Community Member Spotlight
Wesley Pullen
Some anglers are content fishing the same stretch of water year after year. Others are driven by a desire to explore what lies beyond the next bend, the next river, or even the next continent. Wes Pullen falls firmly into the second category.
A passionate fly angler and avid traveler, Wes has built a life around adventure, using fly fishing as a passport to some of the world’s most remarkable destinations. From remote trout rivers to tropical saltwater flats, he is always eager to experience new waters, new cultures, and the unique connections that fly fishing creates along the way.
While his travels have taken him across the globe, Wes remains deeply connected to the values that make fly fishing so special—curiosity, conservation, camaraderie, and a lifelong commitment to learning. Whether sharing stories from a recent trip, planning his next adventure, or spending time with fellow anglers, his enthusiasm for the sport is both contagious and inspiring.
This month, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on Wes Pullen and learn more about the experiences, destinations, and memories that have shaped his journey as an angler.
-Chris Rich, AZ Fly Shop Founder
About Wes Pullen
Some anglers measure success by the number of fish they catch. Others measure it by the experiences they collect, the lessons they learn, and the people they meet along the way. For Wes Pullen, fly fishing has always been about the pursuit—the challenge of hunting fish on the water and continually learning from every cast.
Wes has been fly fishing since 1985 and has spent decades chasing fish across a variety of waters. While he has enjoyed countless memorable days on the water, one adventure stands above the rest.
In May of 2007, Wes traveled to the Florida Keys for what would become the trip of a lifetime. After years of making short visits with limited success, he arrived just as conditions began to change. The relentless winds that had dominated the Keys for months finally subsided, the water cleared, and tarpon seemed to be everywhere.
Over five incredible days, Wes hooked thirteen tarpon and landed eleven, with fish reaching up to forty pounds. The experience was unforgettable, but it also taught him an important lesson about fish handling and conservation. After removing his first tarpon from the water for a photograph, the fish was unable to recover and ultimately fell victim to sharks. From that moment forward, Wes made a commitment to keep tarpon in the water whenever possible—a lesson he has carried with him ever since.
The adventure continued in the Everglades, where he landed the largest tarpon of his life, a seventy-pound fish. Since then, he has returned to the Everglades many times, finding consistent success with tarpon and snook while continuing to deepen his appreciation for these remarkable fisheries.
When asked what fly fishing means to him, Wes describes it as hunting on the water. He thrives on sight-fishing opportunities, carefully spotting fish, making accurate presentations, and studying their behavior. For him, there is immense satisfaction in the challenge itself—even when a fish refuses the fly.
Beyond the fishing, Wes values the community that surrounds the sport. He shared that AZ Fly Shop has helped fulfill a long-standing desire to be part of a close-knit brotherhood of anglers, a community that encourages growth both on and off the water.
His advice to fellow anglers is simple but powerful:
“If you have told yourself that these are the kinds of trips you will go on one day, don’t wait like I did. Just do it right now.”
It’s a reminder that the best fishing memories are often made when we stop waiting for the perfect time and simply take the leap.
Thank you, Wes, for sharing your story, your passion for the sport, and your enthusiasm for the fly fishing community. We’re grateful to have you as part of the AZ Fly Shop family.
Tight lines always—and as Wes says, “I never met a tarpon I didn’t love!”
