Justin Spence:  Justin grew up in Northern Idaho on the banks of the fabulous Clearwater River.  Later he moved to Guatemala where he learned fluent Spanish.  Justin eventually returned to the states and earned degrees in Sociology and Spanish from the University of New Mexico.  He, his wife Rachel, and daughter Ariela currently split time between West Yellowstone, MT and San Martin De Los Andes, Argentina.  Justin has been in the fly fishing industry for over a decade and enjoys it more now than ever.  Through his travels and experiences he has discovered an incredible gift to teach fly fishing to anglers of all ages and skill levels.  He is a passionate and devout student of modern fly casting and can often be found in the park practicing his art or trying out a new rod and line. Spending a day on the water with Justin is sure to be an unforgettable experience filled with laughter and learning.




Alan Mikkelson: Alan was born and raised in Lewiston, Idaho. He started fishing at the age of 17 when he was introduced to the sport by a good friend. Alan started fishing and working in the Yellowstone area in 1999 and cannot get enough of the area or its fishing. Recently, Alan finished his Ph.D. in Human Communication from Arizona State University and has moved back to the Northwest. Currently, he lives in Spokane, Washington where he works as a professor at Whitworth College, but he calls West Yellowstone his home in the summers. Although Alan enjoys pursuing the Brown Trout of the Madison River and the Yellowstone Cutthroat in Yellowstone National Park, he also enjoys catching other species of fish such as carp, bonefish, barracuda, and sharks. Alan has been a great friend and fishing partner for several years. If you want to know more about whitefish, just ask Alan!






Matt Klara: Matt is originally from Rome, New York. He was introduced to fly fishing by his parents at a very young age and began his fishing career on the banks of the Madison River over 20 years ago. Matt spent his summers fishing, and later guiding, throughout southwest Montana and Yellowstone National Park while he earned degrees in civil and mechanical engineering. In 2006, always looking for new water to explore, Matt moved from Bozeman, MT to Portland, OR. He has pursued over 50 different species of fish with a fly, ranging from trout, bass, carp, and walleye to bonefish, tarpon, snook, and even sting rays. His understanding of trout and steelhead are keen, and every year it seems like Matt comes up with new patterns and techniques to fool anything that swims. He is truly an observant and innovative fly tier and angler, which often allows him to catch fish when others do not. Aside from being a great friend, Matt acts as a consultant, advisor, and writer for us here at The WY Fly Shop and STWFF. He also holds a full time engineering job specializing in stream and river restoration and is a regular contributor on www.sexyloops.com.