Conway Bowman

Advisor

 

An accomplished all-around adventurer, fisherman and waterman, Conway Bowman’s name is synonymous with “extreme” fly fishing. For Conway, home base is Encinitas, CA where he guides for blue water species on the fly – most notably the fast and ferocious Mako shark.
As the TV host of three highly rated and award winning television series, “The Ford Outfitters”, “Fly Fishing the World” on Sportsman Channel and “Fifty Places to Fly-Fish Before you Die” on the World Fishing Network, Conway has traveled from the remote beaches of Baja California to the humid jungles of Thailand in search of all kinds of wild fishing adventures. His escapades have led him to hook a wide variety of fish species including Atlantic salmon, wild trout, redfish, bonefish, and tarpon.  He currently holds the IGFA World Record for redfish:  41.65 lbs., caught on the fly.
Conway is also the author of “The Orvis Guide to Beginning Saltwater Fly Fishing.”
When not searching for his next adventure, Conway can be found taking his 7 year old son Maximilian surfing, skin diving for lobster or fishing with his wife Michelle in their home waters of Encinitas, California. His time on shore is now occupied by his son Jackson, the newest addition to the Bowman family.
  1. Home water? San Diego, CA,  Mako Shak capital of the world!
  2. What 2-3 lines do you use the most and why? Sonar custom tip: When targeting large blue water species like Mako sharks I customize my fly line system to better deal with the conditions and demands of fighting large fish. The Sonar Custom tip allows me the flexibility to change out my tips depending on the fishing conditions Amplitude Tropical Titan: this is my work horse saltwater fly line. Weather I’m targeting Tarpon, Permit, Bonefish or GTS’s in warm water conditions, the Amplitude tropical Titan is my #1 choice Mastery Cold Redfish: This durable, tested and trued line has been my trusted winter redfish fly line for many years. It has the perfect taper for all casting situations whether at close range or 60 ft.
  3. What was the watershed moment when you knew you wanted to make your living fishing?  As a kid my father and I spent our summers in Stanly Idaho. When I was 9 my father had me take a sports writer fly fishing for bull trout.  I took him to a place called Fish Hook creek where I had a secret spot full of huge bull trout. I got the guy on some fish! He caught a massive bull trout swinging a Muddler Minnow.  The guy tipped me 20 bucks!! I was stoked. What I realized at the end of that day was I really enjoyed watching other people catch fish and helping in the process.
  4. If you could spend one day on the water with anyone, who would it be? My father
  5. On the rocks or straight? 
 Bowman Brothers small Batch Bourbon
  6. If you could give one piece of angling advice to a younger version of yourself, what would it be? 
 Don’t measure yourself  by societies yard stick
  7. What’s in the cooler? 
 Water, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, feta Cheese, homemade venison jerky and a …BANANA!!!!!
  8. What are you doing when you’re not fishing. 
 Surfing and spearfishing with my wife Mish and two boys Max and Jackson!
  9. Where would you most like to fish? 
Anywhere
  10. Stealth or bright lines? 
 Depends on my mood
  11. Two Truths and a Lie. 
 The Sun will always rise, The Sun will always, “that cast was 80 feet”
  12. Craziest experience on the water? 
They are all crazy when you fly fish for Mako Sharks!