Shawn Abernathy (abernathy@tailflyfishing.com)
originally published in Tail #38 – November 2018
Walking into Vaughn Cochran’s studio is like entering a living history of fly fishing. It is everything you want, from the slight smell of solvents to the endless amount of brushes and supplies purposefully littered on table tops. On the walls there is a collection of images from the golden days of Key West, photos of trophy fish from an era before cell phones, and what almost seems like a deliberate art installation of bags of used flies pinned to the walls, along with an old cassette player that he still uses. Every time you move an old pickle jar full of art supplies, some other hidden fly fishing treasure is unearthed.
Cochran, a Jacksonville, Florida native, started fishing when he was young. What was at first a boyhood hobby turned into a passion at an early age. In 1972, it only seemed natural for Vaughn to move to Key West. After writers Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams solidified Key West as an early haunt for artists and eccentrics, 1960-70s Key West was the epicenter of the counterculture in the United States. It feels like nothing in the continental U.S., making it the perfect spot for artists, musicians, poets, writers, and outcasts. Cochran fell right into place, melding with the locals while honing his artwork and fishing knowledge of the Keys, eventually becoming a guide. Vaughn was fishing in the Keys when some of the modern day techniques still used for fly fishing for tarpon were created. Vaughn’s love of fishing, art, and music eventually led him to cross paths with Jimmy Buffett, and he became a member of Jimmy Buffett’s original Coral Reefers band.
Vaughn has led a life most anglers would envy. Guiding the Keys in the 70s, when cutoff jean shorts were still accepted fishing attire, and SPF wasn’t on the radar, managing lodges in Belize and Costa Rica, playing music with Jimmy Buffett, all while creating outstanding works of art that showcase his unique style and appreciation for fishing. Fast forward to today and Vaughn is still true to his fly fishing roots. Blackfly, the brand he created, has become one of the most recognized in all of saltwater fly fishing. Vaughn explains that while learning a style of Japanese Sumi brush painting, he started to practice by creating fly patterns. He had dozens of originals he showed me as he explained how the logo came about by simply playing around with his new brushes. That would soon turn into an iconic logo for a fly shop, clothing, a restaurant and one of the most prestigious Bahamas bonefishing lodges.
The Blackfly brand started as a fly shop in 2005 St. Augustine, FL on Aviles St. Which is also the oldest plotted street in America. Shortly after the Jacksonville location opened up. Vaughn wanted to share his lifelong passion for fly fishing with others. The shop carries everything a saltwater angler needs. One of the unique features of the shop is that it is attached to the Blackfly cafe and tap room. The cafe’s menu is heavily influenced by Vaughn’s travels, showcasing some of his favorite meals from his fishing adventures. The cafe also boasts murals painted by Cochran himself. Along with the cafe, Cochran has another restaurant, Blackfly Restaurant, located in St. Augustine, FL. The restaurant is also adorned Cochran’s original artwork, and The Angler’s Bar inside will make you think you just stepped off the skiff in the Bahamas.
Cochran’s artwork showcases many different mediums and demonstrates his ability to explore and master many different types of art. On the studio wall is a photo of him posing in front of a giant kiln that he built in the backyard. He would fish all day, jam out to music and return to create pottery. While never entirely moving away from pottery, Vaughn gravitated toward painting over time.
His paintings showcase an array of styles, from photorealism to pop art and even some hints of street art influence his new works. Some of his art doesn’t directly relate to fishing, but more the experience that comes along with angling. Perhaps my favorite series of paintings is his bright series, which focuses on pop art and bright, bold, flat colors. He creates beautiful abstract colorations of saltwater fish with a pop art style that is distinctly his own. His new work gives a nod to street art while still capturing the essence of fly fishing.
It is evident that Cochran is a man of many talents, both on and off the water. In our time together, we talked about what fly fishing means to him. Sure, catching a permit is amazing, but it’s really about the total experience of fly fishing – being outside in nature, sharing experiences with good friends, then finishing off the day with a memorable meal and a drink. That is Blackfly and the culture that he has been embracing and building for decades.
SUBSCRIBE TO TAIL