Get ready to fish with one of these grizzled, raccoon-eyed, fishy fellows
Yellowstone Country Fly Fishing is a small operation, with a small staff. In the early years of our existence, owner Walter Wiese was usually our only core guide, with his buddies joining in for a handful of trips per season. In recent years, we’ve grown large enough that could no longer work. Unlike many guide services, we maintain a very small core staff and do not anticipate expanding much. For one thing, Walter wants to be on the water most days, rather than wrangling guides and writing checks. For another, keeping things small allows us to uphold our standards of personalized service.
Suffice it to say, we aren’t going to send you out with some yahoo we found in the bar last week.
Guides are listed according to their tenure with YCFF, not overall experience guiding.
Walter Wiese
Walter Wiese founded Yellowstone Country Fly Fishing in 2014 as a side business to his job as manager and head guide at one of the region’s oldest fly shops. When his wife Jani got a job in Bozeman in 2018, it was time to move both business and house to Livingston, and to make YCFF his main gig. Walter is our owner, manager, and head guide. When you book your trip, you’ll be talking to him.
Most of Walter’s guiding these days is on the region’s great float rivers. He particularly likes rough water sections of the Yellowstone when they’re fishing well, and has a soft spot in his heart for dry fly eating cutthroat trout. Walter also has some tricks up his sleeve for clients who want to fish in Yellowstone Park, since he used to live within walking distance of the park boundary. He has been guiding Yellowstone Country since 2001 and fishing it since 1993, based first in Gardiner and now in Livingston.
When he isn’t guiding, Walter likes chasing bass and pike elsewhere in Montana and writing. He has published three fly fishing books and numerous articles, but of late he has focused on writing science fiction and fantasy fiction. He’s even a regular speaker at the major science fiction convention held in Missoula each year. His writing website (seldom updated) is at walterwriter.com.
No, not Montana. This is Walter fishing the Oregon coast for surf perch and rockfish.
Ashton Russell
Ashton was born and raised in Montana, where his passion for fly fishing was sparked early through lessons from his grandfather. He has been guiding since 2021, providing knowledgeable, courteous, and well-executed float trips for anglers of all experience levels. Known for his patience, attention to detail, and clear communication, Ashton strives to ensure every client enjoys a high-quality, memorable experience on the water.
Ashton and a snowy weather brown trout
Dustin Gaines
Dustin made the permanent move from North Carolina to the Livingston area more than 20 years ago, after spending multiple summers working in Yellowstone Park and for the Forest Service in the West Yellowstone area. Livingston was a perfect fit. Dustin learned to fly fish during his summers working in Yellowstone Park. He enjoys sharing our local area fishing with clients, be it floating the Yellowstone or sight fishing on the spring creeks. Dustin’s laid-back attitude, cheerful nature and patience ensure an enjoyable day on the water. Besides spending time with his wife and 2 children, his passions include his dogs, fishing, and hunting. He has been guiding since 2017.
Dustin with a Yellowstone River brown trout.
Brendan Cooke
After spending three seasons at the Old Baldy Club in Wyoming, guiding on the freestone section of Wyoming’s North Platte River, Brendan has relocated full-time to Bozeman. He had lived in the area part-time since 2020, when he enrolled at Montana State University. After graduating in May of 2025, he committed to his goal of growing as a fly fishing guide and plans to stay in Montana long-term. Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned angler, his goal is always the same: to offer a fun, professional experience and share the stunning beauty and world-class fishing that Montana has to offer. Brendan has been guiding since 2022.
Brendan with a colored-up rainbow.
Chase Kolbye
Chase’s path to Montana began far from the Rockies, with years spent fishing across Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and even Patagonia, Chile. Chase moved to Montana in 2019 to attend Montana State University, where he earned his degree in Wildlife Habitat Ecology — a background that gives him a deep appreciation for the waters, landscapes, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Chase’s previous experience working as an environmental consultant on streams and wetlands gives him a unique, science-based perspective on the fisheries he shares with his clients. He has been guiding since 2019 and loves helping anglers of all skill levels connect with the rivers of Southwest Montana and achieve their angling goals.
Chase brings patience, local knowledge, and a friendly, easygoing attitude to every day on the water. When he’s not rowing a boat or hiking up a creek, you’ll find him hunting, skiing, traveling, or tying flies while smoking BBQ on his Traeger.
No, not Montana. This massive cutthroat is from Pyramid Lake, NV,
Dewey Seibert
Dewey started fly fishing with his dad at age 8. He has been fishing in Montana generally and on the Yellowstone specifically for almost 30 years and has been guiding the area for since 2018. Based near Emigrant on the Yellowstone in Paradise Valley during the summers, he spends the winters in Florida chasing redfish and other saltwater quarry.
Dewey with a brown trout.