As a college kid at Johns Hopkins University 30 years ago, Mark Lewicki found stress-release and solace in wandering the nearby mountains on the weekends. And in those mountain streams in Maryland where many U.S. presidents have dropped a line, Mark found a thinking-man’s sport that has chased him across the country.
“I love dry-fly fishing, even when dry-fly fishing is the hardest thing to do,” says Mark, the sales and marketing director for The Country Club at Castle Pines. “I love the aspect of being immersed in nature, when eight hours have flown by, you haven’t eaten, you haven’t had anything to drink. You lose yourself.”
Mark, who lives in Highlands Ranch, is an avid fly fisherman and still uses the first Orvis fly rod he bought for himself in college. He says the allure of fly fishing has always been in the strategy, the skill of trying to make an artificial insect whipping on the end of a line look real enough for a trout to bite. Mark has taught all three of his kids to fly fish, and he even taught his dad.
“There are times when you can dry fly all day and not catch a thing,” Mark says. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if I don’t catch the fish.”
Mark has spent the past 16 years working at luxury golf and lifestyle clubs in Arizona and Colorado. Last year, he began taking groups of Castle Pines members on fishing excursions through the Broadmoor Fly Fishing Camp program. He says it was an innovative way to build community based on interests outside of the golf club, something that proved popular with members.
“The ability to personally connect with members, that is critical,” Mark says. “Instead of selling widgets or computer software, we’re selling an experience.”
And Mark has figured out to marry all his lifelong interests and create unique experiences for his members. Mark grew up in south central Pennsylvania, where he says he spent most free time outdoors, whether golfing (his grandparents were avid golfers), playing tennis, swimming (he competed in college), or just roaming in the wilderness close to home. One of his first jobs was as a manager for a local pool.
He says all his lifelong passionate pursuits have helped inform his job in the luxury hospitality industry, and in recent years he’s been publishing his photography — another passion — on his own website.
“I love to find remote places,” Mark says. “A lot of people go where they see the biggest fish being caught. I’m much more content in finding a place that’s out of the way.
“Colorado is the perfect place. You have so much accessibility to you in a short drive.”
+ Find Mark Lewicki's photography at www.marklewicki.com.
I never go fishing without my . . .
+ Orvis HLS Bighorn
I still use my Orvis HLS Bighorn 5 wt. fly rod that I originally purchased over 30 years ago when I taught myself to fly fish.
+ Voormi River Run Hoodie
It’s an ultra lightweight wool pullover made by a Pagosa Springs company. Sun protection and keeps you cool.
+ Nikon D800
I use the D800 to photograph my experiences, but now I can also take my Mavic 2 Pro drone.
Watering Hole Secrets
Mark Lewicki’s favorite fishing experiences:
+ The Broadmoor’s Fly Fishing Camp on the Tarryall River. Working in luxury hospitality for 16 years, I know the best when I experience it. It is world class, private trout fishing with rustic, luxury lodging within 90 minutes of Denver. I took two groups of my members in 2019.
+ The Madison and Gallatin River Fishing Trip with my Dad. It’s truly Big Sky Country. It’s remote and unbelievably beautiful, but easily accessible with some of the best, Blue Ribbon dry fly trout fishing I’ve ever experienced.
+ Big Hunting Creek outside Thurmont, MD. It’s a small, fly fishing only freestone stream near Camp David and Cunningham Falls where I taught myself to fly fish. It’s also where many presidents have dropped a line.