Centre County 12-year-old draws attention making high quality flies for fly fishers

Landis Sampsel had never tied a fly when his mother, Karrie, bought him a fly fishing kit for $30. Since that Christmas in 2021, Landis has tied thousands of flies, some of which he’s sold, and earned the praise of experienced anglers.

His father, Doug, said that the family has been fishing for years, but they were familiar with conventional fishing — not fly fishing. Fly fishing uses a weighted line that presents a weightless object on the end to lure the fish. Conventional fishing, on the other hand, uses weightless line, with some kind of weighted lure at the end to bring in bites.

Doug had never fly fished before Landis, 12, taught him. “He’s teaching me 99% percent of what I know,” he said with a laugh.

To make his flies, Landis sits at a desk bordered with many different colors of threads. “I just switch colors to see what works better,” Landis explained. “Sometimes I find different colors work better. Light olive works well on Spring Creek,” he added.

Landis seemed entranced as he tied the flies, intent. You can tell that he’s done it thousands of times as he wraps the thread around and around the hook, snipping the thread with scissors and leaning back, finished. That one would cost about $2, he explained.

“Everywhere I go, I find ‘em,” Karrie said of the flies.

Landis can often be found fishing at Talleyrand in Bellefonte, even in the wintertime when temperatures are frigid. The trout are biting then, he explained, so it’s a great time to fish.

“I make sure I’m stocked up [with flies] before I go to the creek,” Landis said.

Doug said he stays in the car if it’s too cold for him to stand with Landis and fish, even in their thermal waders. “What is it you always say to me [about fishing in the cold]?” Doug asked.

“Dad, I’m built different,” Landis replied.

Landis enjoys fishing with his friend Finn. Finn’s grandfather, an experienced fisherman, thinks highly of Landis’ skills.

“Pappy Steve said he should try out for the fly fishing Olympic teams,” Doug said.

Landis sells his flies from his online store, Fliez Unlimited, and sometimes at outdoor fairs.

One of Landis’ biggest sales came from a man talking to Doug on land while Landis was fishing out at Talleyrand. Doug pitched the sale to Landis, who ended up selling the customer $175 worth of custom salmon flies for his late summer fishing trip.

“It’s been a fun father son thing,” Doug said, swelling with pride. “It’s not about the cash flow. I get more excited with people catching fish from his flies.”

Landis, for his part, is very practical. “I have to use my flies to catch fish,” he said.