Ryan Smith
Professional Fly Fishing Guide
EWA Staff Trainer

My piscatorial pursuits started before I can remember. Some of my earliest memories involve searching the shallows of central Oregon's lakes and rivers for live dragonfly and stonefly nymphs. I knew these strange looking things would catch fish, and did. My methods seemed archaic looking back, but that was the birth of my patience and respect for the natural world. At the itchy age of thirteen, a fly fishing trip to eastern Idaho sealed the deal. As I patrolled around the lake until complete darkness, I thought very little about anything else but tricking fish. Not realizing what he had just created, my father smiled as I returned spent and content.

After spending a semester studying (and fishing fine trout streams) in New Zealand during college; I graduated and moved to Montana. With a bachelors in Biology, I started scratching the surface of the our Western waters. After a couple years and hundreds of days on the water, I completed the equivalent of an advanced degree in trout fishing.

I started spending more time teaching and less time fishing. About then, I realized I had a knack for articulating the technical nature of the sport. A good fishing partner was hard to beat, so I helped create as many as possible. I have been guiding since 2000 throughout Oregon, Montana and Idaho. Now living in Washington state, I continue to sharpen my abilities in the fresh and saltwater. But more importantly, translating what I have learned through careful explanation, demonstration, and of course... patience.

CF Burkheimer Pro Staff member
FFF Casting Instructor


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