Anchored Podcast Ep. 287: The Lost Art of Hand-Tied Flies with Adrian Cortes

Anchored Podcast Ep. 287: The Lost Art of Hand-Tied Flies with Adrian Cortes

July 2, 2026 · 59 min · Season 12 · Episode 7

About this episode

In this episode, April Vokey interviews Adrian Cortes about the art of hand-tied flies and his unique approach to fly fishing.

In this episode of Anchored, I’m joined by Adrian Cortes, a passionate steelheader, hand fly tyer, and critical care nurse whose approach to fly fishing is as thoughtful as it is unconventional. Born in the Philippines and now based in the Pacific Northwest, Adrian has become known for tying intricate flies entirely by hand—without a vise—and for his deep appreciation of traditional steelhead fishing, bamboo rods, and the history of the craft. In this conversation, we dive into his journey, his philosophy, and why slowing down might just make us better anglers. I hope you enjoy this one. Looking to go deeper with your learning? Come see what we’ve been working on at AnchoredOutdoors.com. We’ve built a library of 30 in-depth, sequentially organized Masterclasses taught by past guests of this podcast — and we’ve watched over 1,000 members grow their confidence and skills on the water. Want to check it out for free? No money down, no strings attached. Just head to anchoredoutdoors.com/premium-insiders/ Anchored listeners can get 10% off their first order with Skwala by using the code “anchored10” at check out. See for yourself at skwalafishing.com  Learn more about your ad…

People in this episode

Host: April Vokey

Guest: Adrian Cortes

Topics covered

Keywords

Sponsors

Skwala

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Anchored Outdoors

Places: Philippines, Pacific Northwest

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