Our Approach

New England Fly Company was founded on a shared conviction: that fly fishing, at its best, is an expression of deep respect—for wild fish, for the waters they inhabit, and for the craft that connects us to both. We met at a fly tying night in Portland, drawn together by a mutual obsession with detail and design, and quickly found common ground in our desire to elevate the guided experience, support native fish, and engage meaningfully with conservation efforts across New England.

From the beginning, we’ve believed that fly fishing is more than recreation. It’s stewardship. It’s observation. It’s lifelong learning. That mindset shapes everything we do, from the quality of the flies in our shop to the way we structure a day on the water.

We don’t rush. We don’t follow scripts. We meet each trip, each river, and each angler with patience, intention and care.

Co-Owner, Lead Tier

Rowan Confrey

Highly technical, dangerously patient, Rowan thrives on the never-ending puzzle of difficult waters. A lifelong flyfisher, he's also a professional photographer and heads up our operations, marketing, and fly shop - with fly design aspirations to become the AK Best of the East.

Co-Owner, Lead Guide

Isaac Niblack

With roots in Michigan's storied trout waters, Isaac brings years of guiding experience and a deep passion for wild fisheries to the streams, rivers, coasts and ponds of New England. Now based near one Maine's most accessible landlocked salmon runs—he combines local knowledge with a conservation-minded approach to guiding. He heads our guiding service and is the go-to for salt and surf.

Together, we aim to create an experience that reflects not just mastery, but intention—a place where anglers of all levels can deepen their skills, connect with wild fish, and gain a clearer understanding of the ecosystems that make it all possible.

  • The most amazing guided fly fishing trip you could ask for. Isaac and Rowan are extremely knowledgeable, incredibly friendly and the most patient down to earth guides I’ve ever experienced.

    The photography package was a real treat to commemorate our trip, the nature and the fish we caught.

    If we would have known how epic this trip was going to be we would have forked over a lot more dough.

    Experience/scenery: 10/10
    Value: 10/10
    Fishing:10/10

  • Easily the best guided experience I have ever had. Issac & Rowan guided us through a challenging river to fish and put us on the most incredible wild salmon and trout.

    They not only put us on the fish, they explained the “why” of everything we did. I learned a ton. I can’t recommend a trip with them enough. You will not be disappointed! Thanks again, guys!

  • Isaac and Rowan are phenomenal fishing guides. Very friendly, and very informative.


    They took the time to explain why we were picking particular patterns and strategies, and gave advice on how to improve particular skills. We caught some monster landlocks and had a fantastic day.

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  • Trout Unlimited

    Trout Unlimited is the nation’s leading conservation organization working to care for and recover rivers and streams and their trout and salmon populations. Founded by a band of Michigan anglers in 1959, we have grown into a national organization with more than 350 staff, 400 chapters and 300,000 members and supporters.

    Join Now 
  • Native Fish Coalition

    Native Fish Coalition was founded in 2017. We are a nonpartisan, apolitical, grassroots, donor-funded, primarily volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the conservation, preservation, and restoration of wild native fish.

    Join Now 
  • Atlantic Salmon Federation

    We are a world-leading science and advocacy organization with headquarters in New Brunswick, Canada. Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is a family of more than 25,000 members and volunteers that conduct research, perform complex river restoration projects, and advocate for legislation that will help to protect wild Atlantic salmon.

    Join Now