Rachel Finn will tell you that her introduction to fly fishing was a happy accident. While recovering from a back injury sustained wind surfing, her partner Jeff suggested she take up fly fishing. Armed with a Leonard bamboo rod, Finn took to New York’s Ausable River and never looked back.

Finn is a Federation of Fly Fishers certified instructor, and during the fishing season she is a fixture in the Adirondack guide circuit. She is the head guide at the Hungry Trout Fly Shop in Wilmington, New York, and takes clients along the many rivers, streams, and ponds found in those majestic mountains. In July and August, Finn leads summer float trips in Alaska. She is also a pro staff member for Scott Fly Rods, Airflo, Nautilus Fly Reel, and Lund Boats. Patagonia has recruited Finn as one of their fly-fishing ambassadors. She has also appeared on ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games and the Outdoor Life Network’s Fly Fishing Masters.

She is an accomplished artist whose works have been shown in New York City galleries. She has a master’s degree in fine arts from Yale University, and her passion for fly fishing is often evident in her mixed-media works. Much of her art is made for the enjoyment of her friends.

According to Finn, she currently enjoys the challenge of Spey fishing and “being humiliated by Great Lakes steelhead” and steelhead from “other destinations yet to come.”

Note: this text was written in 2011.