|
|
What You Need To Know We've been in business longer than any other shop in the area, since 1978 and we've got one of the oldest active outfitters licenses in the state. Combine that experience with the knowledge of a group of diverse fun young and seasoned guides and you have one of the most fun staffs around. All of our guides not only know how to catch fish, more importantly they know how to teach you more about catching fish so that even if you are a seasoned angler, you will surely pick up a trick or two. At Montana Troutfitters we pride ourselves in providing the level of service that has kept customers coming back through our doors since 1978, helping us carry on the Fly Fishing Tradition. |
Dave Kumlien Outfitter #281 |
Dave is Montana Licensed Outfitter No. 281. He started guiding fly fishermen in the Bozeman area in 1975 as a guide for the Beaver Pond Sport Specialists, and in 1978, he started Montana Troutfitters. Dave ran his business for 20 years and sold the shop in January 1998. Dave feels blessed to have a wonderful family and to have the opportunity to live and work in beautiful Bozeman, Montana, in the heart of the finest trout fishing in the world! And he admittedly introduced his son to his fly fishing addiction at a young age, and is proud to be the outfitter of record for Montana Troutfitters some 30 years later for his son Kristopher the GM. |
Tom Travis Outfitter #420 |
Tom brings with him the ability and knowledge of fishing Yellowstone National Park and over 30 years on the Livingston Spring Creeks. Tom has an unparalleled level of expertise on the finer points of fishing and a better, more seasoned guide you will not find anywhere, period. Tom is an avid outdoorsman not to mention a gifted fly tier and frequent contributor to many of the finer fly fishing magazines. Tom will be available on a limited basis, so please call ahead for his availability. From Tom's mouth - "Remember I am a good guide, no one has ever told me I was a good angler." |
Colter Anderson (On the Left)  |
Colter began stalking the banks at the ripe age of four with his father in Wyoming. His passion sparked his guiding career with the Platte River Fly Shop on the North Platte River in Casper, Wyoming. In 2000 he moved to Bozeman Montana, to attend Montana State University. Since then he's been fishing the waters around Bozeman and loves that on any given day you have the chance of catching trout on dry’s, nymphs and streamers. Fishing has been a part of Colter's life for over twenty years, and he's always excited to teach anglers and show them a few nice fish like this brown on the Yellowstone! |
Gary Behrent  |
Gary is a fifth generation Montanan and fishing and hunting and fishing is in his blood. The majority of Gary's time is absorbed in the pursuit of outdoor interests, at the forefront of which is fishing. For the last 6 years Gary has been sharing this passionate pursuit with others, spending several summers in Alaska, while moonlighting back in Montana on the trout streams he's grown up on. He's a proud papa and loving husband as well. With Gary's knowledge of fishing and natural world combined with a Montana value of hard work, your day on the water will be remembered for years to come! |
| Ashby Bell (On the Left)  |
Ashby Bell moved to the Bozeman area from the spring creeks of Southern Pennsylvania in 1999. He is a graduate of Montana State University where he studied skiing, fishing, and ecology. Such pursuits have prevented him from obtaining a "real-job" and have allowed him to spend much of his time outdoors refining and enhancing his knowledge of these subjects. Ashby is one the easiest going guides on our staff and his patience is only matched by his dry fly fishing prowess. "My belief is that fly-fishing is serious...seriously fun!" As a side note, that was Ashby's direct quote, not that of Montana Troutfitters' Staff. |
Ryan Brewer (On the Right) |
Ryan grew up in Billings, MT where he honed his fishing skills on the Yellowstone and Bighorn rivers. In 2001 he moved to Bozeman to pursue a degree in Biology. During his tenure at Montana State he fished religiously and eventually was talked into being a full time guide. He has a passion for teaching others every aspect of the sport he loves including streamers, dries and nymph fishing. Ryan is as easy going of a guide as you will find - yelling, screaming and swearing at clients is definitely not in his bag of tricks on or off the water. Don't let the hair fool you though, this guy is a serious fish machine. |
Collin Brown  |
Collin is a fourth generation Montanan born into fly fishing with a fly rod in one hand and a shotgun in the other. He loves to share his passion and appreciation for fishing and the outdoors that was instilled in him by his dad and grand dad with each and every one of his clients. He's been all over the state, but has called Bozeman home for the past decade now. A teacher by trade, he spends his summers teaching clients about the finer points of fly fishing. When not teaching students in a classroom, Collin can be found searching for rising trout or with his dog chasing upland birds through. Collin is especially fond of teaching newcomers to our sport. |
Nick English  |
Nick grew up in a fly fishing family leaving each summer to travel the west with their tent, trailer, and plenty of rods. Fishing waters from as far north as Alaska, to South America, fly fishing is in Nick’s blood. Departing from your typical fly fishing background, for a few years Nick fished Bass Tournaments around Northern California to satisfy the competitive spirit. Quitting a career to pursue guiding in Alaska for several years and moving to Bozeman offered him the chance to guide and finish his degree at MSU. Nick loves teaching all levels of fly fishers from beginners to experts, and feels that "everyone can learn something new!" |
Slade Fedore  |
Slade started at an early age in Casper, Wyoming chasing fish for fun. Every second he had free was devoted to fishing the Platte River or hunting on his family’s ranch. Since moving to Montana in 2005 Slade has expanded his love for the sport to include trips in the Washington and Oregon coasts, fishing for steelhead. You can find Slade most any day of the week fishing until dark with his yellow lab Tuna. Slade’s passion for the sport is truly contagious. One day on the river with him will only leave you wanting to go right back out. |
John Kirk  |
John is new with us at Montana Troutfitters for 2010 and is eager to share his passion for fishing. John developed his fishing skills early on Striped Bass and Largemouth Bass in New England. After graduating from the University of Vermont, he moved to Bozeman and has been chasing big trout ever since. John enjoys teaching others to fish and sharing all that he has come to love about Montana. John is also an avid fly tier, certified EMT and volunteer on the Big Sky Ski Patrol. "If you're looking for a good time on the river, what better place than Montana?" Well said John, well said. |
Rick Matney  |
Rick grew up in Northeastern Washington near the Canadian border where his father owns and operates Three Lakes Fly Fishing. Having grown up with a fly rod in his hands and a passion for the outdoors, Rick has been fortunate enough to have traveled all over the world in search of finned quarry. Whether it's 50 MPH sailfish off the coast of Panama or dime bright steelies all over the west coast, Rick brings a unique level of energy to everything he does. With a mind for conservation and a special place for trout in his heart, Rick is an advocate of preserving all the finned creatures of the world that we all long to chase. |
Willy Self  |
Willy was born in Reno, Nevada and spent his younger years in Susanville, California. At age 6 he began tying flies, basically coming up with his own patterns, anything that would catch fish! Willing to fish anything with water, Willy began his obsession with lakes early on in life. Moving to Bozeman in 1974, Willy spent the formidable years of his life chasing trout, some time in the Marine Corps (Semper Fi) and guided for 13 years, 7 in Yellowstone Park. He's happily married to "The BOSS" Nancy. Willy is our resident lake and fly tying expert. He also spends a lot of time as one of the shop's employees and introducing newcomers to the sport he loves so much! |
| Ron Stafford  |
Ron grew up in Winchester, Mass and acquired his love for fishing from his dad and older brothers. in 1971 after serving in the Air Force, he moved to Bozeman and has been discovering the areas fantastic lakes, rivers and creeks ever since. Ron has a degree in Fish and Wildlife Biology from MSU and a Doctorate in Vet Medicine from Colorado State, practicing vet medicine in Bozeman for 25 years. Married to his high school sweetheart Barbara for 41 years, Ron enjoys his 3 kids and 8 grandkids. Ron enjoys sharing his knowledge of Southwest Montana's geological and cultural history as well as the area's year round fishing opportunities. |
Pat Straub |
Pat grew up fishing the small creeks around Bozeman—often skipping school to do so. Since 1997 he has guided throughout Montana and Yellowstone Park; and spent two seasons guiding abroad, one in Chile and one in southern Africa. For 2010 and beyond, he is very excited to join Troutfitters. He is the author of four books, and along with his wife, owned by two Labrador Retrievers. Patrick guides anglers of all abilities, but really enjoys beginners and folks new to Montana. In his short time on this planet, fly fishing has given him so many wonderful memories that he is eager to share. “Start the day as a client. End the day as a friend.” That’s his motto. |
Gayle Whittenberg  |
Gayle Whittenberg is one of our female guides and co-owner of Montana Troutfitters with her husband, Bruce. Gayle completed the Reel Women Guide School and has been licensed in Montana for five years. A more avid angler you will not likely find. Gayle resides in Billings, so her availability includes the Stillwater River and tributaries, including private water in the Beartooth Mountains, and the Big Horn River. Gayle’s specialty, however, is providing couples, ladies and families with an introduction to the sport. She loves to teach beginners, and is the faculty fly-fishing instructor for MSU Billings. |
