Our fishing guides
Chris Ryan
Chris is a born and bred Wyomingite. He owns and operates a guide service on the Big Horn River in Thermopolis, Wyoming when not helping us out at WFC. He has been a full time guide for 7 years now and has a ton of experience guiding the famous Wind River Canyon, just south of Thermopolis. Chris is the hardest working, baddest to the bone Wyomingite fishing guide there is. When not fishing the rivers, Chris spends his time chasing game in the hills, fishing the hardwater of Boysen Reservoir for its big perch, walleye, trout and crappie or coaching USA wrestling. If you’re interested in fishing the famous Big Horn of Wyoming, check out Chris’s site and book a trip! https://www.bighornguideservice.com/
Cyndle Clift
Cyndle has been a guide in the American West since 2012, guiding Idaho’s crown jewel, the South Fork of the Snake. She joined the guide roster with WFC in 2017 and is the wife of Owner/operator, RyHud. She is also the mother of RyHud’s 3 baby boys, Eddy, Jack, and Tripp. The 5 of them are immersed in a life of fishing, love and all things wild (including trout!). She has more experience running whitewater than any of the WFC guides on the rowdy Lochsa of Idaho. She’ll put you on a bunch of fish, with the prettiest smile you’ve ever seen in a drift boat. Do you have a wife, daughter or lady friend who needs lady instruction? Cyndle is your gal!
Jax King
Jax is a Wyoming native from the freestone community of Saratoga, Wyoming who loves sharing his passion of fishing and experiencing the wild places of Wyoming. He grew up in hospitality management and has five years guiding experience. Jax is a graduate from the University of Wyoming with degrees in Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Management and Environment & Natural Resources. Jax owns and operates an ice-fishing business in eastern Wyoming in the winter. In his free time, he enjoys hunting big game in Wyoming and searches the state for trophy fish of all species. Jax is also a proud ambassador of Flyoming, a Wyoming company that promotes the fly fishing industry.
Stuart Birdsong
“Stu” is the celebrity guide out of Fort Collins, Colorado, who has officially been resurrected from a guide career in Wyoming which started in 2001. He was a guide at the North Platte Lodge/Reef Fly Shop in Alcova, WY for over a decade before retiring from full time guiding in 2013 and moving south of the border to sell real estate in Ft Collins. After fishing with Ryan, Stu realized he wanted to come and join the guide roster at WFC when not selling real estate. “Salsa Stu”, “Stubacca” or “The Stuewweeuue” is a legend in Wyoming. He might have gone on a spiritual fishing journey and somehow acquired super powers during his hiatus, we’re not sure. We are sure he possesses a Jedi-like ability to guide and get fish to eat, even after being out of the game for years. Stu is a family man, who loves a good Jiu-Jitsu spar and swinging flies for BC Steelhead.
Dillon Upton
Dillon is a native to Kemmerer, Wyoming and family man residing on the banks of the Green River. He has guided the Big Horn and Green River in Wyoming. He is a great addition to the guide team. He is always willing to work hard and do what it takes to find the fish. When not fishing, Dillon is being a family man or chasing big game throughout the Cowboy State.
Ryan Hudson
Chad Wiedeman
Gone but never forgotten. Since Chad’s untimely passing, the skies above WFC have been a little darker and the rivers have been a little slower. Chad leaves behind an unbridled legacy of timeless memories with a large client base, who praise his teachings and miss him dearly… As we all do. We find solace in everyday evidence of his time with our outfit however; From the proficient casting methods of a young angler once mentored by Chad, to the campfire stories shared of his antics, to the innovative (and sometimes ostentatious) vernacular he instilled in our culture and is still used regularly by the rest of the staff – Chad lives on in our daily operations. He will forever be a part of this team. Chad was a true Wyominite, who grew up working a ranch and tending to the Cowboy State’s first Evinrude/Johnson dealer. He had been a guide in our great state since 2011 and was an authority we all looked to for guidance when the fishing got tricky. He is greatly missed. Rest in peace, Chad. Until we meet again, fish on brother.
Frank Wilson
Frank is Michigan native who transplanted to the Rocky Mountains over 20 years ago and is perhaps the most kind, easiest going guide/casting instructor out there, making him a great addition to the WFC team. He grew up targeting all anadromous fish of the Great Lakes and the rivers that feed them. He has spent the last couple decades pursuing many species of fish on the fly around North and South America, both fresh and saltwater. His enthusiasm, talent, and genuine attitude makes for a memorable day!
Mark Forslund
Aaron Woodard
Aaron is a sage country pioneer, who lives on a windy ridge overlooking the Green River. This guy’s lifelong passion for chasing finned creatures started in Michigan with salmon, steelhead and trout as a target, making him a great addition to the team here at the Wyoming Fishing Company. He has been a Rocky Mountain resident for over a decade and began guiding for the WFC in 2020. When he isn’t catching all trout in his path, “Wood” is usually speaking to bull elk on a personal level, cutting firewood or being a family man to his wife and kids.
Jake Martinez
Jake was born and raised on the Green River, growing up in the city of Green River, Wyoming. He eats, sleeps and breathes fly fishing and pursuing game in the fall. When not working on college studies or guiding the Green for WFC he can be found guiding trips on the North Platte near Casper. He has been up and down the river as a fishing guide, working it from top to bottom, from Green River Lakes to his home water of Flaming Gorge. Jake’s easy going attitude makes for a fun day on the water, with a guide who has the Green River flowing through his blood.
Tristan Van Valkenburg
Chris Hayes
Having cut his teeth on the fabled limestone creeks of Pennsylvania as a kid, Chris made his way to the Pinedale area nearly two decades ago and has been terrorizing the trout here ever since. While he chases anything that swims from Maine to California and Central America to Alaska, he calls the Green and New Fork home. You might not realize it because he seems so easygoing, but he’s actually obsessing over every detail to make sure his clients are having a great day on the water and beyond. He loves teaching and goes the extra mile to help folks become better anglers whether they’re 8 years old or 80. When not on the water he’s probably finding something to fix up, driving his lovely wife nuts with overly loud and bad guitar playing, or scheming about where to find the next big fish.
Kurt Cantu
Kurt is an avid angler, writer, photographer, custom fly rod crafter, and guide. He grew up fly fishing the glacial waters of south central Alaska and Oregon, and eventually settled in Wyoming in 2010. Kurt and his family are residents of Sublette County where, they call the alpine lakes of the Wind River Range, the Upper Green River, and the New Fork River their home waters. When he’s not fishing, Kurt enjoys big game and waterfowl hunting, antler hunting with his son & wife, and competing in shooting sports. His company, Laughing Bear Outfitters LLC has been providing custom fly rod builds and rod restorations to the fly fishing community since 2017. His literary works can be found on his blog, Authentically Wild Out West, which has been presenting outdoor articles, short stories, and other tall tales to an audience of enthusiasts since 2020.
Wyoming Fishing Company
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