Meet Zack Borcher

Zack is a fairly recent transplant to Portland by way of Reno, Nevada, and is the newest member of the NWFFO family. A lifelong outdoorsman, he spent the falls and winters of his childhood waterfowl and upland bird hunting, and his summers gear fishing in Idaho with family. After reading an article in Outdoor Life about the Muddler Minnow, he used one of his first paychecks — earned washing dishes — to buy a fly rod, and set off on a path that led him here to NWFFO 25 years later.

Between then and now, Zack spent as much time as possible exploring the vast public lands of Northern Nevada and the Sierras, searching for trout wherever there was a blue spot or line on a map. While much of his time was spent in pursuit of big Truckee River Rainbow and Brown Trout — with occasional missions to Pyramid Lake for Lahontan Cutthroats — his true passion remains hiking into alpine lakes and chasing blue lines.

Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, Zack has found a new obsession: learning the art of the swung fly and the steelhead rivers that define this region.

Fly Tying

Zack is an accomplished fly tyer with patterns carried both here at NWFFO and by Solitude Fly Fishing. He started tying his own flies shortly after committing fully to fly fishing and has been at it ever since. While his focus has primarily been on trout patterns, he has developed a growing passion for swing flies since arriving in the PNW.

Classes & Instruction

Zack loves teaching and sharing his passion for fly tying with others. He will be offering fly tying classes at NWFFO — whether you're picking up a bobbin for the first time or looking to sharpen your technique, Zack brings patience, depth of knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm to every class. Stay tuned for upcoming class dates or contact the shop to get on the list.

Beyond the River

When not fishing or tying flies, Zack enjoys watching baseball, playing hockey poorly, riding bikes, spending too much money on records, and going to shows.

 

Connect with Zack or learn about upcoming classes:

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