Sportsmen For Wild Olympics - About Us
Bob is Co-owner and Head Guide at Piscatorial Pursuits Guide Service in Forks, WA. Here's how Bob describes himself on his website:
"Offering my first river trips in 1991, it was a part-time affair at first to earn a little extra money while finishing school at the University of Washington. In 1994, I took the plunge and began running Piscatorial Pursuits as a full-time job. I now spend the fall, winter & spring months on the Washington coast, then work the months of May through August in Soldotna, Alaska.
We also spend about a month each fall between our fisheries chasing steelhead in British Columbia. A cross between vacation and R&D, it's a nice break for the family to spend some time together with friends that we don't get to see much of the remainder of the year. All in all, between guided trips & my 'play fishing', I spend close to 300 days a year on the water looking for either salmon or steelhead."
Casey Weigel is the Owner & Head Guide for Waters West Guide Service in Elma.
"I am a full-time Professional Guide, & owner of Waters West Guide Service in Montesano, Washington on the beautiful Wynoochee River. Our home waters here also include the Satsop and Humptulips rivers & other Olympic Peninsula rivers & their tributaries. Through hard work &our passion for our rivers & fishing, my wife & I have grown our small business enough to be able to help 3 other year-round & seasonal local guides support families, who love fishing just as much as we do. We fish year round for trophy Salmon, Sturgeon, Steelhead, & Trout in Washington rivers, lakes, and bays. I support the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild & Scenic Rivers Act because our rivers & our salmon are our lifeblood &, without them, businesses like ours, the local jobs they support, & the dollars they bring into our local economy would dry up. The Wild Olympics proposal would simply make the current safeguards protecting our rivers on Olympic National Forest permanent. That’s all it does. It doesn’t change access or cost timber jobs. And if it did, I wouldn’t support it, because my family works in the timber industry. There are many challenges facing our rivers and salmon, with lots of debate and millions of dollars spent trying to help restore clean water and habitat downstream. But one basic, simple piece of the foundation we can put in place now that won’t cost any of us anything, is to permanently protect the healthy habitat on the federal lands upstream against any misguided attempts to develop them in the future. That’s why I am a proud supporter of the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. For Our Future.”
Ashley is Owner & Head Guide of Bad Ash Fishing Guide Service out of Tahola, WA. She is a member of the Quinault Indian Nation.
“Conservation for me on the Olympic Peninsula means that the next generation and generations to come can come out here and experience this the way that I experience it and the way my grandpa experienced it when he fished out here, and that forever we always have this – what is wild and what is the Olympic Peninsula and our culture today.”
Co-founder Dave Bailey lives on the north Olympic Peninsula and is past president of Greywolf Fly Fishing Club and vice president of the Rainshadow Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Visit Greywolf Fly Fishing club by clicking HERE. Here's what Dave says about Wild Olympics:
"As a local fisherman, I understand the importance of preserving healthy fish stocks on the Olympic Peninsula. What used to be the salmon capital of the world, for example, has become barely productive enough for any sport or commercial industry. We must protect our rivers in every possible way, and the watersheds that feed them!"
Capt. Dave Drewry is the owner and operator of Peninsula Sportsman Guide & Outfitting Service - a premier fishing and hunting guide/outfitting service and lodge based out of Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. Having grown up fishing as a kid in California he has enjoyed living and raising a vibrant family in coastal Washington State. Capt. Dave's passions include hunting and fishing adventures that have taken him all around the USA, Canada and Baja,Mexico . A USCG Master licensed Captain he spends over 200 days a year guiding, fishing and hunting on local waters.
Affiliations-- WDFW Waterfowl Advisory Group Committee member 2013-present, Board member of the Washington Brant Foundation 2006-2008
Active member and volunteer of Ducks Unlimited Bellingham Chapter/Peninsula Chapters ; Delta Waterfowl; Washington Waterfowl Association. Here's what Capt. Dave says about Wild Olympics:
"This is a good cause to support the headwaters of some truly wild local rivers"
Co-Founder Norrie Johnson operates Johnson Guide Service from Sequim (northeastern Olympic Peninsula). Visit his website by clicking on his picture.
Here's how Norrie sums himself up on his website: "I am Norrie Johnson and have been a professional fishing guide since 1978. I fish the Bogachiel, Hoh and Sol Duc Rivers on Washington State's beautiful Olympic Peninsula, one of the few areas left on the west coast where the native runs of steelhead are still healthy.
Being a native of Washington state I caught my first steelhead when I was 12 and fishing has been a passion ever since. I have been rowing drift boats since 1970 and started running power boats shortly thereafter. In 1978 I got my first guide's license and started guiding...in 1999 my wife and I moved to sunny Sequim, Washington on the banks of the Dungeness River and a short distance from my fishing. "
Co-Founder Roy Morris operates Able Guide Service from Sekiu (northern Olympic Peninsula). Visit his website by clicking on his picture.
Principal guide, Roy Morris has been guiding Northwest outdoor adventures since the 1970's. His specialties are saltwater and freshwater flyfishing, as well as fishing with all types of tackle. He is an accomplished riverboat guide, and is a Coast Guard licensed captain for vessels to 50 tons. Retired from a career as a teacher and principal, he now devotes himself full-time to the out-of-doors and enjoying nature. He was on the steering committee that founded the Olympic Park Institute and served as a Board Member for the Environmental Education Association of Washington and many state education associations. Roy is on the Advisory Council for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, serves on the Clallam County Marine Resources Commission, and is working on the Washington State Clean Coast Alliance. A member of the Olympic Peninsula Flyfishers and Past President of the Evergreen Fly Fishing Club and member of the Fourth Corner Flyfishing Club. Roy supports many habitat and conservation projects.
OLYMPIC PENINSULA FLYFISHING GUIDE BOB TRIGGS, PORT TOWNSEND. Click on Bob's photo to vist his website and blog.
Co-Founder Bob Triggs is a lifetime outdoorsman, fly fisherman, boatman and, for over 20 years, a flyfishing Guide. He has guided in the New York Catskill and Adirondack mountain rivers, the New England rivers and saltwaters, Southwest Alaska, The Russian Kamchatka and Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Bob has been exploring; fly fishing for Wild Sea-Run Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Wild Rainforest Winter and Summer Steelhead, Pacific Salmon, river and lake trout and char, and teaching flycasting, guiding fly fishers, and designing and tying flies on the Washington Olympic Peninsula waters since 2000.
His essays and articles have appeared in Fly Fisherman Magazine, Heading Out, Fly Fishing In Saltwaters, The Land Rover Journal, The Yale Angler's Journal and numerous regional outdoors publications and newspapers.Bob was awarded the Washington State Trout Unlimited Aquatic Education Award for his work in teaching trout biology and fly fishing skills with youth.
"We must not lose this unique opportunity to conserve and protect the headwaters and watershed forests that are vital to our wild fish, birds and wildlife here. It is far simpler and less expensive to conserve the wilderness habitat that we have, rather than to attempt to restore these places later. Some wild places are worth more than money."
AARON O'LEARY: ANGLER'S OBSESSION GUIDE SERVICE, FORKS
The Owner & Head Guide at Angler's Obsession in Forks, WA, Aaron inherited his first fly rod at age nine and never looked back. At age 18, Aaron's first guide job took him to Alaska, where he spent two summers with Bristol Bay Lodge and two summers with Reel Wilderness Adventures. Aaron has fished across the globe and most recently spent six months in New Zealand, where he bounced back and forth between islands hunting kiwi browns.
Upon his return to Washington, Aaron started Angler's Obsession and now focuses primarily on Olympic Peninsula Steelhead and Yakima River Trout. Aaron currently spends just about every day of the year on a river somewhere, blown out or in shape. His passion for our sport is highly contagious and truly inspirational.
Aaron says "Supporting Wild Olympics will help preserve the salmon and steelhead fishing on the Olympic Peninsula for future generations."
MIKE ZAVADLOV: MIKE Z's GUIDE SERVICE, FORKS
Mike Zavadlov is the owner and lead Guide of Mike Z's Guide Service out of Forks, WA. Here's how Mike describes himself on his website:
I started my Guiding career at Mission Lodge in Alaska where I worked for five years as Guide & Head Guide until I had the opportunity to work at Alaska Kingfishers where I have spent the last six summers Guiding & Managing. I now spend my summers at home guiding in Washington State. I moved to Forks in 1997 & started guiding full time. I now reside in Forks with my wife Tammi. We enjoy the fishing and hunting in the outdoors. Living in Forks gives us an unlimited opportunity to explore the beaches the Olympic Mountains. We also enjoy canoeing on our local lakes.
When I am not Guiding Fisherman I am pursuing my passion of bow hunting elk in the western states. I also love to build and fly RC airplanes.
ROBIN RUEL: GAME ON! GUIDE SERVICE, SHELTON
Robin is the Owner and Head Guide at Game On! Guide Service in Shelton, WA.
Here's how he describes himself on his website:
"I fish for Steelhead & Salmon on the Satsop and other southern Olympic Peninsula rivers.
I strongly support protecting wild places and the watersheds that feed the rivers we fish."
Thanks for all your support Robin!
Neil Strickland & Alyssa Halls are Co-Owners, Guides, & Fly Designers at Anadromy Fly Fishing in Forks, WA.
During his early years of guiding, Neil Strickland discovered the advantages of tying his own flies - first, creative license and durability, & eventually, more success on the river. Neil signed his resignation from the world of resident trout when he began spey casting & found he had a knack for tying steelhead flies. He is skilled in his craft, but is constantly raising the bar on himself. He is dedicated to the rivers he guides, the fish he seeks, & the people who seek his guidance.
Alyssa Halls is a self-described fish-hugger. She just can't get enough of these damned things and goes fishing just about everyday.
When she's not belting 80-foot bullets across the river you can usually find her tying flies, baking cookies, answering the phone, maintaining the website, running shuttles, tying flies, answering e-mails, maintaining the blog, providing free one-on-one spray casting clinics for women, and generally overseeing of day-to-day operations at Anadromy.
Jerry French Co-Owns & Guides for Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics out of Forks, WA.
Here's how OPST describes themselves on their website:
"Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics is a group of Steelheaders who focus on Skagit-Style swing fishing for everything from king salmon to smallmouth bass.The Skagit River and the Olympic Peninsula have defined our products, the way we fish, and our philosophy."
Co-Founder Jason Bausher is a hunter and fisherman from Lake Quinault. What you see in the photo is a view from his front yard: the forested hills of South Quinault Ridge, a place that would be conserved as wilderness in the Wild Olympics Proposal. Here's what Jason says:
"I’m an NRA Life Member and avid hunter who grew up in Aberdeen. The Wild Olympics Campaign is working to protect South Quinault Ridge.
Not a single mile of road on Olympic National Forest or in Olympic National Park would be closed by the proposal. If you can drive there now, nothing in the Wild Olympics Proposal will change that."
Doug Rose, Outdoor Writer and Flyfishing Guide, Forks, WA. Sadly, Doug passed away in the spring of 2013. Doug was a friend, a mentor, and a passionate advocate of the Wild Olympics Campaign. At the request of his family, we are continuing to feature Doug on this site as one of our co-founders and spokespeople for Sportsmen for Wild Olympics. Simply put, without Doug their would be no Sportsmen for Wild Olympics. (You can visit Doug's website is Doug Rose Flyfishing by clicking on his picture). We miss you dearly Doug.
"As an outdoor writer, fly fishing guide, and avid duck and grouse hunter, I welcome the additional protections that the Campaign for a Wild Olympics is proposing.
They will help protect the water quality that anadromous fish require, & preserve the upper basin spawning grounds of species like cutthroat, summer steelhead & bull trout. I will still be able to hunt in all of the areas proposed by the campaign, & I will be able to bring my black Labrador retriever, Ruby."
(Photo by Jeffrey Delia)
Sportsmen for Wild Olympics - Honorary Members
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JEFF BRAZDA - BRAZDA'S FLY FISHING
Jeff is the owner and head guide at Brazda's Fly Fishing Trout & Steelhead Guides which leads fishing adventures throughout Washington State and Alaska. For three months a year, Jeff and his team of experieinced guides live and fish on the west end of the Olympic Peninsula.
You might recognize Jeff from seeing his brief cameo in the 2012 Wild Olympics Campaign Video. That's because most of the fishing footage in our video was generously donated by Jeff and Joey Macomber of Lateral Line Media from one of their dazzling Brazda Fly-Fishing Videos.
Thank you again Jeff, and thanks again for your passionate support for Wild Olympics!
SAMUEL HUTCHINSON: HUNTER & FISHERMAN
I live in Port Orchard and have worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for 30 years. I fish on the peninsula at least once a month, and I hunt on the peninsula in the fall deer season.
I think that our future generations should have the same opportunities as I do, for getting out in the outdoors, and fishing and hunting, or just hiking, and being
able to see what a beautiful thing that mother nature is.
If we do not support and protect these valuable resources, no one else will. I want every generation to catch a steelhead, a salmon, a halibut and whatever else they want to catch, not just read about the good old days.
JOHN HICKS: SEA RUN PURSUITS
John is Owner and Head Guide at Sea Run Pursuits Guide Service. Here's what
he says about himself on his website: "I am a lifelong resident of our great state of Washington. I grew up in the small town of Yelm, Washington. After graduating from High School, I went into the
Army Reserve and served our country as a combat medic. After leaving the military, I went into healthcare and spent some time in Boston, New Hampshire, and the mountains of North Carolina, before
moving back home to Washington. Growing up here has allowed me to be exposed to some of the best things mother nature has to offer. Traveling around the country and the world has shown me that I
really do love it here and do not want to live anywhere else. The lifestyle and outdoors are perfect for me and my family.
Fishing is not only a passion of mine but of my entire family's. I have been pursuing anadromous (sea run) fish my entire life. During the summer months you can either find me spending time with my wife and three boys, or chasing coastal cutthroat around the numerous beaches in the South Puget sound. As the nights get colder and the days grow shorter, my attention switches over to the Sea Run cutthroat's larger cousin, Oncorhynchus mykiss (steelhead). I will chase steelhead with a two-handed fly rod all fall and winter. My passion for fly fishing, if you asked my wife, is all consuming. I love both fishing with a spey rod and teaching others to fish.