About the Guide

This year marks my 17th year as a full-time flats guide on the lower Laguna Madre. I moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1986, after completing a degree in aquatic biology at Southwest Texas State University. I've been an avid fisherman since early childhood and learned to fly fish at the local golf course, of all places, when I was twelve or thirteen. Besides flats fishing, I enjoy trout and steelhead fishing, and have fished most of the western states over the past twenty-five years or so. When I'm not fishing, I enjoy chasing upland birds with Lucy, Niza and the mighty Miss Dot, my three Brittanys. Below is a list of guiding-related acitivities and affiliations that I've participated in over the past few years.

Magazine Articles Included In:

Salwater Fly Fishing (Summer 1996, February/March 1998, April/May 2001, June/July 2001, June/July 2002)
Fly Fishing in Saltwaters (July/August 1997, November/December 1998, November/December 2000)
Saltwater Sportsman (July 1998, December 1999)
Field and Stream (July 2001)
Tide (March/April 1996)
Texas Parks and Wildlife (January 1999, August 1999, August 2000)
Fly Fish America (July/August 1997)
Texas Outdoors Journal (June 1997)

Books Included In::

Redfish on the Fly, Captain John Kumiski, 2007 (Argonaut Publishing Company)
Fly fishing the Texas Coast (Pruett Publishing Co., 1999)
Texas Saltwater Classics (Texas Fish and Game Publishing Co., 2001)
Flyfishing for Redfish (Argonaut Publishing Co., 1999)
Saltwater Fly fishing from Maine to Texas (Amato Publications Inc, 2001)

(For the angler interested in a more detailed reference which covers the ecology and critters of the lower Laguna Madre, my all-time favorite book is entitled Shore Ecology of the Gulf of Mexico (Britton and Morton, University of Texas Press, 1989): Lots of illustrations and tons of information on anything and everything you're likely to see in and around the lagoon.)

State Fly Fishing Records

Eric has guided angler Nick Rizopoulos of Sugarland, TX to Texas state youth fly fishing records for redfish, spotted seatrout, snook, jack crevalle, ladyfish and mangrove snapper. (Way to go Nick!)

Slide Presentations and Seminars

Shallow Water Fishing Expo (expo - 6 years running)
Texas Fly fishers (club)
Woodlands Fly Fishers (club)
Alamo Fly Fishers (club)
Laguna Madre Flyfishing Association (club)
Guadalupe Chapter Trout Unlimited (conservation organization)
Coastal Conservation Association (conservation organization)
Angler's Edge (shop)
Westbank Anglers (shop)
Orvis Houston (shop)

Television/Print Appearances

2009 The K.T. Diaries (thanks K.T.!)
ESPN's Orvis Sporting Life with Rick Ruoff (Thanks, Rick)
2006 Simms Catalog (Thanks Diane)

Tournament Wins

2010 Texas Invitational Fishing Tournament, runner up fly division
2009 Texas Invitational Fishing Tournament, runner up fly division
2006 South Padre Island Fly Fishing Invitational
2005 South Padre Island Fly Fishing Invitational
2004 South Texas Flyfishing Invitational
2003 South Padre Island Fly Fishing Invitational
2002 South Padre Island Fly Fishing Invitational
2000 South Padre Island Fly Fishing Invitational
1997 South Padre Island Fly Fishing Invitational

Professional Affiliations:

Scott Fly Rod Co. (pro staff)
Maverick Boat Co. (pro staff)

Advisory Board member, The Snook Foundation
Past Board Member, Port Isabel/South Padre Island Guide's Association
Board of Directors, Laguna Madre Fly Fishing Association