About Dennis Potter

Dennis Potter tied his first fly over 30 years ago before fishing the AuSable River in northern Michigan. He still remembers, vividly, landing that trout on his first Parachute Hendrickson and he’s been addicted to chasing trout and tying flies ever since.

In 1987, Dennis and his wife Karen purchased their Riverhouse on the banks of the AuSable Holy Water. The house was intended as a retreat for the Potters and their two children, but while fly fishing his beloved watershed, Dennis began a new career.

It was his passion for the skills, art and lore of fly tying that inspired Dennis to become one of the most sought-after tying instructors and lecturers in the Midwest. After leaving a family business to two brothers in 1992, Dennis was able to pursue his bliss full time and went to work as a fly-fishing instructor, shop rat, production fly tier and guide. He spent four seasons at the Gates’ Au Sable Lodge as a Fly Fishing Instructor and continues to enjoy teaching, now specializing in fly tying instruction.

Dennis has tied well over 100,000 flies since starting production in 1993. Formerly a designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants, Dennis now creates specialty flies for Rainy’s Inc. of Logan, Utah where he is a trout fly specialist. Dennis’ fly designs are developed to catch trout worldwide, and are fished extensively and with great success throughout the United States.

Read about Dennis in the media.