Kayla Lockhart

For Kayla Lockhart, fly fishing ties together community and conservation

Growing up in a small Minnesota town, Kayla Lockhart was introduced to fishing and hunting at a young age, and her love for the outdoors was born. At age 23, she picked up a fly rod for the first time and found a sense of purpose. Kayla credits fly fishing for helping her navigate her mental health. 

 For Kayla, fly fishing is about more than landing her dream fish; it’s about the community. And it’s important to Kayla to give back to it, whether it’s taking foster kids out on the water with the Mayfly Project, supporting conservation efforts as a board member of the Native Fish Society or teaching others about the sport to continue growing the community.

Learn more about Kayla’s expertise:

The fuel for my passion of fly fishing is without a doubt, the community. They want to help each other out. They want more people into this sport — the more people we have that are enjoying our waters and lands, the more people we have out there protecting it.”

What’s in Kayla’s kit

 Today, Kayla lives in the Pacific Northwest, where her home waters range from the high desert to coastal rivers. Reel in the details on the gear Kayla relies on for everyday angling adventures.

Redington Trout Spey Field Kit

“This rod is perfect for your trout spey needs — from hucking small soft hackles to T8 sink tips, this rod can do it all. It works well in multiple fisheries. I can’t find a thing I don’t like about this rod. I used it all summer and was able to land some really nice fish on it. It has a great backbone to be able to appropriately give control to fight your fish. It makes spey casting a breeze, from your snap-Ts to the snake roll. I love how this rod casts.”

Elite RIO Gold Fly Line

“The Elite RIO Gold fly line is my go-to for trout fishing. The tapered design allows me to cast both short and long distances with any fly, making it an all-around essential for any weight rod — I use it on my 4wt, 5wt and 6wt rods. I’d recommend it to anyone that wants to enhance their casting and have a more well-rounded fly line.”

Redington Women’s Escape Waders

“These waders I have had now for two years, I love the lightweight fit for the hot summer days – I personally don’t love to wet wade — I know call me crazy… but I love these waders with a light leggings layer underneath. They are comfortable throughout the day and I love the fit. I have the XS for when I have minimal layers on underneath — I am 5’4 and 118 lbs for reference, and they fit the best I have ever had in waders!”

Tips from an expert, for future experts

Fly fishing can feel like a challenging sport to get into, and Kayla is passionate about making it accessible to others. Hear Kayla’s top three tips for those looking to get hooked on fly fishing.