Firehole Ranch Fishing Guides
Our guides are as diverse as the waters that bless the Golden Triangle and as wily as the trout that inhabit them. We hope that you will enjoy reading these short bios and that you will have fun discerning fact from fiction as you accompany them for an outing. All of our guides have a great deal of experience guiding on these waters, even those who have only recently become part of our family. No matter whom you pick, you can trust that your day on the water will be tailored specifically to your needs. Whether you are new to the sport of fly fishing or a grizzled veteran, our talented guides will teach, challenge, but most of all ensure that your time with them is memorable. We hope these short sketches arm you with just enough information to keep your guides on their toes during your outing together. Happy Fishing!
Scotty Hall, Head Guide
Born and raised in Boyne City, Michigan, Scotty picked up his first rod with his grandfather when he was eight years old. In 1987, Scotty moved to Breckenridge, Colorado to follow his professional skiing dreams. While he coached and skied freestyle both as an amateur and professional, he fine-tuned his fly fishing skills with friends who were guides. In 1987 after fulfilling his skiing dreams, he moved back to Michigan and started his own business guiding for trout and steelhead. He also guided for other outfitters, Like the Pere Marquette River Lodge and Hawkins Outfitters. In 2004, he packed up and headed to Southwest Montana to find a place where he could ski and fly fish. As a guide, he has spent countless days on the Madison, Gallatin, Henry’s Fork, and the waters of Yellowstone National Park sharing his passion for fly fishing with his clients. In 2009, Scotty joined the Firehole Ranch and took on the position of Head Guide. He has worked with anglers of varying skill levels and lives for helping beginners land their first trout. On his days off, you will find him pulling big streamers with his friends in a never-ending quest to land a fish of a lifetime while taking in the beautiful Montana landscape. In the off-season, Scotty lives in Big Sky, Montana where he works as a ski instructor for the Yellowstone Club and still manages to spend a couple days a week stalking the wintering browns and rainbows of the Madison and Gallatin Rivers.
Alice Owsley, Outfitter
Ask Alice what she’s passionate about and she’ll likely tell you two things: fly fishing and Montana. Our senior guide and outfitter, Alice’s knowledge of the Golden Triangle’s trout waters is virtually unmatched. In her seven years with us she’s proven to be an expert angler as well as a patient, caring teacher. She possesses the innate ability to discern someone’s skill and comfort level, creating a challenging, fun day on the water. Her irresistible enthusiasm is infectious, so don’t be surprised if she convinces you to try something new, like wading some of the smaller streams in and outside Yellowstone as a fun way to chase those wild trout. She has organized and will be leading this year’s historic “Women’s Week,” at the Ranch. If you’re excited to explore Yellowstone National Park while you’re here – there’s none better than Alice. She spends the off-season giving guided snow-coach tours into the park.
Rowan Nyman
If ever there were a guide whose spiritual center seems to be found in our pristine Montana waters, it would be our Head Guide, Rowan. His passion and appetite for fly fishing is unheard of – even in these parts where the love of the sport runs deep. Can you imagine spending over 280 days a year fishing, tying an average of 2,000 flies a winter and spending the greater part of your life exploring the wild waters of the Golden Triangle? This has been Rowan’s reality for the past 20 years - many of his fly patterns have been picked up by Montana Fly Company, he’s coauthored magazine articles, published photos and been featured in area DVD’s about fly fishing. Not only will he oversee our veteran guide staff, he will also be the one you’ll see in our fully stocked Orvis fly shop. Starting his fifth season with us, it is our fervent hope that Rowan will continue to grace the waters surrounding the Firehole Ranch for many more to come.
Josh Duchateau
The barb for fly fishing landed deep in Josh’s gullet and near as we can tell no one is ever going to be able to dislodge it. A certified fishing maniac, his enthusiasm and passion for the sport is contagious. While you’re enjoying one of Bruno’s gourmet Western masterpieces, Josh is the lone figure you’ll see lakeside, diligently casting for Hebgen Lake’s twilight gulpers. His knowledge of fly fishing, fly tying and everything to do with trout fishing is largely due to his insatiable appetite for the sport. Josh fishes anytime, anywhere, with anyone who’s willing to join him. Entering his third year with us, we’ve decided Josh should come with a warning label, “Approach with caution – Interaction May Result in Intense Passion for Fly Fishing.”
Trey Braasch
Bio coming soon.
Allan Muchmore
A true Montana native, born in Helena and raised in Missoula, Allan attended the University of Montana. “I was raised in a family of outdoorsmen and received my first fly-rod—a bamboo rod—from my father at the age of 10 and have been an avid fly fisherman ever since. I have fished miles upon miles of the streams and rivers throughout the Northwest, savoring each footstep along these beautiful waters.” Guiding fly fisherman has been a rewarding and natural semi-retirement job and Allan. He spends his summers in Southwest Montana and has also guided in Chile and Patagonia for nearly 10 years. Fly Fishing is not Allan’s only passion. He spends off-time studying Montana history as well as Montana wildlife. Allan is very adept at finding the big trout and being a patient instructor in the process, whether you are an expert fly fisherman or just learning how to cast. Other hobbies include fly tying, backpacking, hiking into high mountain lakes, elk hunting and trail riding.
George Kelly
If you want to know what it was like to fish these waters 40 years ago – there’s no one better to ask than George. A living Montana legend, George is the epitome of a fly fisherman whose passion for the sport runs deep, strong, and clear, like our mighty Montana wild rivers. Some of you may be familiar with the Kingfisher Fly Lodge on the Bighorn River, which he and his wife Jo owned and operated for over 20 years. Thankfully, for us, George has returned to his old stomping grounds from his days with Bud Lilly, another legend. While all our young bucks will tell you they’re the coolest – it is without a doubt George. An avid birder and all around naturalist, a day on the water with him will leave you forever changed.
