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Testimonials |
News Articles
The following are excerpts from Testimonial letters received by Flies By Guy
concerning “Montera’s Marvels” over the years:
(Original copies are available upon request)
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January 1989 -
"Thanks for the fun and obviously successful day for my wife, I and
the three kids. You made a bunch of kids real happy.
Bob Butler - Walnut Creek, California
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April 1991 -
I went fishing at Bennet Springs and landed 10 rainbows using your
Montera’s Marvels.
Grey Endress Kansas City Missouri
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June 1992 -
I have been fishing in Colorado since 1961. This letter is to
introduce you to one of the most productive flies I have every
encountered. This lure/fly is called the “Montera’s Marvel”.
Basically a wooly worm with a propeller in front of it. The
color is as important as is the size. The gold propeller works
when it is sunny and the silver propeller works when it is dark and
cloudy.
Jesse Murray - Buena Vista, Colorado (Now in Nova Scotia)
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August 1992 -
I have been fly tying and fly fishing for over 40 years. In
November 1989 I retired and moved to Salida Colorado. I was
talking fishing while looking for some real estate around Blue Mesa
Reservoir, with mike Kepple, who offered to share a fishing tip about
a little brown colored fly he had bought from a guy who runs a fly
shop in Buena Vista Colorado. He stated he caught nearly 200
fish on it one afternoon before it was destroyed. I wanted to
see it but naturally he didn’t have anymore. He did say it had
a propeller on it. I recognized it as a pistol pete. It is
one of the oldest combinations. Being a purist I naturally dismissed
it as another fish story. Several months later I got a job in
Buena Vista. I spotted a book titled “Colorado Trout Fishing”.
“Find out why 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish.“ I
bought the book and read it including fly-fishing with a bubble and
a spinning rod. I then met Guy Montera and got introduced to
“Montera’s Marvels” and how to fish them. We went to fish this
lake and after 20 minutes of non-stop fun I realized that Guy and I
had caught and released 12-15 fish each. I had forgotten about
the other guys at the lake. Heard one tell the other “What are
those two using”. They came around and asked and bought
“Montera’s Marvels.” In the short period of two years that I
have known and fished with Guy Montera, he has shown me and many
others, a lot about his style of fishing, his flys, and flytying
techniques. “Montera’s Marvels” undergo constant expansion,
development and improvement. I will attest that the
“Montera’s Marvel” and “Montera’s Techniques” when applied even close
to properly, will catch more fish on any given lake, by even rank
amateurs, than any I have seen so far.
John Gordon - Buena Vista Colorado.
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February 1993 -
How can I tell you how much I like your “Montera’s Marvels”. I
was having a difficult time catching trout for the first few years
since I moved to Colorado. I did catch a few, but not with any
consistency. Since using your flies, I can be reasonably assured
of catching fish almost everytime I go out. In fact, over the
last four years I’ve only been skunked 4 or 5 times. You can
find me fishing at least one day per week from February through
November. People don’t believe me so the only way to prove I’m
not just bragging is to take them out with me and I do; and show them
how to catch fish.
Karl Gilge - Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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September 1994 -
Thanks for the advice and the “Montera’s Marvels”. I’ve enclosed
a picture of the fish I caught at Deer Valley Lake. It was 26"
long and weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz. It made our whole trip to Colorado
a success.
George Kellum - Zionsville, Illinois.
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April 13, 1996 -
Friday was a perfect day for fishing. We stopped by and
purchased 8 “Montera’s Marvels”. When we got to the lake my wife
and I began what was one of the most action filled days of fishing we
ever had. Candy chose a Pink Lady and caught fish from the first
cast. I chose a Silver Jack. We began fishing about 11 am
and by 4 PM, between the two of us we had caught and released between
50 - 60 trout. My Silver Jack had been bit so many times it was
coming apart, but trout were still hitting it. Having fished both
fresh and salt water, and using about every method imaginable, I’m
convinced there is not fly/lure to match it.
Robert/Candy Jones - Salida, Colorado.
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June 1996 -
It is with great pleasure that I am writing this letter, as you have
made a true difference in my attitude and ability toward fishing in
the Rocky Mountains. I have lived in Fairplay, Colorado now for
5 years and NEVER caught a fish in Colorado before meeting you.
It is curious how fate can often intervene when you least expect it,
and in this case was most welcomed. A mutual acquaintance
introduced us and little did I know that my fishing life was about to
change. After telling you my tale of woe about not being able to
catch fish, I accepted your kind invitation to take me and a friend
fishing. We were instructed how to rig and use your “Montera’s
Marvels” flies. It was an alien technique, but we did as we were
told. I used one of your “Montera’s Marvels” called HH Hermn and
on the first cast caught a fish. We caught a lot of fish that
day. We fished three more lakes that day and each was the same
story. I CAUGHT FISH!! A wonderful day was had and since
that time I have consistently caught fish using your flies. Your
kindness, knowledge and your flies have changed my fishing forever.
I have used and caught fish on every fly I have purchased from you.
The quality of your flies is wonderful.
Donald Stout - Fairplay, Colorado.
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July 1996 -
I want to share with you how effective your flies “Montera’s Marvels”
have been. One day my son Randy and I caught our limit at
Cottonwood Lake before 10 am. Another time we each caught three
and the smallest was over one pound. We have had success every
where we have fished. Thank you for your generosity and hope you
will have great prosperity from your creative genius.
Ron Hock - Minturn, Colorado.
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November 1996 -
I would like to express my appreciation to you for introducing me to
“Montera’s Marvels” several years ago. I have fished this fly
literally thousands of times using a variety of patterns, sizes and
techniques including both spinning rod and bubble as well as with a
fly rod. I have never enjoyed the success with other flies that
I have with the “Montera’s Marvels”. It is literally the best
overall fly for the widest range of cold water and warm water fishing
I have attempted. My personal “bests” are 44 consecutive fish
on 44 consecutive casts in 1992. Over 200 fish in one single day,
and over 400 fish on a 10 day back packing trip in over a dozen high
mountain lakes and streams in the Wind River Range in Wyoming.
Kenneth Topliss - Canon City, Colorado.
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July 1997 -
I rowed the boat to the middle of the lake and tied on a “Montera’s
Marvel”. After 4 casts, I had two bites and missed both of them.
On the next cast I paused and waited like Guy Montera had told me.
When I got to seven count the clear bubble went under. I caught
that one and a couple more when the wind came up and a storm was coming
in and I headed towards shore. I trolled the “Montera’s Marvel”
towards shore and about lost my pole to another fish. The storm
came in so I ended the special fishing day thanks to Guy Montera.
Dave Browning - Littleton, Colorado.
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July 1998 -
A few weeks ago you gave my husband and I a couple “Montera’s Marvels”
along with a smoked fish recipe. The next day we were fishing
at Cottonwood Lake and my husband caught a 7 pound rainbow and we
finished out our limit. We tried your smoked fish recipe and it
was great on those fish. What a shock and delight- the biggest
fish he ever caught in Colorado. Thank you so much.
Stanley/Lena Belle Nelson - Denver, Colorado.
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March 1999 -
Here is the information on the Brown I caught. In New York on a
small stream no more than 30 inches across, on a “Montera’s Marvel” NAC
Gwagon gold. I used a 9’ 5 wt fly rod with 4lb tippet. He
was 27” long - 15.5" girth and weighed 12 lbs. 8 oz. This last
season I landed over 40 fish 18” or longer using “Montera’s Marvels”
flies. I fish them with a fly rod and my dad uses a spinning rod
and does very well. My kids use them to catch pan fish.
They are deadly in the hands of a 7 year old.
John Miller - New York, New York.
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July 1999 -
I have been fishing this area for some 35 years and just want to let
you know what an impact your fly tying classes, your flies and your
method of presentation have had on me. I wasn’t expecting the
results to be as dramatic as they have proven to be. My first
experience using your “Montera’s Marvels” was truly remarkable.
Something told me to bring my net, even though I was only going to
fish for an hour or so. Am I ever glad I did. The second
fish is the biggest Rainbow I’ve ever caught. It was over 24”
long and weighed in at 7 lbs. My fishing buddy hadn’t a bite in
over an hour. After I caught the big one, I gave him one of your
flies to try. He caught a fish on the very first cast. A
few days later I headed for the high country and caught fish on all
twelve patterns we tied in class and a mess of fish on your “Montera’s
Marvels.” I caught and released at least 40 natives (Cutthroat)
up to 15" in two hours. A few days later we went to another
lake. We caught fish for 4 straight hours. I caught and
released 50 fish each in three hours. Then I tied into the 26”
9lb monster at Forebay with you which was something else. I don’t
fish “Montera’s Marvels” unless I have my net with me.
Frosty Roe - Buena Vista, Colorado.
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January 2000 -
I was given some of your “Montera’s Marvels” when I was in Denver,
Colorado. I gave them to one of my friends who goes to Lapland
once a year to fish for salmon. He caught lots of grayling on
your flies, but no salmon yet. I would like some flies for
Salmon-Pike-White Fish - Perch - Thank You
Matteaus Joutsimo - Finland.
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February 2000 -
The sample “Montera’s Marvels” you sent with us worked fine and caught
as many fish as some of the local streamer patterns used here in New
Zealand. I left the flies with Brian to continue testing.
He will report at the end of the summer. He was quite interested
in the design and quality of the flies.
Ray Sowers - New Zealand.
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February 2000 -
I am sending you a picture of a 3 pound Cutthroat using your “Montera’s
Marvels” Z Ariah gold size 10 at Walker Lake Nevada.
Vern Sydow - Nevada
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September 2001 -
We had a great time fishing the Sierras in California. We saw 13
lakes, fished 11 of them and caught fish in 9 of the 11 lakes.
We had a great time fishing during one of the most unpleasant times
of our countries shattered peace.
Guy Montera/Ray Sowers California Sierra Mountains.
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Testimonials
The following are some of our newspaper and magazine articles featuring Flies By Guy
concerning “Montera’s Marvels” over the years:
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1995 - CHAFFEE COUNTY TIMES-BUENA VISTA, COLORADO
Fly Tying is art for sport's sake. Nothing beats a morning, afternoon or
evening spent fishing under banana belt skies with little more that hillsides
teeming with golden aspen and constantly jerking rod to keep you company.
Power bait is fine. Jigs are swell. Spoons, flatfish and rooster
tails all have their place. But, if you really are hot to catch fish, head
to a Chaffee County Lake, river or stream and tie on a Montera's Marvel.
Fishing is supposed to be fun remember.
Flies By Guy - Montera's Marvels are tied in Buena Vista by Guy Montera,
a retired Colorado Department of Corrections employee and former Buena Vist Town
Councilman. Montera started tying his flies in 1962, went commercial in
1985, and has since fortified his small flies By Guy empire with quality handcraft-manship
and a lot of favorable word of mouth. He currently offeres about two dozen
varieties of flies, basic Pistol Pete-type wet fly design: propeller leading the way,
the shank of the hook is hidden beneath various colors of hackle and a feathery tail.
Montera's Marvels are available in sporting goods stores in 17 states and one Canadian
province. From Nova Scotia to California, from salt water to fresh and from trout
to bluegill, Guy's flies are catching fish across the continent. Despite his
ever-expanding area of distribution, Montera bristles when folks refer to his endeavor
as a business. "It's more of a hobby than a business," he explained. "Tying
keeps me busy, keeps me occupied. I'm having a lot of fun with it."
And, like those who buy his flies, Montera is catching fish with his creations.
His standing record is 363 fish in four hours with one companion at Twin Lakes.
"I came home," he recalled, "and couldn't move my arm. That's how many we caught.
How to fish the Marvels - Whether fished in lakes or rivers, Montera's Marvels
are retrieved below the water's surface at varying depths, led by a plastic egg-shaped
bubble. They can be cast from shore, trolled with a downrigger or cast from a
belly boat. Dry fly anglers can even strip them like nymphs. Montera's
method of choice is shore fishing. The fisherman runs line through a one and one
half inch water filled bubble and ties it off at a swivel or split ring. A four
to eight pound monofilament leader roughtly the length of the fishing pole is then run
from the swiver or split ring to the fly. That's it. Once set, the whole
fly and bubble assembly is cast out into the water-quite a ways usually, as the bubble
will weigh approximately one once when filled with water and can really sail-with the
knowledge that the fly is sinking roughly 1-3 inches each second under water.
When the bubble is submerges (for about 15 seconds or longer) retrievel is begun-slowly.
The slower, Montera said, the better. One crank per second is about as fast
as you want to reel. "Twitch and twist the rod end ever three to six cranks,"
he advised. "Repeat that until you get a bump as you reel. It shouldn't
take long."
Fly tying as art - Rather than being secretive and stingy about his craft,
Montera welcomes visitors to his shop, located at his home in Buena Vista. He'll
even help adventuresome folks get started tying their own. Montera said that
the object of fly tying should be having fun and catching fish - "As long as you come
up with a fly that works, who cares how you do it."
By Jeff Rosen
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2002 - THE SUN - SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT - Anglers marvel at new fly. Guy Montera has
been making his Montera's Marvels-a wooly bugger type fly with a propeller for almost
20 years, but it's a pretty good bet you've never heard of them. Well, you will.
This past weekend, Ray Sowers of Woodland Hills caught a pair of the largest rainbows
landed in the Sierra Nevada for the month with fish at 6.59 and 4.75 pounds fishing
Convict Lake. He used Montera's Marvels to catch both trout, but they were just
the biggest of 45-50 trout he caught and released at the lake over two days. "I
first started using them three years ago, and I've been using them ever since," Sowers
said. "They are highly effective in clear water, and I use them whenever I'm
lazy or just want to catch fish. I can catch fish everyday of the year with these flies."
The Montera's Marvel is really a refinement of a design that has been around since the
early 1900's or earlier. A wet fly with a propeller blade at the eye of the hook.
Guy Montera of Buena Vista, Colorado; has been tying his propeller flies since 1983,
refining the fly patterns and the blade design into one of those lures that just seems
to catch more than its share of fish. Montera has combine the proven fish-getting
abilities of two distinct classes of trout fishing lures-the in-line spinner and a
palmered streamer fly. There isn't a trout fisherman in the world that isn't
familiar with a Panther Martin, Rooster, or Mepps spinner. Their whirling blades
attract trout and excite them striking.
Streamer fly patterns such as the wooly buggers look amazingly like minnows and leaches,
as they are retrieved through the water. Trout get conned by the life-like
imitation. Combining the two concepts together into a simple fly pattern, made
with quality materials, is what Montera has done. Get the trout's attention with
the fast-spinning blades and then have see the meaty, undulating fly. They eat it.
"I went out the other day and only caught 48 trout on 50 casts," Montera said of a trip to
Mt. Elbert Forebay near his Colorado home. "I had bites on the other two casts but
I just couldn't hook them."'
The Montera's Marvel is best fished on leader behind a sliding egg-type float. When
filled with water, the float can be sunk deeply in lakes for deep water fishing or kept
near the surface when the trout are cruising there. But the fly can also be cast
on fly tackle or trolled.
There are some 40 color variations to match the natural food in various waters and most
are tied on Nos. 8, 10, and 12 long shank hooks with either silver or gold blades.
For years, the flies were available only at tackle shops around Montera's home, but they
are now being sold at three outlets in the Sierra Nevada (Ziegler's in Bridgeport, Convict
Lake Resort and Culver's in Bishop) and two in Southern California (Malibu Fishing Tackle
and Canejo Tackle). The flies can be ordered directly from Guy Montera, P.O. Box
1051, Buena Vista, Colorado 81211.
By Jim Matthews Outdoors
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2003 - COLORADO FISHING AND HUNTING NEWS
FISHING-TWIN LAKES RESERVOIR: FLIES FOOL 'BOWS, LAKERS SHALLOW
It's a goofy configuration, no doubt about it, but it catches fish. We're talking
about the lure called a "Montera's Marvel", close cousin to the Pistol Pete. This
is basically a fly with a propeller on it, and the trout seem to go crazy for it.
One of those times is when water temperatures are droping during the early pre-ice
winter season. That's when throwing a Montera's Marvel underneath a clear bubble
is just killer on the resident trout at Twin Lakes Reservoir near Leadville.
Marvel maven: "The way I fish the Montera's Marvel is, I slide a plastic bubble
up the line and then tie on a barrel swivel. Then I add a 6' leader and the lure.
I fill the bubble with water so I can get a good casting distance on it. Then
I throw it out and let it sink," says Max Snyder at the Granite General Store (719-486-1679).
He adds that a barely moving, super slow retrieve works best. "I devinitely do
a very slow retrieve, just enouth to turn the little propeller, but not any faster that
that. It just tears up the trout."
By Dusty Routh
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