Capt. Evan Noponen is a Naples, FL native and a full-time USCG licensed and insured Everglades fly fishing guide. His knowledge of SW Florida fly fishing is a culmination of over 20 years of fishing the waters around Naples, Marco Island, Goodland, Everglades City, and Chokoloskee. Evan is a patient but intense guide that can hang with the most experienced anglers as well as help new anglers develop their saltwater fly fishing skills.

Capt. Evan is a passionate angler that spends the majority of his downtime with his friends and fellow guides fishing the Everglades, the FL Keys, and southern Louisiana. Take a trip with a Everglades fly fishing guide that spends over 250 days on the water and might like fishing more than you do.

What is the biggest highlight of your fishing career?

Has to be the constant of putting clients on their “firsts of” or upgrading their fish. Whether it involves their first saltwater fish or landing a bigger snook/tarpon/redfish from a previous trip. No better feeling than helping someone experience some of the best saltwater sight fishing known to man.

What is your most memorable personal catch?

Without a doubt it is sight fishing back to back 43” & 45” snook with my pops. It just so happened to be after he cracked his lucky early morning beer and had a couple sips. Coincidence? I think not.

What is your most memorable client catch?

Hard to pinpoint one as the most memorable. Anywhere from sight fishing size XL snook and having one client holding my feet as I reach half my body into the mangroves to pull out the other clients snook tangled up in the roots. To ninja-ly “hand feeding” tarpon, flies that are boatside and then seeing the madness ensue which includes a tsunami of water, first from the tail slap and then the second wave from the body slam on the other side of the skiff. And then the 50 yard dash with more jumps mixed in!

What is your guiding “style”?

I would have to say, chill. Pretty easy going guy with just the right amount of sternness and direction, I’ve been told. BUT if you trout set you will get whacked by the push pole. Just know when I do it, that it was on “accident” and it will keep happening until you fix your ways!

Who got you into fishing for the first time?

Mostly my dad and close family and then I entered into a local fishing tournament while I was about 9 years old, where I came out on top with the largest redfish to take the trophy home and spark my addiction to saltwater sight fishing.

If you could fish for any fish in the world, what would it be?

Since you’re making me pick one, I’d have to say Giant Trevally. Any fish that will eat a bird sitting on top of the water is one worth fishing for in my book without a doubt!

What is your dream fishing location?

Outside of the waters that I fish, probably Australia. Who would turn down a solid mix up of twelve-ish diverse species. And also one of those is GTs...

Music on the boat?

Yes and no, I think rocking out music on runs can be a good thing and keep the blood pumping. Stalking fish- I’d have to say no for the most part. There are definitely certain situations you can play music on a bluetooth speaker while fishing though.  

Are bananas bad luck?

Absolutely not! Not only are they not bad luck but they are a great tool to help fight your muscles from cramping after yanking on some big poons.

What can everyone do to help the environment of Southwest Florida?

Do your own research, don’t just take others words for granted. Talk with people who experience these things first hand whether it be scientists or guides. They both hold valuable information. If you’re able, donate to the right groups that will actually take your money and put it towards doing good for Florida!