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 and Tony Simmons, who bring a lot to the table. Secondly, the birth of my little girl, Allie, on January 12, 2008. Wow! I'm a dad! And now our newest team member, Thomas, born October 6, 2010! Allie has already been introduced to a fly rod, and Thomas will be soon!
Look forward to fishing with you.
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!
Tony SimmonsFor me the joy of the Little Red started out simply enough as a boy playing in the JFK campgrounds, with the river serving as a backdrop to the adventures of childhood. On my path through this wonderful world the river managed to go from a fun place to visit to the place where I NEEDED to be! Some things just happen, and for me it took one afternoon for all of my focus and desire to land on one thing…Fly Fishing! Once that realization was made, my life took on a reorganization of sorts into two categories: time on the water, and time spent thinking about being on the water. This new direction has brought me more excitement and light than I could have imagined. This is the excitement I want to share with whoever wants to take the time to find it.
The time I’ve spent as an angler along with the past six years of guiding have given me a deep love for teaching and sharing such a wonderful pursuit in amazing environments. Not only do we get to fish, but we do it in the state I’ve called home for 28 years! The same drive and desire for learning that took me through two undergraduate degrees and a masters degree is now used for learning and teaching the wonderful pursuit of fly-fishing. We all learn every time we hit the water! I have been very fortunate to have many teachers of many techniques in many locations across the country, and I use all of my experiences to provide you the trip you desire. I am also the current vice president for Chapter 722 of Trout Unlimited, set to take duties as President in 2012. The River also ran me smack dab into my wonderful wife, Taylor, and her son (my little home boy) Andrew. No matter your skill set or goals, I look forward to sharing a day of fishing and fun that will leave your spirit enriched, your abilities improved, and a little music in your step!