Montana Fly Fishing Guides

Michael Leach-  As a ranger naturalist for the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park for the last four summers Mike has shared his passion for the Greater Yellowstone Region with people from all over the world. Growing up in North Idaho, Mike honed his love for the art of fly-fishing on some of the lesser known Idaho rivers and streams in addition to spending countless hours working the waters of the Bitterroot in the spectacular Bitterroot Valley and the Greater Yellowstone region rivers such as the Yellowstone, Madison, and others. As an educator, Mike has a great deal of patience and really enjoys working with guests of all levels and experience. If you are looking for someone who has a great love and respect for Montana waters and trout, and someone with deep roots in the region who will provide an all-around quality over quantity experience, then Mike would definitely enjoy the opportunity to spend a day with you on one of our fine Montana rivers.

Dan Grabowski  Dan comes to us via the great state of wandering fishers -Minnesota.  Growing up outside the Twin Cities, Dan figured out his true calling early on and lept at the opportunity to head to Alaska and guide anglers for salmon and Leopard rainbows of awesome proportions through the fabled Tchickik Narrows Lodge.  Dan guided in AK for 5 seasons before pointing things south a bit and coming to Montana in 2004.  Dan is an exceptionally hard working guide who will go to great lengths to ensure his anglers a great trip (witness the picture!) on all our area rivers, spring creeks, and lakes.  Easy going, patient, and articulate, you will find fishing with Dan a pleasure.  When not on the water chasing trout, you'll likely find Dan chasing upland birds with his English Setter, Bandit, who's as relentless about pointing birds as her owner is about  trout.

Bill Buchbauer - Billy is without a doubt one of the nicest guys you are likely to meet.  With a big "Aw Shucks" grin, Bill does a phenomenal job on the water.  Whether you are a beginner looking to start a new avocation or already a seasonded hand with the long rod, Bill has the ability to share his knowledge, skills, and affinity for the river with you.  You'll be in great hands.  And likely with a new friend for life.  Bill seeks out the high country when fishing wraps up in the fall.  A semi-pro Big Mountain skier, this past winter Bill spent the winter months looking for the perfect turns in the perfect powder fields of British Columbia.  Next winters location?  Undecided, but snowy....

Craig Boyd  - Hailing from Calgary, Alberta,  and growing up in a fanatic fly fishing family, Craig has taken every opportunity to hone his skills on many of the finest waters of the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains. Craig attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Superior where he lead his hockey team to three NCAA Final Fours and studied Biology. When not chasing the puck on some frozen pond, Craig could be found pursuing his first love, plying the waters of the Great Lakes tributaries.   This love soon lead to Craig west to find his fishing Mecca in Bozeman. Fishing extensively across Montana from the Beaverhead to the Big Horn and all the waters in between, home water riffles always drawing him back to the Madison and Yellowstone. Beyond perusing his local haunts for the wily Salmo and Oncorhynchus, Craig can be found shredding Bridger Bowl or chasing live music across the country. Big fish, tight lines, and singing reels!

Chris Mason - "I believe that the mark of a great guide is when one ultimately prefers teaching to fishing for oneself. A perfect day for me is time spent with motivated novices, opening their hearts and minds to the world of nature. Theirs can be a life changing experience which I find personally rewarding."

A native of Oregon, Chris has over thirty years experience in the world of fly fishing and has guided professionally in Montana and Idaho for ten years. Holding a Masters Degree from The Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, he worked in international business prior to trading in his pin stripes for a fishing vest in 1994. While growing up in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, working as a Surveyor and a Logger, he developed a passion for the outdoors that he shares with his clients in all seasons. In the waning days of autumn he returns to Sun Valley, Idaho where he has taught skiing for over twenty years and from where he also guides backcountry skiing adventures through out the Northwest and Alaska. When not wading rivers or skiing powder slopes he spends his time starting and teaching horses.

Garrett Munson Garrett (grinnin' to the left of his happy client) is the classic city-boy-turned-country-boy story in action; born and raised in Chicago, but a Montanan since 1995, the only thing that has carried through the transition has been his passion for fishing. After the last 3 years working with a wilderness adventure therapy program, Garrett has given up the weekly paycheck to become a full-time guide again this year. We couldn't be more excited, and the fish couldn't be more nervous. A day on the river with him is so much more than just a fishing trip; it is a trip of relaxation, a historical excursion, some comic relief, and of course some big trout to boot.

Brad Ehrnman has been living and fly fishing in Southwest Montana for the past ten years.  Originally from Virginia, Brad has had a lifelong interest in the outdoors and fly fishing.  His easy going nature and instructive style enable him to be successful with beginning anglers and the most seasoned veterans.  His extensive knowledge and experience make him a great guide for the angler who wishes to learn something on the river and catch BIG trout.  Brad is also an accomplished artist who specializes in painting what he knows best, fish in oils.


Lyn Dawson Lyn began her career in the fly fishing industry in 1988 where she took a job at one of the local fly fishing shops in Sun Valley, Idaho. She spent five seasons working in the shop helping customers find the good fishing spots along with increasing their knowledge of equipment and flies. Lyn also taught weekly casting clinics along with some guiding. In the early 90's, Lyn moved to Bozeman, Montana and continued on with the shops and guiding in Bozeman and Livingston. In 1997 she began teaching her own fly fishing schools, mainly catering to women. After many successful seasons teaching, Lyn is now concentrating on one-on-one instructional days combined with guided fishing trips. Fifteen years of working in the fly fishing industry has given Lyn the knowledge and desire to help others, and there is noting better than learning from someone who has years of experience and a true love of the sport!

Shop Staff

 Brooke Howell  Brooke, married to Peter (see above), is managing our day to day operations at the fly shop.  She's likely the one you'll talk to on the phone while booking your trip or helping you with any questions you may have about our many services and products.  Brooke is a native of Oklahoma who came to Montana via school as a National Exchange Student from Oklahoma State University where friends of hers from Missoula absolutely insisted that she try out the Univ of Montana for a year.  She, of course, loved it and came back to Montana shortly after graduating.  Brooke studied for her Masters in Education at Montana State Univ. in Bozeman.  Her work most recently has been with the Corporation for the Northern Rockies where she was the Director of Development.

 Jimmy Blackburn  Jimmy comes to us via the Bay Area after giving up a .com strategy that actually included guided days on the water.  On a trip through our area, he hooked up literally and figuratively with us (the fishing was THAT good...) and has stuck it out ever since with the trout bum life.  A native of Virginia Jimmy has an undergraduate degree from Hobart and a MBA degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies through Middlebury College.  So, like many of us here, he holds up the ideals of being completely over educated yet incredibly happy because we love what we do.  Jimmy fulfills several key roles with Angler's West from helping behind the counter, giving casting lessons, to guiding on the river.

 
Burke Holmes  Burke has the enthusiasm that only an 18 yr old can.   Freshly graduating from high school in St. Louis, Burke returns this season to be with us for a better part of the summer before sliding over the Continental Divide and classes next fall at the U of M in Missoula.  Trout better beware!  Burke's help in the shop is invaluable.  We're happy to have him as part of the team.