Meet Our Guides

The Hatch Fly Shop offers some of the best and most experienced Fly Fishing Guides in Colorado!

Dan Hydinger

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Owner of The Hatch Fly Shop in Evergreen and Pine Junction, Colorado, Dan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Colorado Fly Fishing Adventures. Dan is well traveled in his fly fishing endeavors, having fished everywhere from Alaska to Mexico. Dan started fly fishing in Colorado 21 years ago and has not stopped since. If there is a place to fly fish in Colorado, Dan has likely been there. His knowledge of area rivers and lakes is unparalleled by most others in the industry. Dan's extensive fly fishing knowledge and experience make him one of Colorado Fly Fishing Adventure's best guides.

Favorite Rod: 590-4 XPFreshwater 890-4 XP Saltwater
Favorite Reel: OB-3 Galvan Freshwater Abel Super 8 Saltwater
Favorite Place in Colorado to fish: Derby Creek
Favorite Place in World to fish: Boca Paila, Mexico
Favorite Quote: "Are we going to catch any bigger than this?" As the client just landed a 24 inch 8 pound rainbow trout.

Chris Eisenhard

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Chris is the booking manager for Colorado Fly Fishing Adventures. He has been in the fishing industry since he was 10 years old. "I ran a bait shop out of my family's barn in when I was growing up. I sold nightcrawlers, minnows, and crayfish to local bass fishermen." This is when Chris learned that the fishing industry is not all fun and games. "I remember crawling around the lawn at 3am trying to find enough worms to supply the next mornings rush of fishermen." Chris now uses flies instead of worms, but his work ethic has not changed a bit. "I pride myself in making sure that my clients will have a great day on the river, whether it be with me or one of my colleagues." Growing up in western New York and attending college in New Hamphsire, Chris was able to spend a lot of time fly fishing the East Coast but finds none of it comparable to Colorado. "The diversity of fishing back there is impressive. There is everything from huge salmon in the Great Lakes to stripers on the Atlantic Coast. But I'm not sure any of it compares to the scenery and abundancy of trout that Colorado has to offer." Chris can usually be found on one of the many trout streams in Colorado. He specializes in the many private ranches of the North Fork of the South Platte River just outside of Denver. In the fall Chris makes an annual trip back to his home waters of western New York State to chase after the monster salmon, steelhead, and brown trout in the Lake Ontario tributaries.

Favorite Rod: G. Loomis GLX 9 foot 5 weight
Favorite Reel: Ross Evolution
Favorite Place in Colorado to fish: Longmeadow Ranch, North Fork of South Platte
Favorite Place in World to fish: Sandy Creek, Lake Ontario Tributary
Favorite Quote: "That's a nicer fish!"

Tad Howard

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Tad attended Niagara University where he graduated with high honors in business and a second degree in fly fishing. "Every fall I spent 4-5 days on the water searching for lake run spawning trophy brown trout salmon, and steelhead", says Tad. Today Tad often finds himself working around his Denver University Law School schedule to guide fly fishing trips and fish many top western waters. "It's hard to pass up the chance to be out on the river," Tad says. Tad possesses exceptional fly fishing and tying skills from his lengthy background of diverse fishing experiences. Tad's uncanny ability to get clients into fish in even the toughest of circumstances, along with his easygoing manner and friendly demeanor, make him an extremely sought after river companion.

Favorite Quote: "There's no such thing as a bad day on a Colorado trout stream"

Jeremy Hyatt

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Jeremy is recognized by most people as "that guy who is seen always hooked up with a fish down in Cheesman Canyon." You've most likely ran into or seen Jeremy at his "second home" if you have ever fished the Deckers/Cheesman Canyon stretch of the South Platte River. Jeremy has been fly fishing in the canyon since he was 8 years old. "I used to beg and prod my father day in and day out to go fish the Canyon," says Jeremy. Now he finds himself on the South Platte either fishing or kayaking every spare chance he gets. Jeremy possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience on fly fishing the South Platte and many other rivers around Colorado. Jeremy brings an enthusiastic approach to fly fishing and guiding that always leaves a smile on client's faces.

Favorite Rod: 9 foot 4 weight Sage XP
Favorite Reel: Galvan OB-2
Favorite Place in Colorado to fish: Cheesman Canyon
Favorite Place in World to fish: Firehole River, Yellowstone National Park
Favorite Quote: "FISH ON!"

Will Gunlicks

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If it is a type of fish, Will has more than likely caught it on a fly before. Will is known for his ability to catch any and everything with his fly rod. Born outside of Chicago, Will grew up fly fishing for bass, crappie, sunfish, bluegills, catfish, and other warm water species. He also would fish for steelhead in Lake Michigan¹s tributaries and trout in Wisconsin. Today Will fishes all over Colorado for trout as well as bass, carp, and panfish. "Each species has its own challenges in trying to catch them. The flies and techniques that work for trout don't always work for other species and I get a kick out of discovering what works for each type of fish." Will has an extensive resume with experience in the fly fishing industry. Will has guided fly fishing trips around the country and it is because of his extensive experience that he is considered one of our most knowledgeable and valuable guides.

Favorite Rod: 9 foot 5 weight Thomas & Thomas Horizon
Favorite Reel: San Miguel, Ross Reels
Favorite Place in Colorado to fish: Bard Creek
Favorite Place in World to fish: Lake Michigan
Fishing Tip: Never under estimate the benefits of a good quality disc drag reel. It is much easier to play and land a big fish with a disc drag reel.

Jack Foster

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Another Cheesman Canyon junkie, Jack fishes the Canyon and Deckers area 12 months out of the year. "Some of the best fishing in the Canyon can be had in late fall and in the dead of winter. And that's when you will find the least number of anglers fishing." Jack also has a few patterns that seem to work when nobody is catching fish. "And they aren't size 22 midges," says Jack. In addition to guiding and working another full time job, Jack owns and operates troutcandy. net, an online fly retail store. Jack has guided trips for Colorado Fly Fishing Adventures everywhere from Deckers to Woody Creek near Aspen (where he had to fend off a black bear on a recent trip). Jack's extensive fly fishing knowledge and experience of Colorado's rivers and lakes make him one of our most valuable guides.

Brian Austin

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Brian is most well known for his willingness to go on "road trips" in search of giant trout. If there is a good trout fishing spot in the West, Brian has likely fished it. Trips to the San Juan, Bighorn, Green, Yellowstone, and Madison are annual occurrences. Brian gets around the state of Colorado as he is members of Farmers Union fishing club and Rocky Mountain Angling Club. His membership with RMAC gives him access to over 30 different properties within Colorado and one in Wyoming. Brian has been an honorary guide at the Joe Sakic celebrity fishing tournament at Boxwood Gulch for the past four years. Brian's twenty years of fly fishing experience and ten years of guiding experience make him one of our most experienced guides.

Favorite Rod: 8'6" 4 weight, 2 piece Thomas & Thomas pa
Favorite Reel: San Miguel, Ross Reels
Favorite Place in Colorado to fish: The places where the people in the "know" say there are no trout.
Favorite Place in World to fish: New Zealand
Favorite Quote: "Lord, suffer me to catch a fish so large that even in talking of it afterward shall no need to lie."

Kirk Deeter

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Kirk is the author of Castwork: Reflections of Fly Fishing Guides and the American West. His travels from Arizona to Montana have led him to rub shoulders with some of the best guides and anglers in the U.S. Kirk's freelance articles have appeared in Fly Fisherman, Wild on the Fly, and London's Daily Telegraph, among others. He is a graduate of Michigan, and has been fly fishing for over twenty years. His love of rivers and sharing information led a natural path to guiding, and he is also the president of the Colorado Conservancy. Kirk's extensive fly fishing knowledge and experience make him one of our most valuable guides.

Favorite Rod: Winston LT 8 foot 3 inch, 4 weight, 5 piece
Favorite Reel: San Miguel, Ross Reels / Galvan
Favorite Place in Colorado to fish: Boxwood Gulch Ranch / San Miguel River, Telluride
Favorite Quote: "There is an inner voice... call it God, call it nature, call it gut instinct. You have to quiet your mind and will to the point where you can receive instruction from that voice. I've learned to be flexible and listen to what the river tells me