Rainy Riding is internationally recognized as one of the most innovative and influential figures in modern fly tying and fly fishing. A gifted educator, entrepreneur, commercial fly designer, and product innovator, Rainy has spent more than five decades advancing the art and business of fly tying while inspiring anglers around the world through her teaching, creativity, and leadership.
Rainy’s introduction to fly fishing began at the age of five while fishing Utah waters with her grandfather. Her first trout was caught on a Royal Coachman dry fly, igniting a passion that would shape the rest of her life and career. Growing up in Utah, she spent countless hours fishing local streams and rivers with her older brothers, developing both a love for trout fishing and an appreciation for the outdoors that would remain central throughout her life.
While living in Vernal, Utah, Rainy worked with Utah State University Extension Services, where Professor Art Jones enlisted her help coordinating fly-tying classes. Soon afterward, she was invited to teach portions of those classes herself, quickly developing into a respected instructor and later teaching accredited fly-tying courses for Utah State University. Although formally trained in music, choral conducting, and vocal coaching, Rainy’s lifelong passion remained fly fishing and fly tying.
What began as a hobby soon evolved into a pioneering commercial fly-tying career. Encouraged to sell her flies professionally, Rainy began commercial fly tying in 1971 and rapidly built a national reputation for craftsmanship, innovation, and creativity. That same year, she founded Rainy’s, Inc., which would eventually become one of the most respected names in the fly-fishing industry.
Over the course of her career, Rainy designed more than 850 exclusive fly patterns spanning nearly every fishing genre. Many of her creations became industry standards, particularly her influential foam terrestrials and innovative floating fly patterns. Her expertise in foam manipulation, time-saving fly-tying techniques, and practical fly design revolutionized commercial fly tying and earned worldwide recognition.
Among her many contributions to the sport were the invention of Rainy’s FLOAT Foam and numerous fly-tying tools and product lines, including:
Rainy also produced instructional fly-tying videos and educational materials that introduced innovative techniques and materials to generations of fly tyers. Her ability to simplify complicated tying processes and improve tying efficiency helped influence commercial and recreational fly tying worldwide.
In addition to her accomplishments in fly design, Rainy became a successful business leader in the international fly-fishing industry. Together with business partner Ellen Clark, she operated retail and wholesale fly-fishing businesses before expanding manufacturing operations internationally. When fly-tying labor resources in the United States became increasingly limited, Rainy and Clark relocated operations to Thailand, where they ultimately purchased and operated one of the world’s major fly-manufacturing facilities formerly owned by 3M.
For more than two decades, Rainy personally supervised large-scale production facilities in Thailand, ensuring exceptional quality and innovation throughout the manufacturing process. Through Rainy’s Flies & Supplies, Rainy’s International, StreamWorks Thailand, and FlyWorks Cambodia, she helped shape modern commercial fly production while maintaining a reputation for excellence, integrity, and innovation.
Rainy also became a certified casting instructor and taught fly tying and casting throughout Utah, Cache Valley, and major fly-fishing trade shows around the world. Her warmth, patience, and enthusiasm made her one of the sport’s most respected ambassadors and mentors.
Her accomplishments earned recognition in numerous national and international publications. Scientific Anglers praised her innovations as having “revolutionized the fly-tying industry,” while other magazines highlighted her pioneering role for women in fly fishing and her influence on modern foam-fly design.
Even in retirement, Rainy remains deeply connected to fly fishing and the waters she has always loved. A devoted mother and grandmother, she continues to spend time with family while enjoying opportunities to fish for trout and warmwater species on the local waters that first inspired her passion so many years ago.
Through decades of innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and leadership, Rainy Riding has made an enduring impact on fly fishing in Utah and around the world. Her induction into the Utah Fly Fishing Hall of Fame honors a remarkable lifetime dedicated to creativity, craftsmanship, mentorship, and advancing the future of fly fishing.