Reel Salty
Reel Guide Stories
Raised by a fisherman in coastal California, Ryan Johnston fell in love with the ocean at an early age. In this third light-heartedly suspenseful and entertaining book, his passion for saltwater fly fishing comes alive. Balmy air, salty captains, and aggressive migratory gamefish lend to heartfelt adventures with family and friends. Each story chapter illustrates the unrelenting call to explore and hunt the ocean, fly rod in hand. Ryan’s unique perspective as a guide and lifetime angler, his witty sense of humor, and his fish-hard attitude makes for a page-turner. Prepare to laugh, wonder, and dream of white sand beaches, tailing fish, and drag-screaming runs. Kick up your feet, grab a drink, and enjoy some salty stories that feel like you’re right there on the boat.
“Ryan Johnston was told by teachers he wasn’t good at writing. Those teachers clearly never gave him a tarpon rod and asked him what happened. He’s captured the saltwater world with the accuracy and respect it demands. Whether you’re considering your first saltwater trip or you’re a seasoned expert who’s traveled the world, you’ll find yourself in Ryan’s stories. This isn’t just another fishing book—it’s proof that sometimes the right passion finds the right voice.”
—Capt. Tom Rowland, TV Personality, Owner Saltwater Experience & Tom Rowland Podcast
““Reel Salty” is a compilation of fishing adventures by a man who is driven by a relentless curiosity. Ryan’s narrative takes us to the far reaches of fishing paradise we all wish we could experience!”
—Andy Mill, Olympian, Saltwater Fly-Fishing Legend, IGFA Hall of Fame & Mill House Podcast
“Fishing, we all know, produces more fish stories than actual fish. Telling those stories is as big a part of fishing as tying on a fly, casting a line, and setting the hook. Sometimes we catch fish. Every time, we tell stories. This book will draw you in, raise your blood pressure, calm your mind, put a smile on your face, and whisk you away on some of Ryan’s most memorable saltwater adventures. It’s a good read and a damn good time!”
—Hank Patterson, The World’s Greatest Fishing Guide
About the Author
I owe this crazy fish passion of mine to my father. From an early age my dad had me on the water learning how to catch whatever creatures were swimming in the water. We always had rods in the car ready to go rigged with red and white bobbers, rainbow power bait, or black panther martins. See growing up in San Diego as a young kid there weren’t a lot of local fly fishing options. So my dad taught me how to catch fresh and saltwater fish using conventional casting rods. When I was twelve my dad said that we should try to be like “Brad Pitt” and check out some fly fishing. I was hooked from the very first moment of casting a hopper onto the riverbank and watching a cutthroat slowly rise from the depths to slurp in my fly. From that moment on I became a fly fisherman and I stored my red and white bobber in the back of some old Plano tackle box to start collecting years of dust.
UC Davis brought me to Northern California in 2001. I thought I had made a responsible decision, giving up the prestigious fly fishing of the Universities of Montana and Colorado for a serious college education at UCD. Ha! Little did I know that the location of UC Davis in Northern California is near some of the best wild trout and steelhead fishing in the state.
During my “B.S.” years, it seemed I spent just as much time studying trout and steelhead behavior on the rivers as I did in the classroom. And despite the unrelenting call of the fish, I managed to earn a degree in Business & Management and land a beautiful, passionate, fly-fishing wife. Then, in 2006, in pursuit of more fish and an ever-higher education, my wife and I moved to Chico, California. I worked part-time to earn an MBA while continuing to guide. We could not help falling in love with Chico, so in 2009, we made it our home. Soon after moving to Chico, our family began to grow. I now have two beautiful, sweet, funny, and full of wonder daughters. After living in California for my whole life, and guiding for 20 years in NorCal, we decided to make a big change and move to Northwest Montana in 2022. Montana has been so good for all of us. We truly feel blessed to live in the mountains, be surrounded by God’s natural beauty, and have incredible outdoor activities nearby. So many fly fishing options!!