Meet Our Guides
Bob Jost
Bob Jost (click to enlarge)
Bob learned to fish in Upstate New York as a child. Bob was educated in natural resources management and joined the USFS as a forester. Traveling around as a forester, he discovered the beauty of the land and the rivers in central Idaho. Bob spends most of his time guiding fishing trips, and working for Sun Valley Ski Patrol. Bob can also be found boating or kayaking on western rivers, climbing mountains, or enjoying the company of his wife and two boys. Due to his educational background and love for the outdoors, Bob is a wealth of knowledge about our local ecosystems, but you’ll never catch him without a blue wing olive or some classic drake patterns.
Bob Knoebel
Bob Knoebel (click to enlarge)
Bob is new to our Valley, but it seems like he’s been a part of the family for years. Joining us from Connecticut, Bob has a long history of teaching, community service, and fishing under his belt. Bob spent 30 years as a swim coach and working for his local YMCA. While there, he created a fishing club for children, introducing them to the many varieties of the sport and helping them to enjoy the outdoors through fishing. Although he has transferred locations, Bob’s love for teaching, sharing, and fishing has yet to falter. If you’re lucky enough to join him fishing, he’ll give you 3 goals: 1. Have fun 2. Learn something about flyfishing and 3. Catch a fish. Now that sounds like a good day!
Bobby Foster
Bobby Foster (click to enlarge)
Bobby is a Northwest native; he grew up in Washington, went to school in Montana, and has spent vacations and summers in Idaho as far back as he can remember. Bobby is a born explorer. He lives to travel, learn, and experience firsthand the wonders of the world, both natural and manmade. And while he can and has traveled the world, Bobby finds more than enough to explore in Idaho’s vast wilderness. It is on our native rivers and streams that Bobby finds peace, beauty, and enjoyment.
Bret Bishop
Bret Bishop (click to enlarge)
Bret has been fly fishing for most of his life. Learning at the young age of 9, Bret’s parents decided he was mature enough to start fly-fishing and gave him his first Winston rod. Since learning to fish Bret has become an experienced guide. Well versed in Wood River Valley waters he has also guided in Colorado, Wyoming, and Alaska. Bret loves sharing his passion for fishing, and his passion for learning. When Bret isn’t on the waters, or thinking about getting on the water, he is teaching high school English in Boise.
Brett Drummond
Brett Drummond (click to enlarge)
An Idaho native and 20 year resident of the Wood River Valley, Brett was practically born with a fly rod in his hand. Considered one of Silver Creek’s most experienced guides, Brett is also an avid skier and bird hunter. When not guiding, Brett can be found passing on the love of the outdoors to his children. Their next adventure will be learning to shark and tarpon fish in the Florida waters. His fall and winters are often spent on his beloved Salmon or Snake Rivers in pursuit of the dynamic steelhead. Brett’s never been shy about chasing down the fish, and he always makes sure to carry some Gypsies with him.
Brian Richter
Brian Richter (click to enlarge)
Brian Richter is a native Idahoan. He grew up fishing our area waters with his father, both learning the art of fly-fishing together. He started fishing in the Wood River Valley at the age of 12 and began tying custom flies for people at the age of 17. Brian has always been dedicated to the sport of flies and fish. In college, he further improved his fly fishing talents by starting a college minor in aquatic entomology, just so he better understood what trout like to eat! Brian is an avid angler in both the fresh and saltwater arenas and a world class fly tier in both as well. When not on the water or behind the vise, Brian enjoys hunting, packing, music, art and a good book. If he’s not busy learning something new about the sport of fly-fishing, he is busy teaching others its subtle nuances.
Bryant Dunn
This Seattle native has made an outdoor career with his love for the outdoors. Bryant learned to fly-fish in the Sawtooth and Pioneer mountains of Idaho with his father. Bryant is experienced in all types of water, from the nuances of Silver Creek to the tributaries of the Big Lost. He also owns and operates Sun Valley Outfitters, which specializes in Big Game hunting adventures here in Idaho. Not content to stay home in the winter, Bryant can be found roaming the ski hill as part of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol.
Butch Harper
Butch is an Idaho native and a man of the land. Born and raised in Rupert, Idaho, Butch learned to fish on the Snake River with his dad and has been flyfishing for over 50 years. Butch spent 30 years with the US Forest Service, working as an avalanche forecaster, with the Winter Sports Administration, and working on the trails. These days, Butch commits his time to hiking, hunting, training bird dogs, and teaching his grandchildren to fish. Although Butch can claim exotic fishing adventures to destinations such as Poland, his favorite fishing is not only local, but local winter fishing on the Bigwood.
Carlos Araya
Carlos Araya (click to enlarge)
Carlos contributes to our international resume, joining us all the way from Chile, South America. Although educated in England, Carlos returned to Patagonia, Chile to study cultural anthropology. His return to Chile marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of traveling and studying the people and cultures around him. Carlos has traveled most of the Americas, exploring different passions and careers, but the one thing that remains is his love for fly fishing. Carlos has been fishing for over 30 years and guiding for almost 20. His next great fishing challenge is any river he hasn’t yet fished. And as the new head of our travel department, a new member of our local community, and with a baby on the way, Carlos has many adventures ahead of him.
Carmen Northen
Carmen Northen (click to enlarge)
Carmen comes to us from Laguna Niguel, California. After visiting the valley she couldn’t get enough of fly fishing and the Sun Valley area. She returned home and became involved with her local fly fishing club in Orange County. Since that day, over a decade ago, Carmen has become a local guide and the president of our local Trout Unlimited chapter. Not only does Carmen teach the sport, but she’s dedicated to helping to preserve its wild places. Carmen enjoys fishing the high country on her own time and has been spotted on the Madison River more than once.
Dave Spaulding
Dave is a native to the Northwest where he’s spent a lifetime cultivating an indestructible love for all aspects of the outdoors. Although a studied organic chemist, and a veteran commercial pilot, now Dave commits his retired life to fishing, skiing, woodwork, community events, and soaking up all our valley has to offer. You can feel the love that Dave has for fishing and our valley as he writes, “…there is something about my home river, the Bigwood, that fill me spiritually. There is something about her, watching her change seasons, knowing some of her secrets, and appreciating her beauty…”. Dave loves to share the thrill of finding fish with his guests, but more than the hunt, he loves to help people gain appreciation for our natural environment.
Gene Steiner
Gene is originally from Northern California, but has been a Ketchum resident for over 35 years. As a child, Gene quickly learned the rules of catch and release fishing as he honed his skills fishing for goldfish in his parent’s pond. These early experiences led to a lifetime of fishing, Gene has logged more than 55 years with a fishing rod in hand. Gene made his was to Idaho studying pharmacology and spent almost all of his years practicing locally. Now retired, Gene has more time to focus on his hobbies, including; Nordic skiing, fly tying, bird hunting, cooking, tending to his vegetable garden, and planning his dream fishing adventure to Jurassic Lake to hunt down the big ones.
Greg Loomis
Greg has been guiding in the Wood River Valley longer than most. A product of the Great Northwest, Greg hails from the Seattle area, but has called the Sun Valley area home for over twenty five years. Greg is always up for a challenge when it comes to the river and fishing. He dreams of going back to New Zealand to fish, just so he can “see a fish that has the advantage to mess me up!” Greg is also an avid upland bird hunter, photographer and backcountry skier. One may find Greg on the slopes or on the high ridges, but rest assured he is never more at home than when found knee deep on a deserted stretch of blue ribbon trout water.
Jeff Taylor
Jeff, or “J.T.” to his friends, loves being a fishing guide. It is hard to find someone that appreciates Sun Valley more than him, and takes full advantage of all the activities the area offers. This Tacoma native chases fish of all descriptions and loves helping other learn how to chase them as well. J.T. simply loves sharing his knowledge with his guests and watching them improve on their skills. J.T. is an active skier, enjoying both alpine and backcountry venues, and he is also more than proficient on both mountain and road bikes. Jeff can guide anglers equally well on freestone streams, tail waters and spring creeks alike. J.T. is truly a well rounded guide.
Jim Curran
Jim Curran (click to enlarge)
Jim Curran carries our torch for the Eastern Seaboard, coming from the state of New Jersey. He learned to fly fish over 55 years ago on the historic Battenkill River. Jim is a consummate teacher who strives to keep a constant youth movement in our sport of flies and fly rods. He has taught countless children that outdoor fun doesn’t have to always be “extreme,” and that catching a fish is a quick link to the natural world around them. Jim spends his free time fishing the famous waters of Grand Bahama for trophy Bonefish; the cool rivers of British Columbia for chrome bright Steelhead, and most of the fall with a shotgun and his dog on the ridge tops and river bottoms of south central Idaho.
Jim Krunich
Jim comes to us from Ohio, with a solid history of hunting and fishing under his belt. Jim found his way to Idaho, drawn by his love for the outdoors, over 20 years ago. A veteran High School English teacher, and a freelance writer and photographer, Jim even spent 3 years in Kuwait teaching English. Jim has a wide variety of stories and adventures to share, but he is even more interested in the people he meets while guiding. Jim has a love for people, getting to know each new client, sharing the joy of fishing, and reuniting with old clients who, to Jim, become longtime friends.
Jim Varin
Jim Varin (click to enlarge)
Jim is an Idaho native, raised in Gooding. He is a self taught fly angler and has been on the scene in the Wood River Valley as a fly fishing guide for more than 15 years. Jim is extremely well versed in Idaho history and can fill any anglers mind with pictures of what Idaho has meant to outdoorsmen for generations. Jim is also a veteran ski instructing, helping people on the hill for over 35 years.
Kent Mueller
Kent Meuller (click to enlarge)
Kent looks to fishing as many would look to live entertainment. Kent, who is a Washington state native, loves to take people fishing, just so he can help put a smile on their face. A love of the outdoors, Kent is also a lover of the nightlife. If he isn’t knee deep in a river, you can most likely catch him playing the upright bass with his band. A multi-talented sportsman and a versatile artist, as long as Kent is outdoors, he finds a way to enjoy himself.
Kristen Allen
You don’t find too many women fishing guides on the river; however, Kristen is one of your best choices. Kristen first started fishing with her dad in Northern California and has been flyfishing for almost 15 years. Although many covet the chance to fish around the world, Kristen couldn’t be happier fishing in her backyard here in the Wood River Valley, a place she calls her favorite place in the world. When Kristen isn’t flyfishing or guiding, she works as a part time nurse, a wife, a mother, and a ballet teacher!
Linda Kahn
Linda Kahn (click to enlarge)
Linda Kahn is from Los Angeles, California and learned to fly fish in a variety of ways from clinics to books and most importantly, time on the water. Linda has an instinct to teach and gets her gratification from watching her students become relaxed and confident with the fly rod. She has been guiding is the Sun Valley area since 1998. When not fishing locally over the most selective trout, Linda’s enjoyment is found in gardening, cooking, hiking and antique collecting.
Mark Milkovich
Mark hails from Montana where he was born and raised. Mark grew up fishing on the Madison River. He spent all summer and every summer on that river, he even got is first guiding job on the Madison when he was just 13. And while Mark says that he had to take a 40 year sabbatical from his guiding career to pay bills, you won’t see him complaining about the currents of his life. Mark is now embarking up on his second 50 years of fly-fishing and has returned to his guiding career, and he couldn’t be happier with the view from the office window.
Mark Osmer
Mark, although he is a California native, will be the first to tell you that, Idaho is in his blood. “Oz”, as Mark is known to most people, has been on the guide scene for a long time and has a handle on every piece of water in our area. He is an avid bird hunter, as well as big game aficionado. Mark is a huge fan of the South Fork of the Boise River and has roped more than a few of the big rainbows which call this world class tail water home.
Mike Bordenkircher
Mike grew up near the banks of the Clackamas River near Portland, Oregon. He came to the Sun Valley area after two years of working in the Peace Corps in Togo, Africa and has been guiding full time in Idaho for nearly a decade. When not guiding trout, Mike can be found pursuing big game in our surrounding high country. Mike has even been known to work on antique cars, restoring them to their original condition. Mike learned to fish on the famous Deschutes River in Oregon and it remains one of his favorite places to revisit seasonally. From the flats and Bonefish of the Turks and Caicos, to the gentle flows and Trout of Silver Creek, Mike is incredibly well versed in the fly fishing game.
Pete Debaun
Pete Debaun (click to enlarge)
Pete is a California native and has been in the Wood River Valley off and on for nearly twenty years. Fly fishing came to Pete later in life than most guides, but he has plunged headfirst into the sport and now finds himself guiding home and abroad. Pete is actively involved with the country of Zambia, working there in our off season as a University instructor. Pete also works with the “Fishing for Life” program, helping orphaned Zambian children receive an education and necessary medical treatments. When not fishing our waters or fundraising, Pete can be found fishing some of the most interesting and extreme foreign rivers.
Pete Wood
Pete, an Idaho native, grew up fishing the waters he now guides over. A true up and coming guide, Pete’s energy and excitement about fly fishing is seriously infectious. In true Idaho tradition, Pete began tying flies at the age of 13 and working in fly shops at 14 years old. He knows the Idaho country side as well as anyone. When Pete isn’t guiding, or further pursuing his education, he can be found in the field, archery hunting or exploring foreign rivers in New Zealand, chasing fish.
Phil Crabtree
Phil Crabtree (click to enlarge)
Phil has been floating and fishing Idaho rivers for over a quarter century as both a rafting outfitter on the famous Middle Fork of the Salmon and a fishing guide for Silver Creek Outfitters. It is safe to say Phil has seen it all. When Phil isn’t guiding or sharing his knowledge of Idaho’s rich outfitter history, he can be found with fly rod in hand on Montana’s Missouri and Ruby Rivers, or with shotgun and dog on an Idaho or Oregon Chukar hill.
Ramsey Brock
Ramsey Brock (click to enlarge)
Ramsey dutifully holds up our Southern contingent of guides, joining us from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Growing up in the South, and attending Ole Miss, Ramsey set himself up with the perfect fishing and hunting resume. Ramsey began fishing on his grandfather’s farm, and has been fly fishing for 13 years. Ramsey spends his falls hunting for duck, grouse, and quail, and the rest of his time he spends mostly just talking about fishing. Although we cannot claim Ramsey as a year-round resident, he just cannot stop from coming back each summer to hit our waters and watch each client’s face as they hook into their first fish.
Riley Buck
Riley grew up in Central California, but you could tell early on that the wilderness was in his blood. Riley first came to Idaho during a summer break from college, and he soon knew he would be coming back as soon as he could. Riley began fishing in small lakes and streams in the Sierras with his dad and has been flyfishing for over 13 years. Riley quickly became a connoisseur of the outdoors, enjoying not only fishing, but hunting, skiing, puppy training, and log cabin building. Despite Riley’s young age, he has a solid philosophy on his life; according to Riley, “When your office is the river, everything else just falls in to place.”
Ritchie Thurston
Ritchie Thurston (click to enlarge)
Ritchie is a native of Boise, Idaho and has two decades of guiding experience under his belt. Richie can certainly be considered among the best guides to ever wet a line in world famous Silver Creek and he excels at teaching anglers the nuances of Spring Creek fishing. Ritchie is extremely active on our local ski slopes where he works and plays throughout the winter months. He is as comfortable on a snowboard as he is his dirt bike. When not guiding over finicky trout, Ritchie can be found plying Idaho’s famous Steelhead waters, or on an ocean flat chasing Bonefish and Tarpon.
Skooter Gardiner
Skooter Gardiner(click to enlarge)
Skooter is a Sun Valley native and has not been able to pry himself from what he considers “one of the best places in the world” – and his passports may prove it. Skooter set up base camp in Ketchum 20 years ago. He grew up exploring Idaho’s backcountry (with a fly rod) with his parents, grandparents and some of Sun Valley’s old guard of guides. Skooter started guiding on the Middle Fork of the Salmon at age 18 and has since explored some of the wildest fish filled waters of the world. Skooter oversaw Silver Creek’s international travel department through 2005 and continues to enjoy introducing people to great fishing/outdoor experiences. Skooter’s travels include Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Belize, Yucatan, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, British Columbia, Québec, New Brunswick, Alaska and the Rocky Mountain region. When Skooter is not on the water he is probably spending time with his wife and two kids, mountain biking, skiing or exploring.
Todd Kaplan
Todd Kaplan (click to enlarge)
Todd is a San Francisco Bay area product that has made the Wood River Valley his home for more than ten years. He grew up with a backpack and fly rod and a family determined to enjoy the great outdoors. His fly fishing began in the high country of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and fly fishing has been in his blood ever since. Todd is best known for his acute eye for outdoor photography and he has published his exquisite photos in several publications. Todd’s eye for nature makes him a natural in the world of fishing guides, as very little detail slips past him. Although he is a serious outdoorsman, Todd still finds great joy in helping someone to catch their first fish.
Book a Guide
If you would like to book a trip over the phone please call us with the dates you'd like to reserve, the number of people, your experience level and a credit card number for your deposit. A $100.00 deposit is required to reserve a Silver Creek guide.
Our Guarantee
Our guarantee is simple: If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with a Silver Creek Guide, you do not have to pay for the service. No argument, only apologies. That goes for merchandise, too. If you are not satisfied, now or in the future, you can expect a prompt exchange or refund.
Licensed, Insured and Bonded - we operate in partnership with the Bureau of Land management and under a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service.
