There’s no shortage of prime fly fisheries around the world. Creel creator, Joshua Schwartz, first managed a return to the sport in his “spare time” between running professional kitchens. Bit HARD by the fly fishing bug, he soon bought a drift boat and began guiding in Northern California and Oregon for Coastal Steelhead.

His go-to line:

“I’ve gathered all the ingredients you need to be successful and catch a Steelhead. But I can’t:

• control the weather.

• make a fish eat your fly.

• guarantee that you will catch a fish.

What I can guarantee though? You’re going to eat good food, and that I will do everything possible to give you a great experience on the water.

No matter how the fishing turns out.”

It didn’t take long for word to get out that Joshua liked to share lunch with the other guides and their clients. Soon, trip hosts and outfitters would bring Joshua in to cook for more discerning groups of anglers. The folks wanted to experience the fishery, but with a more upscale dining experience.

Throughout his travels, Joshua noticed that there was often something lacking. Trained in kitchens where “good enough” was never the answer, he felt it all traced back to an often over-looked component - the hospitality.

We choose to operate wherever the fishing takes us! Our crew starts with a scouting visit to determine if the key components of any Travel Creel program are around.

We rely on a fishery’s existing infrastructure to build out our programs. Ultimately though, operating as a pop-up isn’t possible without building strong relationships with the locals.

Rather than descend on a tiny fishing village as outsiders and take over, we wait until we’re invited in by the locals. We don’t start with a full vision and tell everyone else what to do.

Instead, we work to integrate our own signature style of hospitality with each fishery’s local guides, captains, property owners, producers and purveyors.

The end result is a uniquely designed fly fishing program in every location we offer. Each of our programs are curated in careful collaboration with the best local partners, purveyors and producers around.

We’ve invested years with our local partners by the time a destination makes it onto our TRIP CALENDAR. While each pop-up is designed individually, we do so with the discerning destination angler in mind each step of the way.

Our programs come together in CELEBRATION of the amazing people, products and culture that are the backbone of each unique fishery. Join us around the world for an unrivaled hospitality-driven angling experience!

Operating without brick-and-mortar facilities means we can design and run each program without being limited by any single component.

We gather up, and work with a variety of local partners to perfect each fishing and dining program until we can’t wait ANY LONGER to share with fellow anglers!

Just like an angler adapts in each dynamic fishery we descend upon, this model allows us to adapt our programs, if/as needed. Rather than being limited by a single component that isn’t measuring up, we’re able to pivot to one that will.

Above all else, we choose to operate in this unique style because it allows us to share the world’s greatest fly fishing communities with fellow anglers. We absolutely LOVE what we do, and so does everyone we work with - from the farmer who sold us eggs, to the guide who ALMOST got you into your first permit, to the chef who cooked the meals you shared. . . .

Personally curating each experience are Travel Creel owners, Joshua & Samantha Schwartz. Ensuring each program benefits the local community is pivotal.

We’re beyond grateful for each and every opportunity we get to bring a group of anglers together in a beautiful place, where our hard work all pays off, and the components come together just right!

The end result is unrivaled hospitality-driven fly fishing experiences for every angler, around the world.

To Travel Creel’s founder/owner Joshua Schwartz, it is a symbolizes hospitality. Used by fly fishermen (and women) as far back as the 1500’s, Mostly found in garages, sheds, and antique shops today, the “CREEL” began as a simple leather or willow pouches. All have one purpose: keep the fish fresh.

Anglers would line their baskets with wet grass, moss and leaves. A damp creel kept their catch cool and wet throughout the day so they could continue fishing.

Over time these simple designs evolved to add ergonomic features, like shoulder straps and a slightly curved back that sits comfortably against the angler’s hips, properly distributing the weight of the basket while walking, wading and casting.

The creel is really the fly angler’s first portable cooler!

So how does that relate to hospitality?

The creel became an iconic symbol of the sport somewhere between the 1800-1900’s. As fly fishing expanded from a leisure sport for the wealthier in society, an angler’s choice of attire was important. In a period where everyday fashion was a direct representation of respectability, clothing mattered.

Dressing in proper social attire was the norm, whether on or off the water. Women had the added difficulty of navigating societal and gender roles, in order to be taken seriously in the sport.

It’s always been an expensive sport, requiring an initial investment in order to be outfitted with even the basic fly fishing gear. In fly fishing, time and care has always been taken to gather the necessary gear, to dress properly, and to store and transport each catch.

That’s hospitality. That’s what we do. We take the time to do things right, because we care about the sport, and the people who share our love for it!