Jeff Ehlert
Jeff is the owner of the Winter Park Flyfisher. Jeff grew up in Montana learning the art of fly fishing on the Missouri, Big Blackfoot, Madison, Big Hole and a few secret spots such as No-Tellum Creek. He has been a fly fishing guide in Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado since 1991. Jeff spends nearly 100 days a year on the rivers in Colorado and Wyoming. He has fished in Florida, Louisianna, Texas, Mexico, Bahamas, Chesapeake Bay and Christmas Island for Bones, Tarpon, Permit, Redfish, Trevally, Snook, Cuda, and Striper. Jeff lives in Fraser, Colorado with his wife (Diane), son (Jory) and daughter (Taylor).
As a child I was transfixed by the stories of my grandfather's fishing. As I grew up, my dad would often ask "What do you want to do this weekend?" I would usually answer, "Let's go fishing!" Now looking back, I'm sure that he would have many times rather done something else for we lived in Montana with horses, motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats and endless mountains to climb, but he always accomodated my wishes and we would head to the river. I still have my first fly rod which always brings memories flooding back. Several years ago, I was contemplating a career change. My reasoning was that it was time to do something important with my life. Frank, one of my best clients that has fished with me for 20 years told me that what you do is very important. "You create memories for people that they will re-visit for the rest of their lives." With that, I found new purpose in what I already loved. Afterall, "It's not that I find fishing to be all that important, it's that I find many of man's other endeavors to be equally unimportant and not nearly as much fun."
As a child I was transfixed by the stories of my grandfather's fishing. As I grew up, my dad would often ask "What do you want to do this weekend?" I would usually answer, "Let's go fishing!" Now looking back, I'm sure that he would have many times rather done something else for we lived in Montana with horses, motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats and endless mountains to climb, but he always accomodated my wishes and we would head to the river. I still have my first fly rod which always brings memories flooding back. Several years ago, I was contemplating a career change. My reasoning was that it was time to do something important with my life. Frank, one of my best clients that has fished with me for 20 years told me that what you do is very important. "You create memories for people that they will re-visit for the rest of their lives." With that, I found new purpose in what I already loved. Afterall, "It's not that I find fishing to be all that important, it's that I find many of man's other endeavors to be equally unimportant and not nearly as much fun."
Dave Parri
Born in Pennsylvania, Dave has had a fly rod or rifle in his hands from a very young age. His knowledge of the river, woods and wildlife, in addition to his numerous years of guide experience, will ensure you have an exceptional experience.
Tony Wasson
Tony Wasson has been guiding in Grand County since 2005. One of the best fly tyers in the area, he always has a fly that will entice the trout.
Jason Williams
Jason Williams is a life long fly fisherman who has lived in Grand County since 1994. He grew up fishing at his grandfather's lodge in Washington State and has pursued his passion ever since. Whether fly fishing the rivers of Colorado and Wyoming or the Mexican Coast, Jason will be found most days standing in a river.
Ron Yoshimura
As a Colorado native, I grew up fishing Colorado rivers, lakes and streams and have fished many of the rivers growing up that I now guide on. I have guided on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte since 2004 and the Fraser and Colorado Rivers since 2005.
My idea of a great fishing trip is an extraordinary total experience on the river. I enjoy being on the river and sharing the camaraderie with my friends and family in spectacular outdoor settings. Of course, there is also the challenge of out-smarting wary fish.
My idea of a great fishing trip is an extraordinary total experience on the river. I enjoy being on the river and sharing the camaraderie with my friends and family in spectacular outdoor settings. Of course, there is also the challenge of out-smarting wary fish.
Eric Pietz
I began fishing the Fraser River in the summer of 1970, obtaining permission from rancher Jack Horn to fish the Fraser River including the section I now own. My professional guiding career started in 1988 on the Green River near Dutch John, Utah. I have guided for every outfitter on the Green River over the years and can count numerous guides as long time friends, who have taught me many different ways to approach fly fishing. My favorite fishing memory would be when I walked into the Fraser Canyon the summer of 1971, camped next to the river and caught lots of fish on the first flies I ever tied. Waking up early in the morning, watching the river come alive and watching nature in the quiet solitude is very hard to beat. The thing I like the most about fly fishing is it ALWAYS happens in pretty places and you never stop learning.
Wayne Balnicki
Wayne grew up fly fishing with his grandfather on spring creeks and rivers in Pennsylvania and norther New Jersey. Since taking early retirement in Colorado, he has been guiding and teaching fly fishing for the past 6 years. He's shown here after winning a lengthy tug of war with one of Colorado's finest.
Terry Peterson
This season will be my 17th year guiding the fine rivers of Colorado and Wyoming. I caught my first trout on a fly when I was 3 years old at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park; from that day forward I have had a lifelong love of fly fishing. For me fly-fishing is more about the process and the memories you take from the day. My best day of fly-fishing was not on a cool mountain stream. It was the day before I got married to my wife and I was fly-fishing at Isla Blanca, 45 minutes north of Cancun Mexico. Now I will not Kid you we caught Tarpon and Snook until we could not cast another line, but what I remember most about that day has very little to do with the fishing. It was my perfect day. Ask me and I will be glad to tell you the whole story. Through the years I have enjoyed guiding as guiding a client is an extension of me fly fishing. I have found the love of catching a trout with out ever touching a fly rod. It is so gratifying to see a fish, explain what it will take to catch the fish and guide the client through the process of catching and ultimately landing the fish. The wonderful thing about fly-fishing is you will never have the same day on the river each day is different. I am looking forward to a new year on the water and making new friends as many of my clients have become life long friends and we enjoy our time on an off the water.
Isaiah Dionne
I have been flyfishing in northern colorado since i was twelve and have been a guide for the last four years. Ive also been lucky enough to have fished all over the world including Argentina, New Zealand, and Central America.
One of my favorite fishing memories is when i went to southeast Alaska after spring steelhead, I only had time to get away for one day so we rented a tiny float plane and flew out to a remote island with a large freshwater stream. We hiked 2 hours up the stream and finally found some steelhead. I managed to land a 16 pound steelhead after a long battle and almost losing it to some downed trees. It was the only fish we caught the whole day but worth every bit of the effort.
One of my favorite fishing memories is when i went to southeast Alaska after spring steelhead, I only had time to get away for one day so we rented a tiny float plane and flew out to a remote island with a large freshwater stream. We hiked 2 hours up the stream and finally found some steelhead. I managed to land a 16 pound steelhead after a long battle and almost losing it to some downed trees. It was the only fish we caught the whole day but worth every bit of the effort.
Chuck Prather
Guiding for 20 years, you can find a lot of memories, stories and experiences. Fly fishing is an on going learning experience. The perfect guided trip is teaching a client all you can in the time allotted.
Fly fishing memories always begin with a youngster you have met for the first time and over the course of the day taught exactly what fly fishing is- an art form. That same memory ends with a day that you have no conversation with an older client, you are just there to assist him from hole to hole, maybe net a fish. You may sit on the bank and lend an ear to his memories. In- between many people will pass in your days on the water. Some you will remember, some you will forget.
Fly fishing memories always begin with a youngster you have met for the first time and over the course of the day taught exactly what fly fishing is- an art form. That same memory ends with a day that you have no conversation with an older client, you are just there to assist him from hole to hole, maybe net a fish. You may sit on the bank and lend an ear to his memories. In- between many people will pass in your days on the water. Some you will remember, some you will forget.
Rodney Merritt
Rod has been guiding the Upper North Platte and Grey Reef since 1992. There isn't a guide that knows more about the North Platte drainage or the trout that swim there than Rod.
Zach Ware
Zach comes from Georgia where he fly fished for Bass, Redfish and other fish that would take a fly. You will see him in our shop and on the water guiding this summer. When he's not guiding, he's on the water fishing for himself.