Snake River Anlger: Guide Staff
Josh Cohn, Colorado
Josh Cohn began fishing in the Rockies as a child, but no one could have imagined that he would spend so much time fishing as an adult. Born and raised in Denver, Josh started fly-fishing in Colorado’s front range, and has since chased trout all around the intermountain west. A Jackson Hole resident since 2003, Josh now pursues trout obsessively for eight months each year.
Working as a guide since 2007, Josh specializes in teaching (borrowing from his winter job as a ski instructor). He is one of Snake River Angler’s best guides for kids. Josh enjoys working with beginners, and emphasizes that fly-fishing should be fun. After all, who wants to learn something that isn’t fun! Josh has tons of experience on the Green River, and is licensed on Idaho’s famous South Fork through the Lodge at Palisades Creek. Call SRA today to arrange Josh as your guide for a fly-fishing trip you’ll never forget.
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"I told everyone here in Tallahassee that we caught 25-30 cutthroat and I missed at least twice that many more!! I rate this one of the best fishing experiences I've ever had. As a novice fly fisherman, I appreciated both the patience you demonstrated while working with me and educating me on how to fish "your water", and the enormous effort you made all day to put me on the fish."
-Tom H.
Just wanted to say thank you SO much for a great day out on the river fishing 2 weeks ago! ... you are a true professional at what you do...astounding knowledge base and a true gem of a person.
-Tammy F.
Brandon Payne, Alaska
Brandon grew up in interior Alaska and learned to fish on the state’s remote waters. After high school he headed to Montana for college… after six years spent mostly on the rivers around Bozeman, he put his diploma in a drawer and moved a few hours south. When not watching cutthroat rise to dry flies, he explores new water and watering holes around the world.
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Boots Allen, Wyoming
Boots Allen is a third generation fishing guide whose family has significantly contributed to the development of the fly fishing industry in Wyoming since the 1920s. He began guiding for his father and uncle while still in high school and recently completed his 19th season of guiding on the streams of western Wyoming and eastern Idaho. Boots has penned a variety of articles for national fly fishing magazines, including Fly Tyer, Fly Fishing and Tying Journal, Sports Afield, The Drake, and has been a featured personality in regional and national television programs. He is the author of the forthcoming Through the Eyes of an Angler: the Snake River Ecosystem (2010).
Among his numerous accomplishments are:
High Score Guide, Jackson Hole One-Fly, 2004, 2005, and 2008.Second Place High Score Guide, Jackson Hole One-Fly, 2007.Carmichael-Cohen Memorial Guide Award, 2007.Boots is well known for his creative dry flies and streamers and has developed patterns for Umpqua Feather Merchants and the Orvis Company. His passion for fishing and guiding has taken him to some of the furthest reaches that a rod can take an individual. Guiding for 25 lb sea-run brown trout in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, is one thing. But he has also swung tube flies to 30 lb. steelhead in British Columbia, stalked 40 plus-inch taimen on the streams of Mongolia and Kazakhstan, skirted mouse patterns across Siberian streams in Russia for 30 inch lenok, and stripped bucktails in Costa Rica for giant rooster fish.
While not guiding, Boots keeps himself busy as co-producer of documentary films for JahTrout Productions, a media group whose films focus on fly fishing lifestyle and culture and the link the sport has to the protection of sport fish. JahTrout’s films include End of the Road, which explores taimen in Mongolia and the conservation efforts underway their to protect the specie, and Why We Go: Fishing in the Hole, which examines the Snake River in Wyoming and Idaho and local conservation efforts aimed at protecting native cutthroat. JahTrout’s most recent film is Where Hope Resides (2009). This film explores the magic of the British Columbia’s Skeena River system, its world class steelhead and salmon fishery, and the threat it faces from commercial fishing and mining in the headwaters.
Ben Smith, Nebraska
Ben, a native of Nebraska, was catching brook trout on a fly rod at an early age during summer vacations in the Snowy Range of southern Wyoming. His love of the Rockies and their cold, swift streams and rivers led him to Jackson Hole after graduating from the University of Wyoming. He has been a flyfishing guide for 12 years and often guides snowmobile trips in the winter. His passion for fishing has taken him across the globe from Egypt to the saltwater flats of the South Pacific Ocean. As well as, the trout waters of New Zealand and the island of Terra del Fuego in Argentina for big sea run brown trout. The Boundary Waters of Canada, the Florida keys and steelhead rivers of northern Michigan are a few of his other haunts.
Ben is a skilled, experienced guide with a fun, outgoing personality. His goal is to provide a quality and enjoyable outdoor experience for all age groups and experience levels.
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Brian Horn, Wyoming
Third generation Jackson native Brian Horn has already had a lifetime on the Snake River and other local creeks and rivers. Having been taught by many of Jackson’s old school guides whom pioneered many of today’s fishing techniques. He is patient and loves to teach both fly and spin casting.
At age 33 he has had the opportunity to fish all over the world including spending 3 years in New Zealand. When he is not on the Snake River he’ll be in Montana hunting birds or fishing with his wife and two dogs.
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Kevin Emery, Arizona/Idaho
Kevin has been a professional guide of outdoor pursuits for over 16 years. He began his professional fishing career leading expeditions in the Wind River Range of Wyoming for (NOLS) National Outdoor Leadership School. Kevin now spends his winter months as a mountaineer, search and rescue, and rope access technician, leading scientists in Antarctica and Greenland. When not guiding, Kevin can be found spending time with his friends and wife Kate climbing, biking, skiing and pursuing his photography business www.kevinsemery.com. Kevin’s fishing blog www.lifeisfly.com is a great resource for local fishing information, hot topics and satire. You may even see a picture of yourself there after your day on the river with him. Spending a day on the river with Kevin is an experience not to be missed.
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Jim Reetz,
Having grown up in the Rocky Mountains, fishing for trout has been second-nature to Jim Reetz since he was five years old. Jim grew up in Parker, Colorado and has explored numerous rivers of the Rockies his entire life. With month long camping trips that included daily fishing excursions in the Snowy Range, the joy of fly-fishing never ceases!
Jim has spent numerous winter seasons fishing and guiding the crystal blue waters and flats of the Florida Keys. While immense enjoyment came with catching each variety of diverse fish the Gulf offered, Jim was most keen of the anticipation and thrill that a lengthy wrestle with the Tarpon would bring. In the south, Jim has also explored rivers throughout the Smokey Mountains as well as salt water fishing throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
Jim now resides in Alabama during the winter season, where he has settled to start his family; however, his love for fly-fishing in God’s country, brings him back to Jackson each summer. He has been guiding the Snake, the Green, the South Fork, Yellowstone and many other tributaries of the Snake for over 10 years. Jim has won the high scoring guide in the 2006 One Fly as well as the recipient of the Carmichael-Cohen Memorial Guide Award. Jim’s expertise, patience, and out-going personality make each trip for his clients a memorable adventure.
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Lucas Donaldson,
Lucas Donaldson was born and raised in Jackson Hole. He caught his first fish on the fly when he was five or six years old, and has been hooked ever since. Lucas has been a veteran guide for Snake River Angler for more than eight seasons and is equally suited to instruct beginners or to put skilled anglers on the fish. A float with Lucas would put any angler on the fast track to success. When Lucas isn’t guiding he’s floating down the river fishing with his dog. Lucas is a true “fish Head”, and one of the fishiest guides on our staff, I mean that in the best possible way of course. Because of Lucas’s local knowledge and veteran status his dance card is booked in advance so if you would like to get out on the river with him please book your trip before you get out to Jackson Hole.
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Pat Harrington,
As a native to this unique valley, Pat has concentrated the majority of the last 7 years to chasing trout. Growing up in Jackson, he has spent his life exploring the nooks and crannies of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Colorado. when not fishing with clients, you will most likely find Pat on one of the Rocky Mountain region's legendary Rivers. Pat's personality shines through with his clients because he believes in the philosophy of "if it aint fun don't do it!" So if you like the competitive side, or just want to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Greater Yellowstone Region, give us a call because you'll have a blast with Pat.
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Ben Brennan
Ben Brennan grew up fishing dry flys with his Dad, while camping on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies. A Denver native, those early days of fishing with his father migrated Ben to Mesa Sate College in western Colorado. Here he got a marketing degree and an even stronger passion for fly fishing and the outdoors. Ben moved to Jackson after college in 2001 and started fishing as many of the rivers surrounding this ultimate trout hub we call Jackson Hole. Ben has professionally guided the waters of Jackson since 2003. He currently works his winter months in Teton Village at Jackson Treehouse. Spring and fall represent Ben's favorite time to enjoy fishing with family and friends including numerous trips to rivers in Montana and Colorado.
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Bart Taylor,
Bart, aka Bartman, is a 4th Generation Star Valley, Wyoming resident. He was born with a fly fishing rod in his hand and has been exploring the art of fishing every since. His favorite past time has been fly fishing with his Father and Grandfather in the Jackson and Pinedale, Wyoming areas. He has also explored many areas in Idaho such as Island Park and Fort Hall Spring Creeks above American Falls. Bart started guiding fishing trips in 1980 taking clients by horseback up to mountain streams and lakes in the Hoback and Pinedale area. Then in 1984 he started guiding fly fishing trips with local guides and fly shops down the beautiful rivers that Wyoming and Idaho have to offer. In 1987 he began guiding for Jack Dennis taking trips in Yellowstone (rivers and Lakes), Jackson, Star Valley, and Pinedale as well as the South Fork of the Snake River in Idaho.
When the world championship was held in Jackson on the Snake River in 1997, Bart was the guide for not only the first place contestant but the second and third as well! In 2001 he was the High Point Guide for the Jackson Hole One Fly Tournament, and in 2010 Bart was awarded the Carmichael-Cohen Memorial Guide Award during the Jackson Hole One Fly Tournament due to his dedication, and contribution to fly fishing. Bart is a true representation to the best qualities in guiding.
Bart is married to his beautiful wife Julie and has five grown sons. They all enjoy fishing, hunting, and many, many other outdoor activities together. If you are looking for an experienced guide who has been around for a long time and knows where to find fish, Bartman is your answer.
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Operating Under Permit of Bridger Teton National Forest & Grand Teton National Park Snake River Angler is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
Boots Allen just completed the first book ever detailing the fantastic fly fishing found on the Snake River and the South Fork of the Snake River. Snake River Fly Fishing: Through the Eyes of an Angler is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about this beloved stream. Call to order yours today through the Snake River Angler fly shop. Price: $24.95 plus s/h.
