Fly Fishing With Cotton
Fly Fishing With Cotton, is a planned 12-book series for the next generation of young fly fishers. Created by Trey Combs and his son Mark Cotton Combs. This series is based on real-life childhood experiences, these stories are a fun journey for any kid who has ever looked at a river and wanted to learn how to fly fish. Along the way, readers will learn about all aspects of fly fishing, fly tying, river geography, and the importance of taking care of our rivers.
These stories are not technical manuals; rather, think Diary of a Wimpy Kid observations with Homer Price nostalgia. Across the series, you’ll meet a memorable cast of characters that blend three generations of the Combs family with relatable childhood humor.
A Series Built for Families
Written for the 8-to-12-year-old reader but designed to be shared by the campfire, Fly Fishing With Cotton is the ultimate bridge to the outdoors. Whether a child is already tying their first Woolly Bugger or has never held a fly rod, these stories provide the inspiration and the "how-to" knowledge to start a lifelong passion for the water.
Available Now: Book 1 – Fly Fishing with Cotton: Redsides of the Deschutes
In the series debut, ten-year-old Cotton trades the rainy streets of Port Townsend for the high desert canyons of Oregon. Armed with a brand-new 5-weight fly rod—a gift from his father, Trey, and his great-grandfather, Harry—Cotton quickly learns that the river is a much tougher teacher than a hula-hoop in the backyard.
While navigating the powerful currents of the Deschutes in a drift boat, Cotton sets his sights on the legendary Redsides:
The Toughest Trout: Redsides are a unique strain of desert rainbow trout known for the bright red stripe down their sides and their incredible fighting spirit.
The Art of the "Sip": Cotton discovers how to tie and fish his own Elk Hair Caddis, a dry fly designed to float on the surface until a hungry Redside rises for a tiny "sip".
The Canyon Challenge: From the red canyon walls of Mack’s Canyon to the slippery "river snot" on the rocks, Cotton must learn to "read the water" and battle the canyon winds to land his first wild fish.
Printed on premium 60lb white paper with 28 color illustrations, The Redside of the Deschutes is a story about the beginning of a lifelong bond between a boy, his father, and the art of the fly.
Buy Fly Fishing with Cotton: Redsides of the Deschutes on Amazon
Meet the characters of Fly Fishing with Cotton, a cast drawn from three generations of the Combs family and brought to life on the river.
Cotton - A ten-year-old from Port Townsend learning fly fishing one cast at a time—equal parts curiosity and attitude.
Trey Combs - Legendary fly-fishing author and father, passing down a lifetime of knowledge on the river.
Mom - The family’s “food detective,” hates sugar, and tries to balance healthy living with quiet support for every fishing trip.
Gus Tackleberry - The highly technical fly shop owner and former marine biologist who provides a contrast to Trey’s straightforward style.
Ned Pickett - A gadget-obsessed publisher whose fishing gear looks like it belongs on a spaceship.
Uncle Lenny - A relative who prefers his black Camaro and raiding the fridge to any fishing trip.
Tilly - Gus’s daughter and a formidable angler who intimidates Cotton with her fly fishing skills but becomes a great friend.
Harry Cotton - Cotton’s great-grandfather and an “old-school” angler who hates cell phones, hoards fishing magazines, and shares secret gummy clusters with his great-grandson.