find a host of unique materials and beads at unbelievable prices. Other than running my on-line store, I fill my time with writing for the magazines and my new book “Synthetic Synergism” which should be available in the winter of 2009(if I can gain some traction on the project!)….and oh yeah I like to fish when at all possible:0).
As of February 2007, I returned to my hometown area where I reside with my beautiful wife Andrea in the tiny Adirondack Town of Rainbow Lake. This is also the location of my new fly shop, Wiley’s Flies. When I am not working in the shop I will be hard at work tracking down the fish of the Adirondacks from Bass, Crappie, Perch, Whitefish, & Northern Pike to Steelhead, Cohoes, Landlocked Salmon, Splake, Browns, Rainbows and Brookies and even the River Shad can be a blast!
My second open-heart surgery in December of 2001 changed my life and allowed me to pursue my passion and dedicate my life to the sport that has given me so much in return without ever asking for anything other than respect. I have been blessed and I am very grateful for it.
God bless,
Vince Wilcox
You can reach me at Wileysflies.
Email me here