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Guide Profiles
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Kirk Bien has been fly fishing for 20 years, and guiding for 12 years. His favorite places to fly fish are Rocky Mountain National Park, specifically Forest Canyon and the Big Thompson River below Lake Estes. Kirk also guides backpacking and llama pack trips. His favorite fishing buddies are his kids, Luke and Addy. But he and Laurie like to take off to find remote areas in RMNP to fish. Kirk also enjoys ice fishing in the winter and skiing. |
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Laurie Bien began fly fishing when her Dad took her out on a guided fly fishing trip with Kirk, and from then on she was "hooked". She is now passionate about the sport and enjoys fly fishing remote areas in Rocky Mountain National Park, overnight backpacking trips and llama pack trips. She also guides Longs Peak trips, snow shoe trips and day hikes. When Laurie is not guiding or working in the shop, she enjoys hanging out with the kiddos, Luke and Addy, climbing and skiing. |
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Gary Bien, Kirk's Dad, began fly fishing with Kirk 20 years ago, and has been guiding at Kirk's for 12 years as well. His favorite place to fish in RMNP is Lake Louise, and his favorite guided trips are horseback trips and llama pack trips. He is often referred to as the "llama whisperer" by clients, and most days in the summer can be found trekking in llamas with clients to high mountain lakes. In his off time he enjoys playing with his grandkids at his home he and his wife, Vicki share in Estes Park. Grandma Vicki watches Luke and Addy just about every day in the summer while Mom, Dad and Grandpa are busy with the shop! |
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Mike Caldwell has been guiding for Kirk's for 9 years and is not only a resident, year-round fly fishing guide on the Big Thompson River and in RMNP, but also guides most of our Longs Peak trips, as well as snow shoeing trips, overnight backpacking trips, llama trips and trips over the Divide. Mike's speciality is trips over the Divide via Boulder Grand Pass, fishing Thunder Lake and Lake Verna on the way, and hiking to and fishing pristine high mountain lakes. He is also an avid climber and can be found hanging off the rock when he is not fishing. His wonderful wife Terry is also on the Kirk's pro shop staff! |
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Marsh Thomson Originally from Savannah, Georgia and St. Petersburg, Florida, Marsh has had a fishing rod in his hand since he was three years old. Marsh has lived in Colorado since 1998, and has been working in the fly fishing industry and guiding for 10 years now. He loves teaching the sport, dry fly fishing, and chasing large Greenback Cutthroat trout in Rocky Mountain National Park.This is Marsh’s eigth season with Kirks Fly Shop, guiding up to 150 trips year-round in RMNP, the Big T, and Waterdale Ranch, where Marsh is a regular. When not guiding for Kirk’s, Marsh enjoys spending time with friends at his home located on the Big Thomson River, which dubs as private water for clients, and searching for new water on the River. Marsh’s other hobbies include bow hunting for elk and deer, snowboarding, photography and video. |
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Jerry Lehtinen has 25 years of fly fishing experience guiding the Rocky Mountain Region waters. His passion is to have the client have a memorable experience on the water, a memory that always will be embedded in their mind, and to introduce novice or seasoned fishers to techniques that will reward them with success when they return solo to the river. As a guide, he not only guarantees catching fish, but to entertain the client for a memory that will last a life time. His approach; Be safe, have fun, relax, be patient, and build confidence. This approach will have success in hooking and landing fish all while experiencing the “WOW FACTOR”! When not guiding or tying flies you can find Jerry fishing waters in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. |
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Chris Eussen has been fishing in Colorado all his life, less 4 years spent in the United States Navy. This will be Chris’s fifth year with Kirk’s. Chris is a Certified Guide through CMC college in Leadville, CO. During the summer he loves guiding throughout the Big Thompson Canyon, as well as in RMNP. Chris has an undeniable passion for guiding and the sport of fly fishing. Teaching new anglers and watching the youth succeed is what drives him. When not guiding you can find him year round chasing many different species of fish in Colorado and Wyoming. Chris enjoys fishing with his dad, tying flies, and spending time with his wife Angie, dog Lily. Check Chris's website out at ceflyfishing.com. |
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Christopher Weber Catching his first fish at age two and growing up in Wisconsin meant alot of fishing for Christopher with his father, who he always followed to the water. Family vacations all revolved around fishing, where living on Wisconsin lakes made access easy, and the sport never growing old for Christopher. Moving to colorado in 2001, he sought to expand on his fly fishing, including tailwaters, creeks, lakes, warm water systems and high mountain adventure; he loves it all. Fishing with either kids or adults, he believes nothing is better than fishing except sharing the experience. And with 200 days a year spent on the water he has some sharing to do! |
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Gerry Goshgarian is originally from the midwest, but learned how to flyfish on the Big T while in school at CSU. Since then he has fished the rockies from New Mexico to Montana. Before guiding for Kirks, he spent two summers working as a wildland firefighter on the Silver City hotshot crew for the Forest Service. No stranger to the western woods, Gerry is a a Nols alumni with a WFR backcountry medical certification and 45 days in the field in the Yukon territory backpacking, whitewater canoeing and fly fishing. In the summer he lives in Estes Park and enjoys fishing the remote alpine lakes and streams in Rocky Mountain National Park. The rest of the year he lives in Bozeman Montana, Studying engineering, flyfishing the rivers, and snowboarding the mountains. |
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John “JB” Bruning (right), guiding with Kirk’s Mountain Adventures for the fifth year, is a third generation native of Boulder, Colorado with 48 years of fly fishing experience. For “JB”, catching fish is a bonus, as the total fly fishing experience includes learning, relaxing and enjoying the pristine mountain settings of the area. When he isn’t fishing or guiding, “JB” is a metal sculptor. |
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Will Beggs has lived on Colorado's Front Range and been guiding for Kirks Fly Shop for six plus years. Originally from Northeast Georgia, Will has enjoyed fishing since he could hold a fishing rod, and fly fishing for the last seventeen years. He loves every opportunity to be on the water and share his passion with others. When not guiding, Will enjoys chasing trout across the Rocky Mountain West and tying flies.
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Chad Pettrone is originally from Chicago, Chad learned to flyfish for Bass and Pike. He moved to Boulder, Colorado in 2004 and has added trout fishing to the top of his fishing list. He has been guiding for Kirk's for 5 years and enjoys hiking and horseback riding to remote areas of RMNP, fishing the Big Thompson, and going after big fish on private waters. |
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Brad Dunkle is originally from the western shores of Lake Erie in Toledo, OH. Currently a senior at Colorado State University, this is Brad’s seventh season guiding at Kirks. He started fishing at age five and has been fly-fishing for twelve years. Brad’s fly-fishing career began pursuing salmon and steelhead on Lake Michigan and Lake Erie tributaries. In 2002, he took a guided trip with Kirk to Rocky Mountain National Park and the Big Thompson Canyon, and has been hooked on fly-fishing Colorado ever since. When Brad is not guiding, he can be found hanging out with his Chocolate Lab Boone in the Estes valley, or wading in one of Colorado’s productive tail waters. |
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Matt Schubert grew up in Fort Collins, CO, has been fly fishing for 24 years, and guiding for Kirk's for 8 years. As a middle school science teacher, cross country and basketball coach, Matt approaches guiding from an educator's viewpoint. Clients appreciate his friendly, easy going personality, instruction and building techniques. Matt's favorite places to guide are the lower Big Thompson, Waterdale, and the Roaring River. Matt's 8 year old son, Dylan, is an enthusiastic fly fishing protege. His wife, Sharon, is a real estate broker in Northern Colorado. When Matt is not guiding...he is fishing! |
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Dave Baughman's passion for fly-fishing began the first time he witnessed the quiet rise of a golden trout on a meandering meadow stream, high up in the Sierra Mountains of California. “The moment is etched forever in my mind, and I love reliving it through the anticipating eyes of each enthusiastic client that adventures out with me”. Dave’s been fly-fishing the west for 24 years and guiding with Kirk’s Fly Shop since 2004. His preference is to have you stalking rising wild trout on high mountain streams, abundant in Rocky Mountains. Dave simply enjoys guiding, whether you are a first time novice or seasoned veteran. Enjoy catching fish but be prepared to learn the technique that will reward you with success when you return solo to the river. And leave with memories of the most amazing video and photographs, made available to every client. He’ll get you “hooked” too! |
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John Clark has been guiding for Kirk's for over 4 years. This Kokanee has been a fly fisherman 52 years: Brook Range, AK, to Ascension Bay, Mexico; Pacific Northwest to the Adirondacks, saltwater & freshwater. My home range for the past 25 years has been the Rocky Mountains, and for the last 10 years home water has been the Big Thompson River and RMNP. Fly fishing is a whoop and holler, to be enjoyed in all its aspects. |
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Joel DeJong has been guiding for Kirk's since 2009. A high school teacher by trade, Joel is currently a graduate student at Colorado State University. "One of the best things about guiding," says Joel, "is introducing folks to the sport. I love the distinctive smile that comes from catching that first trout on a fly." When he's not guiding or studying, Joel can be found fishing the waters of northern Colorado and Wyoming. |
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Bill Greenwalt has been fishing in Colorado for 40 years growing up here and fishing with his dad and grandpa. Bill is in his second year guiding at Kirks and loves what he is doing. He makes every trip a fun and exciting adventure. Whether you are going out for the first time or the 400th time you will learn something. Bill prides himself on being an excellent teacher. Bill is also a firefighter in the Denver metro area but when he is not on duty he is on a river somewhere in Colorado.
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Bob Komara loves to fish and has been at it since he can remember. He grew up in Northeast Ohio fishing Lake Erie for bass, walleye, and perch and spent several summers in Ocean City, Maryland fishing for flounder and blue fish. Bob fell in love with Colorado while earning a MS in Physics at Colorado State University. Bob lives with his retired sled dog and has a zeal for fly fishing the waters of the the Big Thompson River and RMNP, but some of his favorite time is spent dry-fly fishing the North Fork of the Big Thompson River, landing beautiful wild brown trout and rainbows at Mountain Home Ranch. Bob always likes to think that luck is one of his skills.
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Ryan Stillahn has been guiding for Kirk's since the beginning, and in the summer can be found on the Big T or in RMNP. He also enjoys fly fishing all over Colorado in his free time. When he is not busy in the summer, he is a high school teacher and wrestling coach in Loveland, CO, where he lives with his wife, Karen and thier German Shorthair, Benna. |
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Wallace Westfeldt is a Colorado native and has been fishing all his life. He has been a kayak instructor, white water river guide, and baseball coach. After a successful career in high tech, he decided to return to the water and help folks catch fish. This is his seventh season as a guide. His guests enjoy his enthusiasm and sense of humor. |
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Walter Borneman has been guiding for Kirk's for over 5 years, and guides day hikes, snow shoe trips and Longs Peak trips. Walter has been hiking and climbing in Colorado since age 14. He wrote the first complete climbing guide to the Colorado Fourteeners in 1978;
A Climbing Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners. He has worked with National Geographic mapping Alaska’s National Parks. He is the author of nine America History books. He lives in Estes Park with his wife, Marlene.
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Marlene Borneman has been guiding for Kirk's for over 5 years, and guides day hikes, snow shoe trips, and Longs Peak trips. Marlene has been hiking, climbing, skiing and snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park since 1974. In 2009 she completed her climbs of the 126 named summits in Rocky Mountain National Park. She has climbed the 54 fourteeners in Colorado, 82 of the 100 highest peaks in Colorado, and 33 of the fifty state highpoints. Marlene is very knowledgeable in identifying the wildflowers in RMNP and the best areas to find rare flowers. She lives in Estes Park with her husband, Walter. |
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Apryle Craig has been guiding with Kirk's since 2005 and leads day hikes, snow shoe trips, and Longs Peak summit trips. In 2008, she completed "Mummy Madness", a 17 mile hike that summits seven peaks in the Mummy Range, six of which are above 13,000 feet in elevation. In 2009, Apryle spent over 110 days in the backcountry, paddling a sea kayak from Gig Harbor, Washington to Glacier Bay, Alaska, and raising awareness for the issues threatening wild Pacific salmon. She loves helping folks reach goals that they might have never thought possible. She lives in Estes Park with her husband, Phil, where they enjoy hiking, climbing, and skiing.
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Phil Magistro has been guiding with Kirk's since 2005 and leads day hikes, snow shoe trips, and Longs Peak trips. Phil is a NOLS alum, completing a course in Patagonia where he spent over 72 nights out kayaking, hiking, and climbing. He has spent time living in China and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese as well as Spanish. In 2009, Phil logged more than 110 days in the backcountry, paddling kayaks to Glacier Bay, Alaska, with his wife, Apryle. He hikes, skis, snowshoes, climbs, and cooks amazing backcountry meals. Phil lives in Estes Park with his wife, Apryle. |
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Jan and Larry Kilgore have lived in Estes Park for 5 years and in Colorado for 34 years. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of our favorite places to hike, snowshoe. and bicycle. We are avid bicyclists participating in 1 to 2 long distance bicycle rides a year including ones in Colorado and last year one down the coast of California. We have guided snow shoe treks and hikes for Kirk’s Fly Shop for 6 years and have enjoyed meeting wonderful people on these hikes. Each hike we lead is a new adventure for us and hopefully a rewarding and fun experience for those we take with us.
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We are always in the process of adding guides...so if you don't see your favorite, there are always more to come!
