Nick Nicklas "Mr. Nicklas"
Birth Place: Lockhaven, PA
Birth Date: 1949
Ambitions: Staying in Rockport, TX chasing Red fish during the off season to escape the “grips” of yet another Yellowstone winter.
Turn Ons: His Regal vise!
Fish Experience: Nick is the senior member of our guide staff. Nick has guided for us for the past 22 seasons and has guided out of Rockport, Texas for Redfish for the last eight years. Nick takes a lot of our wade trips in and out of Yellowstone.
What others say: Dear Sirs: Just wanted to thank you and your guide Nick Nicklas for our fantastic trip on the Madison River. I don’t think that there is a nook or cranny of that river that Nick does not know. It was especially exciting to catch a huge brown on a fly that Nick invented (the Sunken Stone). Nick’s hard work and professionalism made our trip one of the memorable in years.
Doris Johnston
Charlotte, NC
Cam Coffin "shaft"
Birthplace: Missoula, MT
Birth Date: 5/27/1971
Ambitions: To help in the research of thumb regeneration.
Turn Ons: Meat and potatoes!!
Fish Experience: Having grown up in West Yellowstone and spending 17 years with Blue Ribbon Flies, Cam knows the area like the back of his hand. Cam has spent a lot of time fishing for Silver Salmon in Alaska and Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit in Belize.
What others say: I just completed my first fly fishing trip with two of my close friends. We used Blue Ribbon Flies all three days of our trip. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with your guides. We used Bob, Dan and Cam. I am very new to fly fishing and was extremely apprehensive. However, your guides were incredibly patient, even after I tangled my lin for the 1000th time. More amazingly, your guides somehow managed to teach me how to fly fish without completely embarrassing myself. Please tell Bob, Dan and Cam how much I appreciate their efforts in making this one of my most memorable trips.
Michael T.
Indianapolis, IN
Mike Seim “Flip”
Birth Place: Northern Ireland
Birth Date: 9/31/1973
Ambitions: To make sure “Pope” doesn’t fall of the deep end.
Turn Ons: “Sack” lunches
Fish Experience: From sharks off of Baja, Permit, Snook, Tarpon and Bones in Belize, down to small brookies in the furthest reaches of Yellowstone Park Mike has done it all! It’s not uncommon to see mike fishing every month of the year. His devotion and dedication to the sport is contagious to those around him. Mike’s approach to guiding is innovative and fun.
What other say: Thanks again for a world class guiding experience. Hugh and I will never forget It. See you next year.
Scott Seymour
Verona, WI
Geoff “What’s up Dog” Unger
Birth Place: Missoula, MT
Birth Date: 3/20/1973
Ambitions: To translate the English language into “Steelhead” terms.
Turn Ons: Steelhead and really bad hats.
Fish Experience: Geoff has guided for over the last 11 years. As a Montana native, Geoff has done it all!! Geoff spends a great deal of time in the float section of the Madison River. From Trico’s on Hebgen Lake to spey fishing for spawners in the fall, his intimate knowledge of the area is beyond compare. After our season in the Yellowstone area has come to a halt you can find Geoff on the rivers of Washington and Idaho Spey fishing for Steelhead.
What others say: Geoff, thanks again for a great day as always we were treated like kings, that makes five years in a row now. The size and quantity of the fish seem to get better and better each year. We are looking forward to seeing you next year for year six.
“Whitey” Shoebaucker
Pasadena, CA
Tom Cornell “Tom Cat”
Birth place: Tonawanda, NY
Birth Date: 9/14/1964
Ambitions: To carry more fishing equipment than any other fishing guide alive!
Turn ons: Flash lights.
Fish Experience: Tom is a “year round” guide and has guided for us for the past five years. In addition to mastering the waters in Yellowstone Country, Tom has also guided for small mouth on lake Erie and the upper Niagra River along with Steel head and lake-run Browns on the tributary’s of lake Erie and Ontario. Patient and low-keyed Tom is one of our finest instructors.
What other say: Here is proof that Tom is a great guide (picture inclosed). Debs first ever fish on a float trip. We had an unbelievable day on the Madison with Tom. Deb and I will probably see you again this year.
Tony Giannoni,
Sacremento ,CA
Doug Pope “POPE”
Birthplace: Unknown
Birthdate: It’s a little hard to tell. He’ll say sometime in the 40’s but acts as if he were born in the mid 80’s.
Ambitions: To be just a little “nuttier” than he was the year before.
Turn ons: Old Milwaukee and Tuna fish.
Fish Experience: Pope is one of, if not the senior guide in the entire region and after guiding in this area for over 30 years what hasn’t Pope done? Outside of Yellowstone Country, Pope spends much of his time fishing the waters of Belize, Washington and other varieties of water around the globe. Pope is one of the most energetic and entertaining guides around, just ask anyone who has taken a trip with him.
What others say: My wife and I would like to sincerely thank you for helping make our trip out west one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. We were fortunate enough to spend an entire day with Pope as our guide on the Madison River. Not only did he put us onto a lot of fish, he provided plenty of instruction, advice, and humorous anecdotes. He was an excellent guide. We have already started to plan our next trip out west, and can’t wait to visit your store and spend another day on the water with Pope.
John & Nancy Barbo
Geneva, OH
Dan Rust “Johnny Ringo”
Birthplace: Leesburg, VA
Bithdate: 8/10/1980
Ambitions: To take the lead role in one of the local “Boy Bands”.
Turn ons: Hebgen Lake Gulpers, Fiddles and southern accents.
Fish Experience: Dan has worked in a fly shop and guided on the Henry’s Fork and Madison River area for eight years before joining Blue Ribbon Flies. Dan has guided for us for the last two years and is one of our Hebgen Lake specialists. Dan is a keen fisherman who has guided in Chile for two years and brought with him unparralled skill and knowledge.
What others say: Thanks for making our recent trip to West Yellowstone and the surrounding rivers and streams a fantastic experience. Dan was great and we had a great week, catching more fish and larger ones than either of us had anticipated. John declared on the way home that this was the best trip ever for him, and he has been a few places.
Thanks
Clyde Parker
Mifflinburg, PA
Andrew Mentzer “Big Bobber”
Birthplace: Tucson, Az
Birth date: 5/26/1978
Ambitions: To be on the Pro-Staff at Clakacraft.
Turn Ons: Floating the Madison, Fishing dry flies, Duck Hunting, World Peace.
Fish Experience: Drew is a FFF casting instructor and has worked for us for the past year and has also guided in Chile for the past two seasons. Before coming to Blue Ribbon Flies he guided several years in this area as well as the Missouri River. Drew loves to float the Madison any time of year and loves to fish dries exclusively. Teaching people to fish dry flies is a passion with Drew. Drew also runs many of our Cast & Blast trips.
What others say: Just wanted to let you know that I had a great time fishing with Drew. I think this will become a yearly event. Drew’s patience while instructing and knowledge of the river far exceeded other guides that I have used in the past.
Thanks again
Bill Thorton,
St. Louis, MO
Scott "B&B"Clark
Birthplace: Sioux City, IA
Birth date: 09/12/1965
Ambitions:
Turn Ons: Floating trips, stripping streamers and his beloved Steelers.
Fish Experience: Starting in the midwest farm ponds to brackish water central Florida, then to deep sea USUI, then flats in the Florida Keys to high elevation South west Colorado then to the jewel of flyfishing, West Yellowstone.
What others say: My friend Doug and I had a great time with you on the Madison. I haven't done many floats, but you blew any other guide I've had out of the water. It was Doug's first fly fishing trip. Your instruction on the float really helped make this trip. That, and catching alot of nice fish. Now's he's hooked so to speak. We'll be back next year and hope to hook up with you again. I just wanted to say thanks for helping make it a great trip.
Bob Litkovitz
