LRS: How It All Began

In 2015, not long after graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Art with a degree in illustration, my passion for steelhead and fly fishing grew stronger than my studio assignments. When I wasn’t sketching or working on art projects, I was knee-deep in cold tributaries, chasing the chrome flash of Great Lakes steelhead.

I loved everything about fly fishing and the culture that surrounded it. But I couldn’t find fly fishing apparel that really spoke to me. Most of what I saw felt stale: plain logos, generic fish silhouettes, and designs that lacked personality. As an artist, I knew there was room for something different. What started as a simple idea of designing fishing shirts and outdoor apparel I actually wanted to wear slowly turned into something bigger.

That idea became Lakes Rivers Streams (LRS), a brand focused on artist-designed fishing apparel inspired by fly fishing culture.

The Early Days of LRS

How did Lakes Rivers Streams start?

At the start, I partnered with a friend, Dustin. The plan was simple: I would focus on the artwork while Dustin handled the logistics, marketing, and shipping. We launched with just three original fishing t-shirt designs and a single hat featuring our logo.

We built a small website, found a local screen printer to run the shirts, and tracked down an embroidery company online to stitch the hats. In December of that year, the site went live, and LRS officially began.

The early days were slow. Orders trickled in. But I kept drawing, posting new artwork, and collaborating with other creators in the fly fishing community. Friends helped spread the word. Gradually, the brand began to gain traction. For a few years, the growth was steady.

Taking Full Control of the Brand

Then the reality of distance caught up with Dustin and I.

I was living in Cleveland while Dustin was back in Buffalo. Communication became harder, and Dustin had a full-time job and a growing family to focus on. About three years into the venture, I decided to buy out Dustin's half and take full control of the company.

From 2018 on, LRS became a two-person operation myself, and my wife who helps out with customer service and shipping out orders.

Eventually, we moved back to Buffalo and began running the business from our home, setting up shop in our basement.

Growing a Small Fishing Apparel Brand

At first, operations were modest. A corner of the basement handled inventory and shipping, while my drawing desk lived in a spare room upstairs.

As the business grew, so did the operation. In 2020, the basement was expanded to include a dedicated inventory room. A few years later, when we welcomed our second child and the drawing room became a nursery, we built a detached garage.

Today, the garage houses inventory downstairs while the upstairs holds the LRS office, drawing space, and shipping station.

A Passion Project Rooted in Fly Fishing Culture

What makes Lakes Rivers Streams different?

LRS is still technically a side business. I work a day job and dedicate nearly every spare moment outside of family life to the brand, often staying up late designing new artwork, shipping orders, working on freelance projects, or fine-tuning the website.

But I never think of it as work. The brand keeps me connected to fly fishing culture and the fishing lifestyle even when life doesn’t leave much time to get on the water.

Along the way, LRS has opened doors I never expected, allowing me to collaborate with companies like Orvis, Grundéns, AFTCO, Humminbird, and Fly Fisherman Magazine.

Looking Ahead

Back when I was in art school, I wondered if an illustration degree would lead anywhere. I couldn't feel more fortunate that I've been able to build a business and start a family all the while working a job and operating a business that pays me to draw everyday. While building LRS and continuing to work with more amazing freelance clients continues to be the primary goal, I've begun chasing another life long dream.

For years, I imagined building a small cabin in the Adirondacks, a place surrounded by infinite lakes, hiking trails, and trout streams. I never thought it would be attainable but in part thanks to the continued growth of Lakes Rivers Streams fishing apparel, that dream no longer feels out of reach. Back in April of 2025, we were actually able to purchase a small plot of land, and make a step in bringing this dream to fruition.

So for now, the plan is simple: more fishing, more drawing, plenty of late-night shipping sessions, saving to make the cabin a reality and maybe someday, even making LRS fishing apparel and fly fishing artwork a full-time life.