Mike Ritts
Mike Ritts grew up outside Philadelphia where he learned to tie flies and fly fish in the 1970s. His interest in fly fishing began when he found an old fly tying kit in the attic as a young boy and could not believe a fish could be caught on a bunch of feathers. In the beginning he had no one to teach him and learned mostly by trial and error, like most of us do. He was forever hooked when he caught his first fly on an ugly green clump of feathers and fur only an eight year old boy could tie. Over the next 45 years he had the opportunity to fish the west and in the process met some amazing fishermen and learned the techniques that were invented in the Rockies.
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For the last 30 years he has lived along the Yellow Breeches Creek with his wife and three children, fishing when he could, while he raised a family, worked as a middle school science teacher (physics, chemistry, earth science and biology) and wrote science textbooks. Working cut into fishing time but not into learning different fly fishing techniques. He is an avid outdoors man but fly fishing for trout is his number one love.
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After retiring from teaching he turned to fly fishing nearly full time and learning the Yellow Breeches Creek. He is currently on the board of directors of the Yellow Breeches Anglers and Conservation Association (YBAC). He also float stocks the creek and in the process learned some of the best waters on the stream.
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In his opinion the most important quality of a fishing guide is patience which he has in abundance, due to his experience teaching middle school students for over 30 years. He believes the best part of teaching someone anything, is watching them succeed and the tougher the challenge the bigger the reward. He enjoys teaching the art of traditional fly fishing and especially the newer euro-nymphing techniques that have recently become popular. He also understands the importance of tailoring the fishing day to the abilities and interests of the client, whether they are a total beginner, an expert who wishes to learn a new method, or someone who just wants company on an unfamiliar stream.
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He wrote the book Introduction to Fly Fishing from Confused beginner to Competent Angler, available at Amazon, guides for trout on the Yellow Breeches Creek, and teaches to Fly Fishing classes.
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Now that you have read my official biography, which does not tell you a whole lot. Let me tell you about me. I am a fly fishing guide and fly fishing instructor on the Yellow Breeches Creek in south central PA. I know that stream better than most. Other guides, who are my friends, have different expertise, but I am the master of the Yellow Breeches Creek and will always tell you who is the resident expert on other streams or techniques in the area.
I am possibility the best fly angler in the area, many have challenged this, but none have succeed in replacing me. Perhaps someone will someday but not yet. As a guide, I may be, or may be not be one of the best. Some guides are good at making a small fish feel like a monster, but I am not. Some are better dry fly anglers, some better with streamers, and some better on spring creeks. Some are better salesmen than I am. Some are better teachers than me, although that is my goal and I am trying to master that, but I am definitely the best fly fishing instructor in the area. Some are more well known than me, which is fine, but I am definitely on the way up in this category.
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I have a moto: I want my clients to get their moneys worth, no matter if it is a class or a guide trip. Every class I taught in 2021 resulted in my student catching their first trout on a fly. Many of my clients while guiding caught the best fish or their life. I am very focused on those things. Often I will refer a potential client to another guide who does a specific technique or a certain stream better than me. I am a bit of an introvert sometimes.
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