Guides
Read our daily posts from the Guide Shack on our JRFFA facebook page!
Read our daily posts from the Guide Shack on our JRFFA facebook page!
Chris Butts My name is Chris, and I'm a fishaholic. Growing up, I spent my summer on Greers Ferry Lake. It wasn't until college that I learned the joys of the Little Red River. Right before graduation, I started having nightmares about the movie "Office Space", so, like Jamie, I set out to find a career that has nothing to do with a cubicle. Lucky for me, in 2002 I was able to become the managing partner of Lobo Landing Resort, and haven't left the river since. It's been a great joy getting Lobo to the place it is today. Anyone else would have completed restoration sooner, but I had a bad habit sneaking off to go fishing (don't tell my partner)! I was able to join the JRFFA team in 2007. In this time I have become incredibly involved in the local fishery. I am currently the VP of Trout Unlimited Ch. 722 and will become the Pres. in February. I am a member of the AR Game and Fish Trout Advisory Board along with Jamie. I also enjoy being involved in great causes, such as "Casting for Recovery".
I married my best friend, Whitney a few years ago. Whit now runs Lobo so that I can guide. What a wonderful wife (even though Odie, my yellow lab, now has to sleep on the floor). We are also expecting a little Baby Butts in June.
Come fish with us sometime, and you will see why we love our jobs so much. Hope to see you soon!
Matt Millner
I have much to blame of my fish addiction to my father. As a young child we spent many a weekend camping in the Ozarks. I caught my first fish when I was 2 years old. A tiny perch out of a pond around Memphis. By the time I was in the 3rd grade I had become well acclimated with a fly rod. After high school, I was drawn west and moved to Durango, Colorado I probably spent a little too much time outside playing in the mountains instead of doing school work. I found myself out of money and moved back to Memphis. I couldn’t stay in the concrete Jungle for long, and the familiar waters of Arkansas brought me to Heber Springs. I spent every day all over the river in an aluminum jon boat chasing trout until dark and sometimes into the night. This is when I met Jamie Rouse. Jamie was able to get me hooked up with a job as a guide in Iliamna, Alaska. It is a place like no other, such a wild, powerful frontier. I have spent two seasons there, and plan on spending many more to come. I love all fish, and have been blessed to fish all over the country for many different species -as long as they pull hard. As I like to say, “The tug is my drug”. I am especially fascinated by brown trout. Our fishery has a completely wild brownie population, and their aggressive behavior really attracts me. If I am not guiding, you can find me somewhere on the river purely in pursuit of a big yellow belly. Fishing and guiding for me is not just a job, it’s a way of life. I live to fish. I live to teach people how to fish. The joys of watching someone else catch fish and experience the adventures of being out on the water is so fulfilling to me, its unreal.
Check out my blog:
Fish On!
Jamie Rouse
Ahhhhh! Man, I love my job! I was fortunate. I realized in college that I was not cut out for a "real" job. I'm not a 9 to 5 kind of guy. I migrated to my passion- FLY FISHING! I have been guiding people in Arkansas and Alaska for quite some time now and have had many nicknames ranging from the Fish Whisperer to the Fish Nazi. Over the years I have learned how to pursue a wide variety of species in a wide variety of water conditions for a wide variety of anglers.
In 2004 I became an Endorsed Guide for the well known Orvis Company. In 2007 I was awarded their prestigious Guide of the Year. I'll have to show you my belt buckle.
I have really been blessed over the past several years first with an unbelievable team: my wife, Kati, (CEO, CFO, web designer, editor, the Fish Pimp), Guides Matt Millner "Uncle Fungus" and Chris Butts "Stinky", who bring a lot to the table. Secondly, the birth of my little girl, Allie, on January 12, 2008. Wow! I'm a dad! I think we would all have to agree that she is the most important member of the team. She keeps Mommy, Daddy, Matt, and Tiss in line.
Look forward to fishing with you.