CHROME SPOTS AND FANGS – BEYOND THE BUCKET LIST
With GLENN UEDA
2/16/2026
A native of Southern California, Glenn was introduced to surf fishing as a child by his father. Every Sunday, they would venture from Morro Bay to San Onofre, catching their own bait and targeting a variety of fish, including striped bass, barred perch, and corbina. Inspired by an article in Field and Stream, Glenn learned basic fly casting and tying at the renowned Long Beach Casting Club when he was just ten years old. A local pond became his haven, where he found endless joy in fooling bluegill, crappie, and bass.
Almost five decades later, after a fulfilling career as an architect, Glenn sought new challenges. He combined his cherished surf and freshwater fishing lessons with his newfound knowledge to establish a successful business called “So Cal Flats Fishing Guide Service.” His mission is to teach fly anglers the art of sight fishing in shallow surf for one of the world’s most challenging species, the California corbina.
Glenn guides highly skilled anglers from all over the globe, and many agree that after a day of stalking, our “Ghost of the Coast” is as difficult, if not more so, than the highly coveted flats permit. Glenn’s passion for fishing extends beyond guiding; he also enjoys sharing his expertise by filling his annual calendar with presentations and tying demonstrations at various fly fishing stores in Southern California, including Fishermen’s Spot, Bob Marrioe’s Fly Fishing Store, Orvis Pasadena, and The Fly Stop. Glenn, a renowned fly fisherman, has gained widespread acclaim for his captivating presentations. Whether delivered in person or via Zoom, his presentations, such as “Ghost of the Coast – Sight Fishing for California Corbina,” “Midnight Madness – The Hunt for Trophy Calico Bass,” and “Planet Carp - Fly Fishing for the World’s Popular Fish,” have resonated with fly fishing clubs across the spectrum, from Santa Barbara to San Diego.
Beyond his presentations, Glenn has expanded his expertise by writing and collaborating on numerous feature articles for esteemed publications like Fly Fisherman, Fly Fusion, Sport Fishing, Saltwater Sportsman, California Fly Fisher, Pacific Sport Fishing Magazine, and Western Outdoor News. His passion for sight fishing has led him on global adventures, where he has ventured to exotic locations in search of unique species. Baja Mexico for roosterfish, dorado, and tuna, Belize for permit, tarpon, and bonefish, Christmas Island for giant trevally, triggerfish, and milkfish, Amazon fot peacock bass, wolffish, and arowana, Argentina for golden dorado, pacu, and pira pita, and most recently, the elusive Colombian “vampire fish” aka payara.
With over 150 days of fishing annually, Glenn’s dedication extends beyond exotic destinations. He also finds immense satisfaction in challenging himself to stalk finicky, hard-fighting carp in various environments, from the bustling metropolitan Los Angeles to the vast Montana impoundments and the narrow canals of Japan.
Glenn’s Loco Moco carp fly, designed specifically for pursuing these “golden bones” in all conditions, has garnered immense popularity. It has garnered a dedicated following across the United States, as well as in Asia, Europe, and Australia. With a background in long-range big game fishing, Glenn also enjoys venturing offshore, seeking hard-fighting pelagic and coastal species from his 20’ Edgewater center console. His coastal stretch of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, an immense aquatic resource, supports a healthy population of California Yellowtail, Pacific Bonito, Kelp Bass (also known as calico bass), and Pacific Barracuda. Seasonal visitors like yellowfin tuna and dorado also eagerly await a well-presented fly. During his international and domestic travels, Glenn has landed an impressive 132 species on fly. He is particularly proud of his IGFA Fly Rod World Records for California Corbina on 4#, 12#, and 16# tippet, all caught and released on his local beach.
When not fishing, Glenn and his wife of 39 years, Mona, enjoy traveling to Japan to visit their son Randy and family. They also spend time outdoors with their dog Mac and stroll the sand near their coastal home in Huntington Beach.