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!

Josh Duchateau, Head Guide

Josh Coldweather.jpeg

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 the ranch’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 tenth 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."
Watch Josh's interview with CNN's Reynolds Wolf.

Chris King

King%2C+Chris.jpg

 A native of Appalachia Pennsylvania and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Chris grew up chasing smallmouth bass and flathead catfish on the big waters of the Potomac and Susquehanna rivers with his grandpa.  In 1998, he moved to Bozeman, Montana.  Over the next decade Chris could be found zigzagging the back roads of southwestern Montana, stalking wild trout while dialing in his angling skills and technique. In 2008 he relocated with Carly, now his wife, and their chocolate lab to the upper Madison Valley.  Through guiding and being a year-round resident of the valley, Chris has spent countless days on the Madison and other local waters developing an intimate understanding on how to effectively fish them. During Montana’s long winter season you’ll find him in Yellowstone sharing his passion and knowledge of the area from a vintage bombardier snow coach.  On his days off, when not de-icing his guides on the Madison, tying nasty bugs or backcountry skiing with the dogs, he’s making sure the woodstove stays stoked and that the resident bighorn sheep are accounted for. While Chris is at his best to get you into fish, it’s his kindness and understanding that shines through in his focus on his clients’ concerns, questions, and comfort.  Chris’s knowledge, interest, and enthusiasm for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are infectious.  His mantra is to fish hard, appreciate the surroundings, and most importantly, always have a good time.  

Ryan Tomczyk

Tomczyk, Ryan.jpg

Ryan began his fly-fishing fascination in the southeastern region of the Appalachian Mountains. During this time, Ryan explored the backwoods of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee chasing wild brook, rainbow and brown trout. Shortly thereafter Ryan found his true passion in life when he began guiding with the Four Rivers Fly Shop in Blairsville, GA. Ryan has applied the last 10 years towards helping guests appreciate the true spirit of fly fishing that he embraces. He has guided at Brigadoon and Froghollow Lodges in north Georgia, helping guests catch and release trophy-size rainbow and brown trout. He has also guided in Alaska where he assisted anglers in their quest to hook into Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, along with Dolly Varden, Arctic Char and huge Rainbow Trout. When Ryan is not guiding he instructs future guides on fly casting, fly-tying, Czech nymphing and rowing techniques at the Clark Fork River Outfitter's guide school in St Regis, Montana. He also relishes in competitive fly-fishing and has been appointed coach of his Czech nymphing team. Ryan can be found traveling the backcountry of Idaho in pursuit of steelhead, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout. In the winter he skis, ties flies and of course fishes!

Adam Jolivette

Screen+Shot+2020-01-23+at+12.53.01+PM.jpg

Adam was born and raised in Wisconsin as an avid sportsman. He spent countless days chasing all kinds of fish from trout to crappies to muskies with both conventional and fly fishing tackle. Yearly trips to Montana’s pristine trout waters fostered his love for the great state and its aquatic inhabitants. After earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Adam decided to put the cubicle life on hold - there are fish to catch! Starting as a Firehole Ranch maintenance man, he capitalized on every opportunity to explore the greater Yellowstone area and all the fishing waters it has to offer. A Green Bay Packer fan to the core and a drift boat to match, Adam is a people pleaser with a desire to put our guests on the fish!

Rowan Nyman

If ever there were a guide whose spiritual center seems to be found in our pristine Montana waters, it would be 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 dozen 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 DVDs about fly fishing. Starting his 17th 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.  Many of the fantastic images here in the Firehole Website are captured through the lens of this amazing artist, to see more of Rowan's incredible imagery please visit his website: https://fishonphoto.com/

Mike Rutkowski

Rutkowski, Mike.jpg

Mike’s affinity for fishing came to him at an early age. While growing up in his home state of New Jersey, he scoured the Northeast chasing everything from native brook trout to striped bass. In search of better waters, he decided to leave behind his fly shop/guide job and head west to the Mecca of trout fishing. Mike started out with Firehole as a maintenance man and used his days off to learn the secrets of Yellowstone country’s fisheries. Mike now calls West Yellowstone home. He met his wife, Cristina, here in Montana and they welcomed their first son Benjamin to the world in May of 2019. While raising a little future fishing machine, Mike puts a lot of time behind the vise, tying a chunk of our go-to flies during the winter months. If he’s not home with his family, there’s a good chance he’s out on the Madison fishing midges to risers or possibly throwing his latest streamer creation to lake run fish. Fly fishing and guiding is a way of life for Mike. Whether it’s putting his clients on their first trout or landing a guest their monster fish of a lifetime, Mike enjoys passing his skills and knowledge along to give his clients the best possible experience. Easy going, patient, and relatable are some of Mike’s best traits and once he’s on the water, his passion gives guests an experience they won’t soon forget.

Oliver Murray

Oliver Murray.jpg

Oliver was born and raised in Connecticut where he grew up fishing for bass and other warm water species. It wasn’t until a trip to Montana in 2012 that Oliver realized he wanted to live out west. In 2013, Oliver moved to the town of West Yellowstone and has been out here fishing every summer since. Whether it’s the early season run-off and he is throwing streamers from the boat, tossing salmonflies and hoppers, or nymphing, Oliver enjoys it all. He is well versed in teaching beginners, providing expert anglers with new experiences, and everything in between. Patient and easy going, Oliver is dedicated to making memorable days on the water. In the off-season, you can find Oliver walking a hard sand flat in the Bahamas or spending time with friends and family in Savannah, Georgia.