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| SHOP STAFF |
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| Steve Schmidt: Cheif Bottle Washer Steve Schmidt is owner and chief bottle washer at Western Rivers Flyfisher. Since opening Western Rivers Flyfisher, he has traveled the world sampling an amazing array of fly-fishing waters. Although Steve is comfortable with many tools of the trade in many environments where we are fortunate to fish a fly he is most at home swinging a grease lined fly, fishing one of his favorite western spring creeks or fishing the emerald waters of the Florida Keys. His passion for the fly-fishing industry, and the sport were recognized in 2007 when Western Rivers Flyfisher was awarded “Fly-fishing Retailer of the Year”. After two decades, he still loves his customers, the business and can think of few things that he would rather do then cast a fly.
info@wrflyfisher.com |
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| Ken Davis: Shop Manager As the shop manager, Ken runs the show around Western Rivers Flyfisher. He's become an integral part of the operation after having left the Front Range for the recreational opportunities of the Wasatch. Since joining our staff in the year 2000 he's been cursed by Steelhead, jumped his first Tarpon, and walked the flats for Bonefish. He likes them all, but given the opportunity he would prefer fine tuning his spey casting kned deep in a Northwest Steelhead river. Ken gets out on many of our local waters, hoping to find rising fish. He also enjoys fishing dries over tough fish on Silver Creek and the Henry's Fork. His newest passion is fishing a dry line for B.C. and Idaho steelhead. As manager of the shop, he works long hours to keep things around here running smoothly. We're delighted to have him leave the corporate world in Colorado and join us.
ken@wrflyfisher.com |
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| Alan Chidester, Advisor Although Alan is no longer with us on a day to day basis, we still look at him as an integral part of our business; teaching, guiding and heading up trips to Argentina. He's part of our growing extended family as we continue to develop Western Rivers. Alan is one of the areas more knowledgeable flyfishers. His specialty, outside of his love for fly fishing in Argentina, is small streams. We miss having his daily knowledge of Utah's great small streams., but he hangs round enough to fill us in. Alan, like a number of other past employees is now a member of our extended family. If you have questions for him or would like to reach him, don't hesitate contacting us at the e-mail address listed above.
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| Bill Young , Shop Ranger Bill has been a part of our shop since day one. We have fished together from British Columbia to the Bahamas. Bill's vast knowledge of trout fishing and Western waters makes him an invaluable member of our pro staff. We tried to get Bill on a regular schedule in the shop, but much to wise to lock himself down at this point in his life. However, if your ever in the shop any morning, he along with Stu and Bud will be comfortable seated in the back planning a day on the water or simply enjoying a good cup of coffee. Stop in, Coffee's on, meet some of our Pro Staff members.
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| Stu Asahina, Advisor and Guide "Stumanchu" is firmly entrenched in the Salt Lake City fishing scene. He has served as our local TU chapter president, supplied us with donuts over the years, and drives us around in his fishing Suburban - complete with a rubber chicken on the front. He guides and fishes over 150 days a year (yes, we are jealous)! Stu is the consummate dry-fly-fisher and small-rod connoisseur. The only thing that could make Stu's world any better is if the Cubs could somehow figure out how to win the World Series.
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| Bud Murray, Shop Ranger The Head Ranger loves to fish for trout, travel worldwide, and tie flies. Like some of our other personell we've highlighted here, he's and honorary staff member. You'll find Bud, Stu and Bill almost every morning at the shop, planning their next triip, enjoying coffee and when we can get them out of their rocking chair helping customers. If you're in and happen to run into Bud, he's what I call a true fisherman. On occassions he still guides, but in reality he's simply retired to go fishing. He's passionate about the outdoors and has make the most of the time retirement has afforded him and simply fishes whenever he can.
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| Matt Drahos: Floor Manager Fresh from ten years of guiding in Alaska, Matt's been a great addition to the Western Rivers staff given his background and enthusiasm for fly-fishing. If you spend any time at all around him, you can't help but feed off his energy. Whether it's tying giant streamers or fly-fishing tiny dry flies, he's at home and excited about it all. After spending a short amount of time in Utah's, he's decided to stick around for a while. We're delighted that he has. He approaches Trout, Muskie, Steelhead and just about anything else that swims in and around the west with the same fervor he applied to his Alaska fly-fishing. What makes him happiest, is sticking something with big nasty streamers. If a fish he lands has something that resembles a dead animal hanging from it's jaw, he'll be smiling. Although he appreciates the far and fine of the sport, he really revels in the dark side.
info@wrflyfisher.com |
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| Nick Teynor, Class Instructor/Guide A dedicated fish-bum, student, and teacher of all things fly-fishing, Nick comes from a self-educated background. He taught himself how to cast and fish from a young age through grit, determination, and countless hours on the lawn and water. He loves to share his knowledge with anyone interested in learning to become a better angler and caster. Nick embraces all aspects of fly-fishing: Dries, Nymphs, Streamers-as long as there is potential for a fish to be on the end of his line, he will fish it. "Fly-fishing has so many fun and effective tactics. In this day and age, limiting yourself to one style of fishing really inhibits your ability to become a better angler. The best fishermen out there are the ones who can adapt to any situation, so it pays to be that guy/gal willing to learn new things. Let's face it, the fish aren't getting any dumber, and learning a new tactic that will benefit you is ALWAYS worth doing!" His interest in teaching motivated him to become a Certified Fly-Casting Instructor via the Federation of Flyfishers, and the "head-master" of Western Rivers fishing classes and fly-casting clinics. He's an execellent teacher and student in his own right. Any water with fish willing to eat a fly is good water for him, but he holds a very special spot in his heart for the Westslope Cutties of the _________ , and diva Rainbows of the Harriman Ranch.
info@wrflyfisher.com |
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| Darren Bowcutt: Head Green River Guide From Utah, Darren's been flyfishing from a very young age and tutored by his father. His learning country is the rivers of the northern Wasatch Mountains such as the Logan River, Bear River, Blacksmith Fork and many others, plus with his dad he was lucky enough to spend much of his early learning years on the Rivers of Southern Montana. Studied Bilology at both University of Utah and then Weber State which gives him a very good concept of the outdoors, Fish and insects. He is Western Rivers Head Guide and has held that position for 4 years now.
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| Brad Lovejoy, Green River Guide Brad received his first flyrod on his 11th birthday and has been fishing ever since. He began working and guiding for Western Rivers Flyfisher in 2001, mainly on Utah's small streams. In 2008 the Green River beckoned and his guiding switched to the Green River and he now lives in Dutch John, UT, and guides year-round. In off times he concentrates fishing small streams and, enjoys upland bird hunting.
info@wrflyfisher.com |
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Matt Lucas, Green River Guide and Shop Staff
Matt caught his first Brown trout on the Green River when he was about 10 years old. Since then he has made hundreds of trips down that river, as well as many others here in the West. He started his guiding career as a fly fishing/backpacking guide in Estes Park , Colorado . There he ventured all through Rocky Mountain National Park and the rivers of that area, like the Roaring Fork, the Yampa, and the_____ to name a few, He eventually made it back to the Green River though, where he now guides fly fishermen from around the world. His understanding of how the river fishes- whatever the flows, is astounding. Whether its the season, the insects - especially terrestrials, or fish habits, he's got it figured out.. And, along with all that great river experience, comes a guy that will work incredibly hard to help you with the finer techniques of casting and presentation and get you to those little known spots where you have the best chance of landing the some really great fish.
info@wrflyfisher.com |
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| Andrew Swindle, Shop Staff and Guide Everyday that Andrew gets on the water is a good day. Having been born and raised in Utah he has a great love and respect for the beauties that the state has to offer. Most recently the state's rivers and small streams have become his focus. Having had most of his time during college centered around Rugby at the University of Utah he has now been given the chance to get back to what really makes him smile, the outdoors. We should all thank his wife, as she took him fly fishing years ago on one of their first dates. Shortly after he quickly took to the sport. Over the past four years Andrew has hit it and hit it hard, spending way to much time on the water, if that's possible. Andrew is a believer that fly fishing has something to offer everyone that is remotely interested. "One thing that I love about fly fishing is that it's constantly changing. Everyday is unique. One day you could be chasing trout with a small mayfly and the next you could be chucking large bait fish imitations for Striped Bass. Interacting with nature in that regard is pretty cool. Being able to share that with people that otherwise wouldn't have that experience is even cooler." He loves to share his passion for fly fishing with anyone who wants to explore Utah's fisheries, including those interested in throwing a mouse pattern late into the night.
info@wrflyfisher.com |
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| Bryce Nichols, Webman Bryce is a Utah native who grew up fishing all of Utah’s great waters. After spending some time guiding in Colorado he moved back to Utah to join us in the shop and guide Utah’s small streams. He has had the opportunity to travel all over and make great friendships fishing for trout, steelhead, saltwater species, and Utah’s great warm water species. Chasing anything with a spey rod or small remote streams, where there is solitude are his preferences. The harder it is the more fun he has doing it. He believes that fly fishing is not just about fishing, it’s about the adventures and places it takes you. If Bryce isn’t somewhere on the water or trail you’ll find him sitting behind his screen working away at the website.
bryce@wrflyfisher.com |
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Asher Koles, Shop Staff and Guide Born and raised a few blocks from the shop, Asher began frequenting the fly bins with his father at a very young age. He has stuck close to his roots in Utah with a degree from the U of U and several jobs in the local environmental non-profit sector. Trained traditionally, Asher spent most summers throwing dries on western trout streams like the Henry’s Fork with his brother Eli Koles, one of our Green River Guides. He has fished all over Utah and holds the small desert creeks and high elevation lakes in Southern Utah close to his heart. Within the past few years, Asher has shown his face more and more in the shop until he fell into place as one of our guides and shop staff members. If Asher is not fishing or tying flies, you can find him on his snowboard or clinging to a rock in one of wests canyons.
info@wrflyfisher.com |
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