Our friendship might just last for the day, or grow into a lifetime.   But like any good friend, we will be patient,  kind and honest.  We are here to enjoy the day with you.    We are going to lose flies,  break off fish, maybe even break a rod.  It's ok, it happens!  It's water under the boat.  There are more flies, fish, and rods.  But the day we spend together is irreplaceable.  This philosophy has served us well, it allows us to focus on what is important.  You.

        I grew up in a small town  in upstate NY.  My parents were outdoor folks, and with a child like me, they sent me outside as much as possible.  I have to admit, I caught and ate an awfull lot of the trout that called my local  creek home (I guess i read The Hatchet and Into the Wild too many times).  My parents also introduced me to skiing, hiking, biking, sailing, hunting, and my true loves,  whitewater kayaing and fishing.  These two activities go together perfectly and supplied me with plenty of entertainment and challenge. 

    In the end I chose kayaking to be my "career"  and spent 10 years as a sponsered kayaker, kayak instructor, raft guide and carpenter to support my habit.  I had unending support from both of my parents.  My dad had been an aspiring olympic canoe paddler, and my mom, who solo sailed around the world twice in her 28 ft sailboat (a feat that to this day is one of the gnarliest things a  person can challenge themselves with).  

    It was a splendid run, but all good things come to an end.  I switched gears towards making an honest career, and spent another 10 years running a construction company with a dear friend.  Toward the end of that chapter in my life, I realized I didn't want to spend the rest of my life doing construction.  I met a local guide at the grocery store near my house and convinced him to go steelhead fishing with me.  It must have worked because he gave me a job guiding on the Klickitat River for steelhead.  It took a few years to transition out of construction and work my way into a full-time guiding positon.  Along the way I met my wife, who not only tolerates my obsession for the outdoors but blissfully joins in.  its been an amazing 10 years!  Brianna is the yin to my yang and I am so thankful for that.  She runs her own fishing guiding operation Felt Bottomed Girls on the Yakima River as well as the Klickitat.  She is my number one guide.   I'm sure you will appreciate her kindness, compassion and complete passion for her craft as much as i do.

    When I think back on the stories that make up my life.  I don't remember most of the fish, the waterfalls I kayaked off, the terrible weather my dad and I endured while galavanting in the wilderness, or the storms out at sea sailing with my mom.  I remember the people I was with, and the friendships we share.

     As a fishing guide it could be all about the fish, but that's not what its about for us.  It's about  the tiny trout that is nearly dwarfed by the fly,  the chats we have on the day you get to spend with a friend or loved one.  It's about the friends we make, the humor of being ridiculous while we learn new things.  It's about what happens between the fish that is important.  And if the stars align, the fish will come!​