© 2008 - The Sportsman, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Sportsman Outdoors & Fly Shop

Featuring our guides on this website gives us great pleasure because they are a dedicated, experienced group who love what they do and are very good at it. They share their love of the sport as passionately with beginners as with seasoned anglers in search of the fish of their dreams. Please let us introduce you to them...

Our Guides
Andy Bryant - Manager and Senior Instructor

"Wow! I never thought I could learn so much in one day with a guide! And we caught fish too"! That's what I like to hear because teaching is my passion. Whether it's a new nymphing technique to a seasoned angler or basic casting to a beginner, I approach both with unbrideled enthusiasm because it's what I love to do.

I honed my fly fishing techniques in my youth on the limestone streams of Pennsylvania, but discovered "real trout fishing" when I moved to Colorado. I have fished and guided all over the country, but feel at home in the Gunnison Country and particularly in Lake City. I began fishing in Lake City in the 1960s and have been a full-time guide here since the early 1990s. I taught casting for some major rod companies and instructed Casting for Recovery, as well as helped establish a bass fly-fishing school in Texas. I love to fish: I love to teach: and I love Lake City!

Growing up in southern Oregon fishing the Umpqua and Rogue rivers, I started fly fishing and tying flys when I was 14. I lived in Colorado for 17 years fishing the South Platte, Colorado, Arkansas and lesser-known small trout streams. I've fished small mouth bass on the fly and have made trips to Mexico and the Bahamas for bonefish, permit and tarpon. I also love fishing the Florida Saltwater a couple times every year for whatever will chase my fly.

After retiring from my full time jobs with the Air Force and United Airlines, I live in Oregon near the Rogue River. We have a summer cabin near Leadville, Colorado, on the Arkansas. I am a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor, and I tie flys and build bamboo fly rods.  I'm returning to The Sportsman for my fourth year. I've also guided for the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs for 5 years on the South Platte River.

My passion remains fishing Colorado rivers and streams for trout. And maybe even more, I enjoy teaching, guiding and helping someone have a great day on the river with a fly rod. Tight Lines.

Will Quinn - Instructor / Guide
Bob Beanblossom - Senior Instructor
Zach Lazzari - Instructor / Guide
Tony Tarasewicz - The Guy Who Cleans the Windows

I started my adult life as a Marine and then moved into the airlines where I got a Finance degree and continued  working for over 25 years. I've fished since I was able to stand and fly fished all over the Western US and overseas as well. Then I was able to convince my wife that living in a remote mountain town was really great. Secretly, I knew that there is nothing better than a day spent on the river fly fishing or even a day in the store just teaching people about this wonderful sport. My biggest kick is getting the children to light up when they catch that first fish on the fly rod and seeing them really get into the sport. If I could, I'd be on the river guiding every day, but somebody has to do the work. When I'm not on the river, I'm the guy you'll see at the store cleaning the windows.

I was born and raised in Reno, Nevado, growing up across the street from the Truckee River. My first fly rod was a gift on my 12th birthday, and I've never looked back! Most of my youth was spent chasing trout on high desert rivers and lakes in Northern Nevada and California. I've fished for trout in Nevada, California, Oregon, Montana, Utah, and Colorado. I also enjoy chasing carp and bass with a fly rod. I started guiding for The Sportsman in 2007, and it's been my favorite guiding experience so far. I love fishing with new people and sharing everything I know about fly fishing. And a day on the water in Lake City is better than any other kind of day! In the winter, I'm finishing my degree in Anthropology at Western State College in Colorado.
I was born and raised in Tyler, Texas, but I've lived every summer in Lake City on the land high in the mountains that my family owns. I was six years old when my dad first put a fly rod in my hand and taught me to catch brookies out of beaver ponds. Since that day, I have let no man, beast, nor mountain stand in the way of my pursuit of the illusive trout. I began working for The Sportsman in 2004 and have enjoyed every minute of my guiding experiences. For me, there's nothing better than getting to know new people while spending the day on the river. In the off-season, I'm at college majoring in aeronautical engineering with a plan to become a pilot...all so that I can afford my fly fishing!
970-944-2526

Steve Wilson

Steve Wilson headed up our guiding efforts for over five years. He's moved on now and is living in a bigger city and soon to be married to a wonderful young woman. Steve occassionally comes back and guides for us, which we love because we get to visit with him and have fun.