(Originally published in Tail #6 – July 2013)
I have fished my whole life, and have tried all types of fishing. Fly fishing from the beach is my favorite. I grew up on Long Island, N. Y. where I first started fishing in the saltwater. I like fishing the Northeast Coast for Striped Bass, Bluefish and False Albacore. Night fishing for Striped Bass is wild and one of my favorite types of fly fishing. My first choice would be on a deserted Baja beach hunting for Roosterfish: they are the ultimate gamefish species to hook from the beach on a fly. We moved to Vermont in 1980. Long winters gave me much time at the vise. In 1980 I started a small fly tying business “Counterfeiters In Feathers.” I supplied fly fisherman with Atlantic Salmon, Steelhead and saltwater flies that were headed for Russia, Canada, the Caribbean and beyond. I fish the lakes and ponds of Vermont for Trout and Land-lock Salmon, I originated several flies for this type of fishing, landlocked Salmon Streamers. The Counterfeiter and Quaniche Sunset were tied to fish Magog and Lake Champlain. During the summer we fish for Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike. I’ve tied all styles of flies and at one time held many fly tying classes for Atlantic Salmon and steelhead flies. I am an Umpqua Fly Designer and on the pro staff at Deer Creek and Temple Fork Outfitters. I designed a Classic return eyed Atlantic Salmon and Steelhead hook with Angler Sport Group and Daiichi, it’s called Bob Veverka’s “Classic Salmon Hook.” My Umpqua Feather Merchants contracted fly, Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp is one of the top flies for Bone Fishing in the Bahamas. I’ve tied flies at many fishing shows all over the United States. My flies have been featured in several books including these and several others: Steelhead and Blue Water fly fishing by Trey Combs.
Tying Classic The Classic Salmon Fly by Mike Radencich The Atlantic Salmon Fly by Judith Dunham Fishing Atlantic Salmon by Pam and Joe Bates Bonefish Fly.
Patterns by Dick Brown. I also published two books of my own, Innovative Saltwater flies and Spey flies, published by Stackpole Books. I have written several articles for magazines, Fly tyer, Fly Fishing The West, Wild Steelhead and Fish and Fly. Recently I have done a few articles on the web, Blue Water Days / Tequila Nights on the fly Fishing Forum and Roosterfish Capital Of The World on Reel-time.com. Both relate to the fishing to be had in Baja Mexico. One describes the offshore and inshore fishing and the other Beach fishing for Roosterfish on the East Cape of Baja.I did an article for my Mantis Shrimp on Denecki’s web-site. My “Fishing The Beach” page can be reached at www.facebook.com/fishingthebeach I am retired from my real job, 35 years with the United states Postal Service. Now I tie flies, fish and try to stay out of trouble and most important, Have Fun. You probably figured it out, but this is the condensed resume of Bob Veverka. Fisherman, innovator, and gentleman. Bob was kind enough to do an interview with Tail Fly Fishing Magazine earlier in the winter months of 2013. He will likely be in Cabo chasing roosters in July, prime time for beach fishing in Mexico.
How long have you been fly fishing and how did you get started?
I have been fly fishing for over 45 years, I saw a fly fisherman fishing in the Catskills when I was a kid. Left an impression on me, though I have to do that someday.
How many books have you written or contributed to?
I have written two Books, Innovative Saltwater Flies, includes bios from 35 saltwater tyers and their go-to patterns. The other is Spey Flies, and how to tie them. Includes Spey patterns for Atlantic Salmon and Steelhead. My flies have also been featured in over a dozen other books. Bluewater Flyfishing by Trey Combs, Bonefish Flies by Dick Brown, Steelhead by Trey Combs, Atlantic Salmon Fishing by Pam and Joe Bates and Tying the Classic Salmon Fly by Mike Radencich to name a few.
Any idea how many flies you created or been credited with creating?
There are several flies to my credit, my most famous would be my Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp, one of the best flies for Bonefish in the Bahama’s and beyond. This with my crab pattern the Capt. Crabby are contracted flies with Umpqua Feather Merchants. My Steelhead Sunset and Steelhead sunrise are used for Steelhead fly fishing. I originated several Landlock Salmon Streamers, the Counterfeiter, Yellow Badger and Aqua Ghost. My East Cape Series are used for inshore and offshore saltwater species, this includes the East Cape, Sardina, Flying-Fish and Mullet. A new one is my Ltl. Rooster fly for rooster fishing in Baja, Mexico.
Where is your favorite place to fish, what are some of your favorite species to fish for?
My favorite place to fish is the Beach, I really like to fly fish from the Beach over all other methods. Two of my favorite beach fishing spots are Martha’s Vineyard for striped bass, bluefish and false albacore and bonito. And Baja, Mexico for roosterfish. I’ll catch and eat a fish once and a while but I fish more for fun. I like fish that are hard to catch and once caught tough to land. I also like fishing at night for Striped Bass and any other gamefish that feeds at night. Summer nights out on the beach with Stripers busting is hard to beat.
If you had one species to fish for, which would it be and why?
Roosterfish, period. You can fly fish for them from the beach. The environment they inhabit is beautiful, long endless beaches, crystal clear water, giant roosterfish crashing bait at your feet and they are very hard if not the hardest to catch on a fly. Also to land. and they get big 30, 40, 50, 60 plus pounds.
What was your inspiration for the Mantis shrimp or did it just happen, aside from your Mantis shrimp, what are your go-to Bonefish flies? Other must-have flies?
Before a trip to the Bahamas for bonefish I looked at my fly box and needed something different, my own design. I felt Shrimp is a Bonefish’s favorite food. I tied it in natural colors to fit in a Bonefish’s environment, tan. The design pattern of the legs is what gives this fly an edge over others. They look natural and move separately from each other. It’s a fly a fly fisherman looks at and sees it looks like a shrimp and so I feel they fish this pattern with confidence. Other flies I carry for bonefish include the Gotcha and the Simran, the Simran is a great fly and I use it and the Mantis Shrimp as my two go-to flies. I feel with these two patterns you can catch bonefish anywhere.
What is your prized catch to date, the fish that made you most proud?
My prized catch would have to be the first fish I ever caught on a fly, a small trout in the Catskills Mountains of New York on the Little Beaverkill on a size 14 Adams, that was my favorite fly for a long time after that. I guess the first time I catch a different species makes me happy. I also feel the fish that will make me proud is still out there swimming. The only fish that could fill this void is a Grande Roosterfish ( over 30 lbs.) from the sand on a fly.
What is the funniest thing you were witness to while fishing?
Too many fun things; I could not include them all. One time fishing with my wife and friend Rick and his girlfriend in Baja we decided to troll some big lures on the way back, a fish took and ran what seemed like a mile. After an hour or more we were getting it close to the boat, my wife was fishing and fighting this fish. It never showed but I knew it was big. After an hour it was close to the boat, my friend Rick says, I see it it’s small why are you having a hard time bringing that in. I look and then realize he‘s looking at the lure in the fishes mouth, I said rick that’s the lure your seeing, look from there and follow it back about 8 feet, a Blue marlin about 250 lbs. was on the line. When he saw the outline of the fish his eyes opened up. I thought that was funny.
Do you have any recommendations for novice fly anglers?
Keep it simple and get a good rod and reel and line that you like. Practice makes all the difference. Start with a half dozen fly patterns, learn to fish them with confidence. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Fish hard and have fun.
Do you have any recommendations for advanced anglers wanting to improve?
Practice, because the more you fish, the better you get. Just when you think you figured it all out, you haven’t. Most important thing is to relax and have fun, and turn loose most fish to fight another day.
MORE BLOGS LIKE THIS:
Related
hey bob, has been a few years since we talked. saw your salmon flies at a restaurant in garrison n.y. they gave me your name. next spring i will be going fishing in new brunswick for atlantic salmon.i am still here on long island some 48 years. brian braccia just moved upstate and retired. give me a call 516 887 3342.p.s. going to christmas island next month for giant trivially i fished with you in the catskills near roscoe and still remember the fucia flies we used.