For Morgan, Utah-based nail tech Kim Manore, fishing is a lifelong passion, a way to connect with her family, and even an inspiration for nail designs. “I started fishing at a young age with my grandpa up in the Uinta Mountains,” she says. She continued the tradition into adulthood, visiting local lakes, reservoirs, and rivers with her husband and 12-year-old son, who both enjoy fishing just as much as she does. The family usually catches rainbow trout, brown trout, and channel catfish. “We enjoy it as a family because it brings us closer together,” she says. “I enjoy it because it’s a step away from work life and I can calm my mind for the next work week to come.”

Manore used fishing wire and tinsel to create these nails.

Manore used fishing wire and tinsel to create these nails.

Her commitment to fishing doesn’t stop during the winter months: Manore likes tying fishing flies for future adventures when the weather doesn’t permit her favorite activity. “It’s another way for me to be creative,” she says. She uses feathers from birds ranging from peacocks to chickens, hair from deer or elk, wire, and holographic tinsel to create the flies. She even brings these materials into her work as a nail tech. “I like to take the wire and tinsel to the salon and see what I can come up with on tips,” Manore explains. “Fishing does become a part of my inspiration, along with the colors of nature. I am currently planning to get started on a set of tips featuring a picture of a trout so I can display it at the salon!”

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.

Read more about