Rich Hohne
Rich Hohne started working in a fly shop in Montana in 1994. For the remainder of that fabled decade, he guided anglers all over Southwest Montana before eventually putting his college degree to use in a real marketing job. He started working with technical fly fishing apparel brands in 2008 and has remained a pillar of the fly fishing community ever since. To know Rich is to love Rich—he's one of the most talented, creative, and kind humans walking this planet, and though he would never say it himself, he’s a stick with a fly rod.
Things About Rich
Why Skwala? "Skwala was right up my alley when Kevin Sloan approached me about it in 2020. Skwala focuses on building exceptional quality technical apparel focused specifically on fly fishing, and that’s really all I’ve ever wanted to do. The ability to build a great company with people who are so passionate about fly fishing and do it in my hometown was so exciting at the outset and continues to be today."
Guilty pleasure fly: “Royal wulff. Something about the royal family of flies has always been super intriguing to me, probably because I can remember tying them back when I was younger. It may not be “cool” anymore, but the royal wulff is a great fly pattern for multiple scenarios in the West.”
What aspect of your fishing needs work?: “My 2 handed casting definitely needs the most work, because I don't do it often. Lately, I’ve been practicing, which is fun, but it’s not the strongest part of my arsenal.”
Worst fishing snack: “Bananas!”
Most overrated fish: “This is a tough because I really do love most fish, but I’ll say pike because I always seem to find them when I'm looking for other fish.”
More Things About Rich
Most underrated fish “Carp. Even though a lot of people love them, including legends like Lefty Kreh, carp still get a bad rap. They are so fun to target.”
Favorite knot: “Blood knot. I just love the sensation of the two sides synching together. Something about it feels so satisfying.”
If you could fish with one person, living or dead, it would be… "My brother Matt, who I used to fish with a lot and was instrumental in me becoming a fly fisherman. He passed away in 2021, and I would give anything to have one more fishing trip with him."
What's the best part about fly fishing? "Connecting with yourself and the people around you. I often wonder if I enjoy the connection with the other people more or the fact that it allows me to connect with myself. In both cases, fly fishing facilitates this incredibly valuable part of my life and in a way that keeps me centered."
