At Flylords, there’s a lot that goes into deciding what shows up on your feed every day. In our Meet the Team series, we’re highlighting the people behind the brand and the work that goes into telling the stories that make Flylords what it is. This week, we’re catching up with Tripp Nazziola, Flylords’ Content and Account Manager, to talk about his path into the fly fishing industry, what goes into running Flylords’ social media, some of his favorite projects, and why he thinks carp deserve a little more respect.
Tell us a little about your role at Flylords. What does a typical day look like for you?
Tripp: “I’ve been the Content and Account Manager at Flylords for a little over two years now. My job is essentially to find, gather, and curate content that resonates with our audience. Put more simply, I run the Flylords social media accounts.
I have a blast in this role because no two days are really the same. Most days start with planning. What is today’s post going to look like? What does the next week hold from a content perspective? From there, the drafting and creation starts. My favorite part of the job is getting to talk with creators, anglers, guides, and people throughout the industry to figure out how we can help tell their stories.”
How did you get your start in marketing, social media, and the outdoor industry?
Tripp: “I got my start in marketing around my sophomore year of college at Appalachian State University (ROLL NEERS). At the time, I wasn’t totally sure what I wanted to do, but I eventually found my calling in marketing. It was a field where creativity didn’t just matter, it was crucial to how you approach business and the world around you.
Around that same time, I had started a fly fishing club at App State and found myself working and guiding for a local fly shop. Between running social media for the fly fishing club and the fly shop, I found a real interest in social media and the way you can use it to tell stories and build communities. A year or so later, through the Trout Unlimited Costa 5 Rivers program (an awesome program for college students interested in fly fishing), I came across an internship opportunity with Flylords. I ended up being a good fit for what they were looking for, and here we are.”
Is there a particular post, campaign, or series you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of?
Tripp: “Ahh, this is a hard one. I can’t pick just one favorite child, so I’m going to give you two. The first is undoubtedly Tarpon Week. For those who aren’t familiar with Flylords Tarpon Week, it’s a jam-packed week full of tarpon content, history, tips, conservation, and more. Getting to help bring those weeks to life is pretty incredible. Every year I learn more and more about this amazing species and the people who dedicate their lives to chasing them.
The other series that stands out to me is Coast to Coast. That series is special because of the creative freedom I get to have with the posts. Throughout the series, the crew is in a completely new setting chasing some of the wildest fish imaginable. Coast to Coast is very much a journey, and I want our audience to feel like they’re following along with us every step of the way.”
How do you balance creating content that performs well with staying true to the Flylords brand?
Tripp: “I think cool stories speak for themselves. Storytelling is a staple of the Flylords brand, and good stories will always appeal to an audience that values them. My goal is to tell or show those stories in a way that is meaningful, valuable, and intriguing to our audience. When a story resonates with people, that’s what drives performance.”
What makes a piece of social content stand out to you?
Tripp: “Authenticity.
I love seeing content that doesn’t feel forced, but rather captures someone genuinely having a good time. I also love seeing people who are genuinely excited and nerdy about whatever they’re interested in. Social media can sometimes be mind-numbing. It’s easy to get caught in an endless doom scroll. Interrupting that with a post of someone tying a crazy deer hair fly, catching a fish they’ve been chasing for years, or helping introduce a new generation to fly fishing is what I personally love to see.”
What’s your ideal day on the water?
Tripp: “My ideal day on the water is honestly pretty simple. It consists of two things: learning something new and experiencing it with someone else. My friends and colleagues will probably tell you I’m a broken record every time I say, “The cool thing about fly fishing is that you’ll never know it all.” If I learned something new from my time on the water that day, I consider it a good day.”
What’s one fishing opinion you’ll defend no matter what?
Tripp: “Carp are cool. I’m going to keep this short because I could rant about this for hours. I had a buddy in college convince me to go chase carp on the fly one time, and I’ve never been the same since. Carp are pretty much everywhere, they’re tricky but catchable, they put up a great fight, they’re an awesome species to give trout a rest, and they teach you something every time you chase them. Are they a little slimy and gross? Undoubtedly. Are they completely underrated? Absolutely. Go out and give it a shot!”
Thank you, Tripp, for joining us for this episode of Meet the Team. Stay tuned for our next feature as we continue introducing the faces behind Flylords.