Jake Marthaler
Jake Marthaler grew up in the South Suburbs of Chicago but spent summers in Southwest Michigan at my family’s cottage fishing for panfish bass and pike. He learned to fly fish on a vacation out West when he was ten and never looked back. But, instead of moving to Colorado and Montana like everyone else in the Midwest who discovered fly fishing, he brought fly fishing to his home waters.
Jake’s been guiding Western Michigan for Schultz Outfitters since 2022, putting fly anglers on smallmouth, pike. and Great Lakes steelhead. In the offseason, you can find him heading south and east—getting after stripers, snook, redfish, and musky.
Things About Jake
Worst fishing snack: Cheetos, I don't want those cheesy fingers anywhere near my rods, boat, or especially my TRUCK!
Guilty pleasure fly: The Swingin’ D. Nothing swims the way those do!
Most overrated fish: Trout... no explanation needed.
Most underrated fish: Bowfin or dogfish. They are looked at as garbage fish, but when you run into one on the river hold on tight!
More Things About Jake
Favorite knot: Loop knot. I use it for most of my fishing—whether it's bass, musky or redfish. It’s easy to tie, strong, and gives your fly a little more action.
Waders smell like...: My waders smell great!! My bibs on the other hand, they smell like a mixture of musky and redfish currently.
One person, living or dead, you wish you could fish with: Larry Dalhberg. He's a living legend!
The best part about fly fishing: The people!
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