I like to keep it simple. I don’t paint watercolor scenes, carve decoys, raise gun dogs, or play guitar around the campfire… though I can make a world class bloody mary before going out in the morning. But when we hit the water, the genie gets let out of the bottle, so to speak. The water brings a kind of peace that gets the stories going.

I believe in good gear but, like golf, you can't buy your game. If you can’t recognize where the fish are, well, good luck to you. Even the best can’t catch fish that aren’t there, and fancy gear won’t cast accurately or manage its own lines. Practicing your craft is where the fun really begins.

25 years of guiding experience in the US and abroad has taken me to some of the most breath-taking places on the planet. With multiple river and park permits that include the Bitteroot River, Big Hole River, Madison River and Yellowstone Park, I’m up for plenty of different types of fishing situations. Being a single boat outfitter, I’m not tethered to a strict timetable or schedule (just like the fish).

I’m not about dragging the bottom of the river with a couple of nymphs and a bobber just to put a few fish in the boat… been there, done plenty of that. Keeping it simple is the heart of it – there’s not much in fly fishing that can't be accomplished with a standard fly rod and a floating line when you’re friends with the wind.

I’m a pretty adaptable guy. I’m happy to customize trips to match up skills and fishing preferences. I believe in having a strong foundation in all the traditional fly fishing disciplines, dry, nymph, wet fly… the ability to read water, make good presentations, aggressive line management and effective strike techniques are skills that can be covered if people so desire… and if you’re smarter than me, well, all the better.

If you ask me, fishing isn’t about being the best. You can have a hundred fish in the boat at the end of the day, but if you’re not on adventure, what’s the damn point?

See you on the water,
Chuck Ravetta