Meet the Landsend Outfitters Pro Staff
Our Pro Staff is made up of experienced fly tiers, anglers, and guides who know what it takes to create flies that perform in the real world. These are the people testing Terresta-Foam on the water, offering feedback from the bench, and helping push the limits of what fly tying materials can do. We’re proud to have them representing Landsend Outfitters — and even more proud to support the passion and expertise they bring to the craft.
Nick Benik
Nick Benik is an avid angler, fly tyer, and professional photographer/videographer from Denver Colorado. Growing up in Evergreen, he developed a love for fly fishing at an early age and an interest in tying soon thereafter. Although mountain streams and trout flies were the catalyst, Nick moved to Florida where he became accustomed to the salt, whether it was chasing tarpon in brackish creeks, largemouth bass in neighborhood ponds, or redfish and snook on the flats. Nick has since moved back to where it all began, and now lives in Denver with his wife and daughter who just tied her first fly this year at 3 years old (with a little help from Dad of course). Between working as a creative director for a biotech startup and fatherhood, getting out on the water can be challenging these days but Nick can be found fishing the numerous tailwaters and freestones around Colorado in his free time. And if he doesn't have a rod or camera in hand, he's behind the vise tying anything from size 24 midges to floating crabs.
Charlie Craven
After mysteriously losing all of his dad’s lures in a single day, Charlie was gifted a fly tying kit for his eighth birthday — and he’s been at the vise ever since.
In the 40 years since, Charlie has become a prolific commercial fly tyer and occasional fishing guide (whose liverwurst-and-onion lunches weren’t always popular with clients). Opinionated and passionate, he’s known for sharing hard-earned insights on flies, fur, feathers, and fish.
Charlie has been an Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Tyer for over 18 years, with fly box staples like the Jujubaetis, Two Bit Hooker, and Baby Gonga among his many patterns. In 2004, he opened Charlie’s Fly Box in Arvada, Colorado, where he serves as CEO, fry cook, and everything in between.
He’s authored three books, writes the Fly Tyer’s Bench column for Flyfisherman Magazine, and was named one of their 50 Most Influential People in Flyfishing — though he insists being ranked #45 was a conspiracy to keep him humble.
Charlie lives in Palmer Lake, Colorado with his wife Lisa, two massive dogs, and a rotating crew of young adult children. He still prefers quiet water, the Parachute Adams, Colorado whiskey, and dry-dropper fishing from a boat.