Fly Fishing Guide Service - Meet our Guides

Rod Patch

Rod has lived in three places thus far in life, Carbondale Colorado, Dutch John Utah, and Salida Colorado, or the Roaring Fork, the Green, and the Arkansas. Flyfishing has been a part of his life since he was 8. Turning a passion into a profession is always risky but despite all the pitfalls Rod's passion is still elk hunting....and flyfishing. Most of his time on the water these days are with his two daughters Madie-Mae and Raley. Instilling in them the life lessons that can be learned float fishing a river.

Scot Bealer

Scot has been fly fishing Colorado's high lakes since the early 80's. While back then most of his river time was on the Roaring Fork and the Frying Pan, since 2013 he has been doing intense "research" on the Arkansas, and has been amazed at how much the river has improved over time. His travels have allowed him to fish all over the US, as well as places like Belize, Labrador and New Zealand. He also had a stint as the Head Instructor at the L.L. Bean Fly Fishing School. Now calling the Arkansas River Valley home, he loves to introduce beginners to his favorite sport and knows a thing or two about catching nice fish in remote locations. If he isn't out fishing, he can often be found hiking in the back country with his wife Lea, helping her to find and photograph our local wildlife.

Steve Yugovich

Born in Minnesota and raised in Colorado, you could say fishing is in this guy’s blood. His passion and knowledge of the sport of fly fishing seems to grow every season. Steve enjoys the vast opportunities that the waters in and around Chaffee County provide. You never know when or where you’ll bump into him as he’s always searching for new places and opportunities to catch fish.

Stuart C. Andrews

A resident of the state since 1960, Stuart has been a flyfisher since 13 and a guide for ArkAnglers since 2004. During a fishing/guiding journey of 42 years that has included the Arkansas, Fryingpan, Roaring Fork, South Platte, Poudre, Big Thompson, and San Miguel Rivers, there has always been one constant, the high lakes of Colorado. Many summer days you can find him someplace above timberline leading guests to pristine waters holding cutthroat trout or doing "research" to ensure their success. When not on the water, Stuart can usually be found in his studio, paintbrush in hand. His internationally recognized artwork can be viewed at www.viewgallery.com or in our shops after your fishing adventure.

Thad Putnam

Thad, originally from Texas, has been here in the valley for the last 10 years, guiding whitewater trips and float fishing trips. He has been fishing most of his life, starting out in salt water. He started flyfishing 30 years ago with his father-in-law who also wrote the book on flyfishing in Texas. He has fished many places out west, but loves the Arkansas Valley. "The best part of flyfishing is that you are almost always in a beautiful place."

Tony King

Tony was born in Colorado but at the age of four his family moved to Alaska. It was there where Tony caught his first fish, a Lake Trout trolling a red and white Daredevil. That's all it took! Tony bought his first fly rod at fourteen and cut his teeth on the Russian river. Later Tony guided in the eighties for three years through out Alaska. Tony was hired in 2013 to manage the retail side of things at Arkansas River Fly Shop. He and his wife Teresa are now empty nesters so Tony is back to guiding full time. Tony enjoys teaching young and old what he has learned from such a great group of people who have been part of a 35-year love of Fly Fishing!

Travis Anderson

Travis is a true Coloradoan on many levels. Born and raised in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, he spent his youth participating in rodeos, and in his free time he would take his horses up to the high mountain lakes to fish.

After landing his first fish on a fly rod, he never put the sport down. Not only did Travis find his love for fly fishing, he discovered a passion for teaching, which is invaluable in the guiding profession.

You'll find Travis in his natural element on a walk/wade trip or a journey floating down the river.