If you’ve ever wanted to tie flies, talk shop, and laugh while doing it, Jess Suvak has a seat saved for you. The creator of Girl Talk Live, Suvak, hosts twice-monthly Instagram Lives that feel less like a clinic and more like old friends yapping around a tying bench. The goal? Elevate women in fly fishing, spotlight lesser-known patterns, and remind everyone that this sport is supposed to be fun.
I sat down with Jess to get the full story—how she got into fly fishing in the first place (amongst the seemingly hundreds of other hobbies she’s passionate about), the inspiration for Girl Talk Live, and what folks can expect on this fishy livestream.
How’d you first get into fishing in the first place?
Jess: So around 2016 or 2017, I was already deep into the outdoors as an ultra runner and climber back in Ohio. While training for a race, I saw some guys fly fishing and thought it looked amazing—I was starting to get burnt out on running, and it looked like another cool way to be outside. I took my first fly fishing course at Orvis Westlake and got hooked. Not long after, I met Katie Johnstone. We realized we were both getting into fly fishing at the same time and decided to build something specifically for women around it. That’s how Ohio Women on the Fly was born. We started with simple group trips to Mohican, Ohio, and it grew quickly into full-on classes, clinics, travels, and entomology courses. Now, Katie and a few other gals have taken over Ohio Women on the Fly since I moved to Montana.
What’s the fishing in Ohio like?
Jess: I don’t think enough people realize how amazing Ohio is. You have everything in your own backyard; at my first house, I would walk down the street to my first steelhead hole I ever fished.
You moved to Bozeman last year—how do you like Montana compared to Ohio?
Jess: Smallmouth, pike, and musky fishing are my absolute favorites, so coming out West, I actually had a tough time catching trout. I like it now, but it was tough to figure out. Back home, I love musky and pike because it’s hard. I just got into hunting, which is kind of fixing my urge for musky fishing. Just like musky, you usually get one shot hunting throughout the day, and then you don’t see another deer for a bit. I’m not a professional guide, so it’s difficult, but I think it scratches the athletic itch of wanting that challenge and working hard for a reward.
Tell me about Girl Talk Live. How did it start?
Jess: When I moved from Ohio to Montana, I gave up my role with Ohio Women on the Fly and suddenly found myself in a new place, missing my friends and that tight-knit fly fishing community—especially through the long, cold winters. I started doing tying nights with my buddies virtually just to stay connected, and one night we thought, “Why don’t we make this live and see who pops on?”
So that first night in Spring 2025, I went live with my friend Jillian Beattie, an incredible musky tier based in New York, and a ton of people tuned in, asked questions, and were genuinely stoked. That response pushed me to turn it into Girl Talk Live. Now, I try to host one or two women a month on Instagram Live to tie flies in real time and just hang out. Girl Talk Live is my way of elevating women who don’t always get the spotlight in this industry and keeping that sense of real, accessible community alive.
What’s the response been like?
Jess: I had no idea people were going to be so stoked about it—we’ve had a ton of support. And it’s also amazing to see how much support the guests have. It’s authentic, it’s fun, and it’s live—so weird things happen! But people seem to like that.
What’s been your favorite part of starting Girl Talk Live?
Jess: I think how inclusive it is. I don’t care if you started fly fishing yesterday or if you’ve been tying flies for decades—I think everyone can learn something from everyone. It’s been super cool to elevate a ton of different women in this industry who don’t typically get the spotlight. And it’s relaxed—I feel like the outdoor space can be so intense, and I want Girl Talk Live to bring it back down a notch and highlight real women—our friends, our aunts, our moms—doing cool things while being realistic about it.
Who are some of the women you’ve had on, and what did you tie?
Jess: I love being able to chat with gals from all over and giving them the mic to talk about the waters they’re most proud of and their favorite flies. So, I recently had Alyssa Adcock on GTL, who is a guide in Montana, Texas, and Idaho. We tied the Saltwater Slider. My friend Jessica Gantos from New Mexico came on to tie the HDA Fly, which was super fun. In February, Madi King is going to come on to tie the John McClure-inspired baitfish pattern—she was raised on the rivers in Colorado but is based here in Montana now.
We try to tie flies you normally wouldn’t tie. It feels like I’m always seeing the same patterns on the internet over and over again—but these girls are bringing in flies from their water that they know work, some of which I’d never even heard of. Plus, there have been so many times when we’ve been tying that we realize a fly can be used for something else. Like, “Oh, this carp fly would make a sick striper fly” or something like that. It’s been fun to dive in and experiment.
Where do you want Girl Talk Live to go?
Jess: I didn’t even know this was going to become something—it was literally just us gals, missing each other, coming together—so it’s amazing to see how it’s evolved. As for next steps, I’m hoping we can start getting together in person. I’d love to host some trips or fly tying events IRL. But I have no idea where it’s going to go. I am having fun riding with it, and I’m just so excited about how many people are stoked about the idea. The world’s kind of our oyster.
What advice would you give to women interested in getting into the sport?
Jess: Don’t be afraid—just get out there. Reach out to every fly shop, every angler, reach out to me. The worst anyone can say is no, and then you move on to the next person. You’re going to look like an idiot sometimes, I do all the time, but you make mistakes, you get better, you make a ton of friends, and that’s how you really get involved in this sport.
What gear do you never leave the dock without?
Jess: Simple stuff. If I’m cold-water fishing, wool socks, like Darn Tough. I always bring a hip pack with maybe some room for a beer or two; since I played volleyball, I can’t have anything on my shoulders for too long. And then my favorite waders, which are the Orvis Pro Waders. They fit correctly and are hardy enough as a four-season wader. And then, of course, a hat from my local fly shop always.
What fish would you be?
Jess: I’m not elusive enough to be a musky since I talk too much. Probably a whitefish because I’m an Aquarius. They’re fun and can make people’s days.
What about a fly?
Jess: I used to ask this question a lot, and I would always say a Clouser Minnow because it can catch pretty much anything. In chartreuse and white, too, because if it ain’t chartreuse it ain’t no use.
Finally, where can we catch the next Girl Talk Live?
Jess: I typically let the gals pick their times around their schedules, but it’s typically twice a month on Monday nights. You can catch the next one on April 6th with Madison Losee at 6:30 pm MST. And if you forget, just follow the Instagram @girltalk_live where I promote the heck out of it.