MEET OUR GUIDES
The guides at RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service in Ridgway, Colorado aren’t just experienced anglers, they are the connection people come back for. Each guide chose southwest Colorado for the same reason you’re probably here: the water is exceptional, and the San Juan Mountains as the backdrop are hard to beat. They’ve spent years, many of them hundreds of days a season, on the San Miguel, Gunnison, Uncompahgre, and the High Country drainages of western Colorado. They know what’s hatching, where the fish are holding, and how to put you on them.
We intentionally keep our guide-to-client ratio at two clients per guide. That means real instruction, real attention, and a day on the water built around your goals. Whether you’ve never picked up a fly rod or you’ve spent years chasing trout across the West, our certified professional fly fishing guides meet you where you are.
Mac Baldwin
Fly Fishing Guide
Growing up in Durango, Colorado, Mac developed a passion for fly fishing at a young age. He is a patient and easy going guide and loves to play a part in getting newcomers “hooked” on fly fishing. He has spent a number of years guiding and fishing waters all around Colorado and beyond. @macbaldwin7124
Cody Swem
Ecommerce & Retail Lead
Cody grew up among the rivers, mountains, and coastlines of Washington and Oregon, where time outdoors wasn’t a pastime; it was simply part of life. That upbringing gave him a deep familiarity with the Pacific Northwest’s waters long before he ever picked up a fly rod.
That breadth of experience is what Cody brings to the shop floor every day. Whether you’re gearing up for your first outing or dialing in a specific setup for a destination trip, he genuinely loves helping customers find the right gear for where they’re headed. @gordon.fishfoot
Jason Meyer
Fly Fishing Guide / Gunnison Gorge
Born in Southern California, Jason spent his early years exploring the winding rivers of the Sierra Nevada, where his grandfather’s deep appreciation for fly fishing became a guiding influence. Under his grandfather’s mentorship, Jason developed a lifelong passion for the sport.
As a teenager, he moved to Colorado where he was immediately captivated by the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Embracing the adventurous spirit of his new home, he immersed himself in the quintessential Colorado lifestyle: rodeo, rock climbing, hunting and of course, fly fishing.
Drifting along the legendary waters of the San Juan, Rio Grande, Roaring Fork, Piedra, and Arkansas rivers, Jason refined his fly-fishing skills with each cast., gaining invaluable experience. Over the course of 15 years, these waters became more than just rivers, they became the backdrop of countless memories shared with friends and family.
With an enduring love for the sport and a passion for connecting others to the serenity and thrill of fly fishing, Jason is eager to share his expertise. Whether you are a seasoned angler or a first-time adventurer, he is committed to creating an unforgettable experience on the water. @thedriftpirate
Joe Schwonke
Fly Fishing Guide
Growing up in Upstate New York, Joe Schwonke developed a lifelong passion for fishing and the outdoors. After moving to Colorado more than 13 years ago, he found his home on its rivers – combining his love for fly fishing, rowing, and whitewater adventures. Whether navigating rapids or chasing trout, Joe is most at home on the water.
As a guide, he takes genuine pride in sharing his knowledge and helping anglers of all skill levels build confidence and improve their skills. Joe believes every trip is about more than catching fish – it’s about creating memorable experiences in beautiful places. His goal is to make every day on the river fun, rewarding, and unforgettable. @jojo_and_husky
Jack Seiver
Fly Fishing Guide / Gunnison Gorge
Jack, originally from Washington, D.C., made the move to Colorado in 2017 following his graduation from Santa Clara University. Each summer since, he’s found himself guiding backcountry fly fishing trips in Rocky Mountain National Park, while winters have been dedicated to work and skiing in Crested Butte. After discovering RIGS and the incredible fishing prospects in the Ridgway region, he made the choice to relocate, enthusiastic about the chance to share his expertise and passion for fly fishing. @jack_seiver
Spencer Terry
Fly Fishing Guide / Gunnison Gorge
A Colorado native, Spencer started fly fishing at ten years old. Twenty-two years later his passion for the sport has only grown. As a guide, his goal is to help people strive to make the transition from guided trips only to getting out on their own and catching fish. Spencer’s mantra is, “However much I love fly fishing I enjoy teaching people to fly fish even more! If you want to learn, I want to teach you.” @flyguy4015
Spencer Hemker
Fly Shop Manager / Fly Fishing Guide
Fly fishing was an interest since childhood. Spencer started learning on his his dad’s eagle claw and quickly became focused on understanding fish. At 13, a casting class turned an interest into an addiction. Spencer, enjoys sharing the experience of all things bugs, fish, learning to cast and the thrill of landing the first fish. As proof of his dedication, during his senior year in high school, Spencer took a week off finals to do guide school, and it all started or ended there – fly fishing was to be his life. Wildlife Biology with a minor in Art extended the addiction, further expanding his knowledge and love of entomology and fly tying. “It is important to have a personal goal in fly fishing – my goal is to get to know and catch as many different species as possible”. Spencer is an excellent resource for all things fly fishing. Stop by the shop to catch up with him. @river_gremlin
David Fish
Fly Fishing Guide
Originally from Northern Virginia, David’s fishing obsession began early, cemented when he received a fly rod at age 11. While studying at James Madison University, he explored the Shenandoah Valley’s trout waters, from meadow spring creeks to mountain streams. After college, he chased his passion west, working for the Fish and Wildlife Service, BLM, and Forest Service. Settling in Colorado’s western slope, he mastered the San Miguel while working in Norwood. Now, he’s eager to share his love for fly fishing with others—when he’s not in the shop, he’s planning his next trip to the river. @dfishtagram
Brody Hess
Fly Fishing Guide
Brody was born in East Tennessee at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Growing up, he chased after smallmouth in the areas lakes and rivers on conventional tackle. Eventually, he picked up a fly rod and never looked back. While working as a school teacher, he spent spare hours fishing for native brook trout and exploring the small streams in his area. During school breaks, Brody travelled West in order to fish some of the countries most famous rivers. On one of those trips, he met the team at RIGS and decided that he had to become a part of it. Brody prides himself on using his experience as a teacher to help both new and experienced anglers achieve their goals in the sport which he has become so passionate about. @riverf00l
Andrew Heckard
Fly Fishing Guide / Gunnison Gorge
Ethan Scott
Fly Fishing Guide / Gunnison Gorge
A native of Swampscott, Massachusetts, near Boston, Ethan first began his love of fly fishing on small creeks and rivers in New Hampshire with family. The Pemigewasset River, catching brookies on a fly rod, created the mystique and his current obsession with fly fishing to trout. As a young adult, Ethan spent every moment studying each aspect of fly fishing. Soon a fascination about the American west developed. The Rocky Mountains captured his imagination with powerful rivers and their monster trout inhabitants. He was sold! In his early 20’s he moved out west to finish his college degree in outdoor education. After I graduated, leaving Colorado was not an option, instead, he wanted to continue chasing trout with a fly rod in the Rocky Mountains by making it a day-to-day part of his life. From leading raft trips with RIGS, to float fishing, and fly fishing – guiding was obviously next. The best way to describe Ethan’s passion for fly fishing is in his own words. “I jump at the opportunity to spend a day on the water with the prospect of sharing my knowledge of the sport that I have come to love. I welcome all to spend a day on the water with me! Does not matter your age or experience level with fly fishing. Just love the opportunity to share my passion for fly fishing with others!” @ethanabescottflyfish
Sam Terlingo
Fly Fishing Guide / Gunnison Gorge
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Sam developed a fondness for fishing native brook trout in small creeks at a young age. With a decade of guiding experience under his belt, his guiding journey spans seven years in Colorado, two in Alaska, and one in Florida. The spark and passion for guiding started while working at a dude ranch in southern Colorado. Armed with a degree in education, Sam is driven by his enthusiasm for teaching others about fly fishing and his love of getting on the water.
Chris Cantrell
Fly Fishing Guide / Gunnison Gorge
A Colorado native but a vagabond at heart, Chris has been guiding since 2012 in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. Prior to that he worked throughout the southwest for 9 years as an archeologist living out of his truck with his dog and moving wherever work took him.
You will often hear Chris tell people he prefers guiding to fishing for himself these days and it shows in his passion when teaching new and seasoned anglers a few tricks on the water.
When not behind the oars or hiking up rivers you will find Chris chasing birds with his lab Rita or tying flies in his camper looking for the next adventure. @cantrell_flyfishing
Oliver Gibbons
Fly Fishing Guide
Born and raised on Colorado’s Front Range, Oliver grew up spending as much time outside as possible. A family friend introduced him to fly fishing at a young age, which quickly became a lifelong passion. Throughout his childhood and into college, he explored as much water as possible and developed a love for fishing the high country. While earning his undergraduate degree at CU Boulder, he worked at a fly shop, gaining valuable experience in the sport. After graduating, he moved to Ridgway to be closer to the outdoors and share his love of fishing in Colorado’s most scenic area. @ogibby5
Tim Patterson
Owner / Destination Host
Patterson has led fly fishing, rafting, and eco-tours throughout Central America, Mexico, and the Southwestern U.S. since 1991. Patterson’s degree in Recreation Management from Prescott College set the stage for a career in adventure guiding and a passion for keeping tight lines on his home waters. “It’s not just about the fishing, it’s about the people,” Patterson says. “Our activities are kind of a metaphor for life. They can teach patience, strategy, versatility, and adapting to conditions.”
Zach Sauer
Fly Fishing Guide / Gunnison Gorge
Zach says he was lucky to be born in Western Colorado. Since he can remember, being outside as much as possible has been a top priority. That love of the outdoors quickly led him to fish local lakes with a spin rod. After years of visiting RIGS fly shop as a little kid, his interest in fly fishing grew. He started tying flies about a year before he picked up a fly rod, but once he did and caught his first trout on a fly he tied, there was no going back. Now, he chases trout as much as possible, everywhere from technical tailwaters to high alpine lakes all over the region. Zach has a depth of fly fishing knowledge beyond his years. Combined with his enthusiasm and love of teaching, he is a fantastic guide to learn from.
Nick Souder
Reservations Manager / Fly Fishing Guide
Born and raised fishing the deep waters and coastal flats of Central Florida, Nick developed an early love for angling that has grown into more than 35 years of fishing experience and over 13 years as a professional guide. After moving west, he spent years mastering the mountain streams of Colorado, where he now shares his passion for the outdoors both on and off the water spending more than 200 days a year on the water.
In addition to guiding, Nick serves as the Reservations Manager at RIGS Fly Shop, ensuring every guest’s trip is seamless from start to finish. Since 2019, he’s also contributed to product development in the fishing industry and continues to refine his craft as an avid fly tier.
Whether you’re a beginner seeking patient instruction or an experienced angler looking to elevate your skills, Nick’s fun, energetic, and educational guiding style makes every trip a memorable and rewarding experience. TroutMount.com
Keith Trumbull
Fly Fishing Guide
Jimmie Vaughan
Destination Ambassador / Fly Fishing Guide
Jimmie grew up on a ranch in north Texas hunting and fishing with his father. His dad mostly tackled big game off shore fishing, while Jimmie’s interest leaned towards fly fishing. Owning a home in Port Aransas, Texas and a Hells Bay Skiff, he chased redfish in skinny water with a fly rod in hand. In addition to saltwater, Jimmie also spent his summers fishing the fresh waters of Ketchum, ID and the surrounding area. In 2017, he moved there full time and worked as a fly fishing guide for a guide service called, Silver Creek Outfitters. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the local waters and helping clients grow their passion in the sport. His love for the sport is matched by his love of traveling. Jimmie unites both passions through his fly fishing trips to places like Hokkaido, Patagonia, and Alaska. Off the water, he spends time exploring other cultures, history, and regional cuisines. His favorite food on his trip to Hokkaido was uni, which is typically harvested from the nearby waters. From his travels, one of his best discoveries has been the charming town of Ridgway. The raw beauty of the San Juan and Cimmaron mountains are unmatched. Jimmie and his wife cherish family time centered around the outdoors. They wanted to raise their son with access world class fly fishing, mountain biking, skiing and climbing. Ridgway has fit the bill perfectly.