Bart Lombardo

Bart Lombardo is the founder of Panfish On The Fly, and a lifelong fly fisher, fly tier, guide, writer and educator dedicated to helping anglers discover how fun and effective fly fishing can be—especially for panfish and other warmwater species that are often overlooked by traditional fly anglers.

With decades of experience at the vise and on the water, Bart has taught countless anglers through fly-tying classes, club presentations, demonstrations, and one-on-one instruction across the Mid-Atlantic region. He is widely known for his relaxed, clear teaching style and his ability to break fly tying and fishing techniques into simple, understandable steps that anglers can immediately apply on their home waters.

Bart has guided on New Jersey waters for over a decade. He first started guiding for Shannon’s Fly and Tackle and presently with South Branch Outfitters in Califon, New Jersey. While the primary focus of these trips is fly fishing for trout in New Jersey’s streams and rivers, he also guides on numerous warmwater lakes, ponds, and rivers during the warmer months.

Bart regularly appears as a featured fly tier at regional and national fly-fishing shows and has taught tying classes through fly shops, conservation groups, and fishing clubs. He previously served as lead fly-tying instructor at a major New Jersey fly shop (Orvis) and continues to teach classes and demonstrations throughout the region.

As a commercial fly tier, Bart ties patterns for warmwater, coldwater, and saltwater species, giving him broad experience in designing and selecting flies that actually get fished—not just admired in a display box. His instruction emphasizes practical, fish-catching patterns, efficient tying methods, and understanding when and how flies should be fished.

Bart’s writing can be found on the pages of this website blog as well as numerous online and print publications, including Fly Fisherman Magazine. He is currently writing a book on fly fishing and tying flies for panfish and other warmwater species. More information on the book's release date will be provided when available.

Through Panfish On The Fly, Bart focuses on helping anglers rediscover the simple joy of catching fish on flies—whether that means introducing beginners to their first bluegill on a fly rod or helping experienced anglers expand their skills and confidence. His mission is straightforward: make fly tying and fly fishing welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable for anyone who wants to learn.

Away from classes and shows, Bart can usually be found guiding anglers, exploring local waters and faraway waters, testing new fly patterns, or sharing tips and techniques that help anglers spend less time guessing and more time catching fish.