Austin, Texas
Alvin Dedeaux was just a kid in school when he first opened up a library book about fly fishing. He was so fascinated, he snuck the book home so he could read every single page. Then for his 12th birthday, Alvin mustered up the courage to ask for his very first fly rod. His wish came true. Alvin's magnetism to the sport has only grown since then, and he's gone on to become one of the most passionate fly fishing guides out there - he even said he gets goosebumps thinking about helping someone catch their first fish. He epitomizes sticking to your passion through and through, and every day inspires others to do the same.
What goes through your head when you first wake up in the morning before you fly fish?
What the river flows are doing and what is going on with the wind/weather.
Where is your favourite place to fly fish?
I've been lucky enough to fish in a bunch of cool spots, but if I had to pick just one it would be tossing poppers at bass on the Colorado River in Texas or casting to redfish in super shallow water on the Texas coast. Oh wait that's two spots.
Tell us a favourite story from a day out fly fishing.
I'm lucky because my favorite story happens over and over. I meet a new fly fisherman who really doesn't expect to actually catch a fish. We work together for a while and figure out how to get it done and like magic a fish ends up on the line. That story never gets old.
How do you up your game year after year?
I am inspired by so many others out there in the world of fly fishing. Just trying out all the cool stuff I learn from day to day ups my game.
Who are your heroes? Who do you look up to?
My wife, she is the hardest working person I know. I can work seven days a week for weeks on end and still feel like a slacker compared to her.
What haven't you accomplished that you aspire to do in your lifetime?
Figure out how to just relax and do nothing.
What part of you, or what you do, reflects a spirit of restlessness?
Fly fishing is about constant motion - everything from the back and forth of the cast to the drifting of the fly in a river's current.
If there is any love-hate relationship with any aspect of what you do, can you describe what that is?
I love putting people on fish. I sometimes hate the fact that no matter how many days I've been on the water I have to force myself to take a day off especially if the fishing is good. I just can't get enough.