Fly angler finds a home away from home in New London

NEW LONDON — It’s mid-winter, and cabin fever season has arrived. Caleb Corona, a Minnesota-based drift boat fishing guide and fly tyer, visited New London on Jan. 23 and 24, hosting an impromptu warm-water fly-tying seminar while traveling to a regional conference. Corona, who held a booth at the Fox Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Cabin Fever event in Appleton, has developed a deep connection to New London through marriage and a shared love of the water.
“I had never heard of New London, Wisconsin, until my wife, Emily, told me a close family friend grew up there and spent a lot of time fishing on the Wolf River that cuts through the heart of the town,” Corona said.
That connection landed him on a fishing raft five years ago, catching black suckers and walleye one after the other. Since then, Corona has found a home in town whenever he visits, preferably during the spring walleye run.
In his professional life, Corona is a research entomologist with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, covering seven counties and 3 million people near the Twin Cities. He holds a Ph.D. in entomology and toxicology, focusing on eco-friendly repellents and resistance as it relates to human health.
“Basically, I make sure only the mosquitoes die,” Corona said. “I’m really into more of the research side of things; I don’t do the treatments or dispersing operations.”

His laboratory often extends into the outdoors, where an entomologist naturally wants to be.
“I’ve been blessed. It has been a fun career. I get to work in the field every day,” he said.
While pursuing his doctorate at Iowa State University, Corona discovered a passion for teaching underclassmen—a skill he now applies to his 16-foot drift boat, the “Regal Beagle,” which he uses to guide clients on the Mississippi River.
“I want everyone to not just catch fish, but to learn how to catch fish,” Corona said. “I have a long history of teaching and consider that one of the greatest skills a guide can have.”
Corona conducts about 35 guide trips a year through Regal Beagle Fly Fishing and is a featured speaker at the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Show and Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo. While he fishes for everything from trout to muskies, he specializes in trophy smallmouth bass.
Most of his guiding takes place out of Minneapolis on the upper stretch of the Mississippi River. Because the water is often swift, shallow, and rocky, he uses a 16-foot ClackaCraft drift boat—a rigid, banana-shaped vessel designed for stealth in thin water.
“It’s all about stealth and the ability to go shallow,” Corona said.
While he often guides a diverse group of clients—ranging from seasoned anglers chasing 20-inch trophies to first-timers—his favorite part of the job is the relationships.
“I’ve been lucky enough to row the boat for people’s first fish and even have been there to watch a father catch his last with his son,” Corona said. “In 2025, we were able to hit the [20-inch] mark over 60 times, but it’s not always about the trophy.”

The Fly Guy

While some clients prefer spinning gear, most opt for seven- or eight-weight fly rods during their 12-mile floats. When tying flies for warm-water species, Corona describes himself as an “impressionistic” tyer.
“A fly might be intended to look like a big shiner or a crawdad,” he said. “It’s still fly-fishing, but you’re really not trying to mimic bugs.”
During his recent stop in New London, a handful of Wolf River anglers gathered to watch as he tied streamer flies and hair jigs for the local tackle shop “coffee clutch.”

Why visit New London?
For Corona, the 250-mile trip from the bustle of the Twin Cities to New London is about more than just the river.

“Places like this are getting harder and harder to find in the world,” Corona said. “It has become apparent to me over the years... that the fish are not why I come back time after time. Not even close. It’s the community; it’s the family.”
Readers can find more about Corona’s pursuits on Instagram @regal_beagle_flyfishing or on Facebook at Regal Beagle Fishing.