From Freestyle Flies to Full-On Art The Creative Creations Of Romero Flies
- The Fly Box LLC
- Jun 6, 2025
- 5 min read
This interview was conducted by The Fly Box and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter.
Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world, all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month.
Subscribe today and use promo code: "RomeroFlies15" at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to conservation efforts.
Raised with a Rod, But Self-Taught at the Vise
Mike Romero doesn’t remember a life without fishing.
“It seems like as far back as I can remember, I’ve had a fishing rod in my hands... Probably before I could even walk!”
But fly fishing, that came later. He was 12 years old, spending a day at a local pond, when an older gentleman handed him a fly rod and offered him a turn. That simple, spontaneous moment changed everything. “He asked if I wanted to try, and to me, that was a no-brainer answer. Of course I wanted to try!” Within days, his mom bought him a budget-friendly setup, and just like that, a lifelong obsession was born.
Discovering the Vise
Not long after picking up the rod, Mike stumbled across a friend’s dad tying flies. The idea that flies could be handmade, tied by real people rather than mass-produced, blew his mind.
"I didn't even know it was a thing until I saw a friend's dad tying and thought to myself, wait, you can tie your own flies for fishing? I just figured they were massed produce by some machine"
Soon he was at the vise with a basic kit and a pile of materials, trying to figure it out on his own. “My mom bought a basic kit and some materials, and I went to work. At least, that’s what I thought,”
His early flies were scrappy and awkward, but one rough bead-head nymph actually worked.
“It was just a hook with a bead head and some hare’s ear dubbing, a poor man’s hare’s ear nymph. But it caught a fish! And something clicked after that. I became a nymph-tying machine... [and] the trout just kept coming!”
From Nymphs to Art
Fast-forward to today, and Mike’s tying has moved well beyond simple patterns.
He’s now a full-blown artist at the vise, known for elaborate deer hair creations that range from ducks and dogs to cartoon characters, monsters, and more.
"fly fishing had its own world of bass fishing my eyes were opened to a while new tying experience."
He’s one of just a handful of tyers pushing fly tying into sculptural, expressive territory, and it all started with a few cheap materials and a lot of curiosity.
"My passion for duck hunting and bass bugs had a moment where the two worlds combined, and the first deer hair mallard was born. It wasn’t pretty, but it was the start of something that would become bigger than anything I could’ve imagined.”
Art at the Vise: How Creativity Takes Form
Romero Flies didn’t begin with a business plan. It started with long hours at the vise, countless failed attempts, and a literal box labeled “Back to the Drawing Board.”
"99 percent of what I tie is all freestyle. No plans or blue prints. Just by brain to my hands to the hook!"
Sometimes, the spark comes from TikTok livestreams. A viewer might shout out a challenge "tie a dog," for example, and Mike takes it on.
His work has led to a whole range of larger, more ambitious pieces: articulated ducks, bass bugs, and pop-culture crossovers like Stitch, Sasquatch, and even Phil Robertson.
Not everything makes it out into the world. Plenty of creations end up in that drawing board box. But the ones that work? They blur the line between traditional fly tying and modern sculpture, often looking more at home in an art gallery than a fly box.
Breaking the Mold: Function Meets Expression
While many fly tyers operate within long-established traditions, Mike has found joy—and success—by stepping outside the box.
“There are only a handful of tyers doing what I do... and I love being part of that small group of tyers.”
That’s not to say he’s abandoned tradition. He still ties trout nymphs, steelhead patterns, dries, and streamers.
But when he’s on a creative streak with deer hair, the results speak for themselves.
So, in his opinion... is he a fly tyer or an artist?
"It's definitely both. I consider myself a more advanced fly tyer that can tie anything... but I'm also an artist that can make fly tying more of an art form"
That rare fusion of technical skill and expressive freedom has set him apart in a sport that’s often more about precision than personality.
TikTok, Teaching, and The Power of Livestreams
Mike’s creative world expanded exponentially when he began livestreaming his fly tying on TikTok. What started as a personal outlet quickly snowballed into a loyal community.
It was nerve-wracking at first "Failing live in front of thousands of people? That’ll spike your heart rate."
Now, those livestreams are a staple. Regulars check in. Strangers become fans. And every now and then, someone drops an idea that sparks his next masterpiece.
His first live auction was a turning point—people bidding real money for one-of-a-kind pieces made right before their eyes. But beyond the business side, it’s the connections that matter most. Mike gets messages from people who caught their personal best on one of his flies, or from kids watching with their parents. Those moments mean everything.
Teaching is a huge part of why he shares so openly.
"I'm self taught for the most part and that definitely comes with frustration sometimes. Helping young tyers get past that frustration is a great feeling"
Redefining Fly Culture
Mike Romero isn’t just making flies. He’s challenging the entire aesthetic of modern fly fishing.
"this sport and lifestyle has always seemed to be real quiet and not many people seemed to be interested because it's not "fun". I like making it fun."
He’s all about injecting personality into a space that sometimes feels stiff. If a kid scrolls past his work, watches, and lights up, that’s a win.
His long-term goal isn’t just visibility. It’s legacy. He wants to be part of a shift—toward more color, more personality, and more fun in the fly fishing world.
Stay Connected and Show Support
Whether you’re a collector, a fellow tyer, or someone just discovering the wild world of Romero Flies, you can explore Mike’s custom work and artistic creations at his online store:
Be sure to follow him for behind-the-scenes content, livestreams, and the latest pieces straight from the vise:
Instagram: @romeroflies
TikTok: @romeroflies
This interview was conducted by The Fly Box and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter.
Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world, all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month.
Subscribe today and use promo code: "RomeroFlies15" at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to conservation efforts.
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