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Favorite Flies
Cased Caddis Larvae
"Mean Green"
Rusty Spinner
Olive Stimulator
Egg Sucking Leach
Guided Waters
Skagit River, WA
Stillaguamish River, WA
Sauk River, WA
Hoh River, WA
Bogachial River, WA
Skykomish River, WA
Cowlitz River, WA
Yakima River, WA
Puget Sound, WA
Green River, WA
Snoqualmie River, WA
Roaring Fork, CO
Frying Pan River, CO
Gunnison River, CO
Umpqua River, OR
10,000 Islands, FL
Baja, MX
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< Back to Our Guides
Mark Freda
Professional Fly Fishing Guide
 I was born and raised in Barrington, IL. I have fished since I could hold a rod my hands, but was not exposed to the gentle art of fly-fishing until the age of fifteen. The Midwest does not offer many opportunities to fly-fish for cold water species, so I was introduced to Colorado waters by my father. My first experience fly-fishing for trout was a three day float down the Gunnison River in Colorado. This was all I needed! From that trip forward I vowed to spend my life learning everything that fly-fishing has to offer.
I went to college at the University of Vermont, where I studied Natural Resource Management. It seemed like a good fit and it kept me outside in the woods and on the river. In Vermont I learned from the traditional school of fly-fishing. This was a good base for my life as a fly-fisherman. I spent as much time as I could wandering Vermont, Northern New York, and New Hampshire. Fishing in places I had only seen and read about in books. I wanted to expand my knowledge of the sport so I decided to spend my summers in Colorado and then move there full time after I graduated from college. There I was exposed to the classic western styles and the new school masters. I had never seen as many rivers with as many trout in them in my entire life. On any given day you could find a 24 inch rainbow or Brown. This is where and when my guiding began.
People flock to Colorado in record numbers to experience the art of fly-fishing. I call the "River Runs Through It" syndrome. I could guide full time and thus get paid to be on the river, a deal I couldn't refuse. The aspects I cherished most about guiding in Colorado was the ability to enjoy a trip as much if not more than the client. The feeling of satisfaction when a client landed their first fish on a fly rod and smiled ear-to-ear as they slapped me high-five. That is why I guide, to share all I know about this amazing sport with people who will appreciate it.
Over the past 12 years I have traveled from Colorado to Alaska, Oregon to New Mexico and literally everywhere in between in search of new rivers, new people, and new experiences. It has never really been about catching fish, but that part sure is nice. So I reside in Seattle, WA now in search of more that this sport has to offer.
PNW Region Temple Fork Outfitters pro staff
Koffler Boat pro staff
contact Mark
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