Meet Our Team

Missoula River Lodge Staff and Guide Profiles

Joe Cummings.
Joe Cummings.
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Joe & Tammi (Owners)

Joe Cummings is the outfitter and owner of Missoula River Lodge. Joe is in his 19th season of guiding in Missoula Montana after starting this operation when he was 26 years old. In the early days it was just Joe and a single boat, but Missoula River Lodge has been able to grow over the last two decades into an established staff of veteran Missoula fly fishing guides.

Joe Cummings is a 4th generation Montana native who has spent his life either working on the Stevensville Montana family ranch, crashing around football fields, or with his feet wet guiding the waters of Missoula Montana. After Joe spent 5 seasons playing professional football, he came back to Missoula and opened up his own outfitting business. Joe is a graduate of the University of Wyoming.

He has spent two decades of seeing our area in every fly fishing condition. From stalking the giants of the Bitterroot, to the massive pods of the Missouri and Clark Fork, Joe loves to feed dry flies to rising fish. He is friendly and patient, and relishes the drama that comes from hunting wild trophy fish.

Joe and Tammi are proud to introduce our guide staff to new anglers that want to experience everything that is our home waters of the Bitterroot River, Blackfoot River, Missouri River, Rock Creek, and Clark Fork River. Please take the time to meet each staff member via their video interviews below. We strongly believe that anglers should have the opportunity to meet their fishing guide before putting together a trip.

Enjoy the included videos and meet our team!

Chef Carrie Nowlen.
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Carrie Nowlen (Executive Chef – Named to Top 100 Chefs in America)

Carrie is our Executive Chef at Missoula River Lodge. She was named to the list of the top 100 chefs in America by a team from the Washington Post in 2017 and featured in the book “America the Great Cookbook.” She specializes in Authentic Missoula Montana Farm to Table dining. Her creativity in combining locally acquired and grown ingredients creates a refreshing, healthy, and distinctly fun dining experience for our guests. Carrie’s cooking knowledge is shared freely with our guests in a unique presentation of courses throughout the evening. Her skill can produce dishes that range from freshly prepared Lamb to traditional Vietnamese fare. We are fortunate to have such a talented lady running our menus at the Lodge, because the overall experience she gives to our guests creates a layered dining experience that puts the sheen on the fishing day.

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Sheree Baxter (General Manager)

Sheree was born and raised on Florida’s Space Coast where she developed a passion for the outdoors and especially fishing. Her joy of fly fishing brought her west to experience all that Montana has to offer. She has spent several summers in the Yellowstone area, and now lives in Missoula year-round. When she’s not in the office you can find her out hunting risers with dry flies. Sheree earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and MBA from the University of Montana. She is excited to help you plan your trip of a lifetime!

Missoula River Lodge guide Ryan Geiges.
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Ryan Geiges

Ryan is a veteran guide that has guided across the US and South America. He was the head guide for the Delaware River Club on the Delaware River in New York for seven seasons. During that stint he also ran the successful Al Caucci Fly Fishing schools. Before he made Missoula his permanent home he guided in South America. An exceptional teacher as well as fine angler, Ryan is well rounded and thoroughly versed in the fly fishing game. He is our most meticulous fly tier and an outstanding stream entomologist, so when he ties on a fly, its worth a second look.

If you are into pushing dry flies only and having a fun time on the water, then Ryan’s guiding style is just the ticket.

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Caleb Garrett

Caleb is a long-time staff member with Missoula River Lodge. He has built a loyal clientele because of his willingness to go the extra mile to ensure guests have an unforgettable fishing experience. Caleb guided winter run steelhead on whitewater rivers of the Pacific Northwest, streamer fishing Arkansas tailwaters for monster brown trout, and Montana rivers all over the state, however the dry fly fishing of Missoula was always home base. He is highly experienced on our local waters, with a knack for finding rising trout. On rare days off during the season he is out testing fly patterns fresh off his vise from the night before.

Missoula River Lodge guide Jacob Hensley.
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Jacob Hensley

Jacob was born and raised in Wyoming where he grew up guiding deer and elk hunts for his father in the Black Hills. At the age of 20 he moved to Missoula to explore the endless mountain ranges and rivers of Montana. Starting off as a recreational fisherman, Jacob was able to memorize the local rivers early in life by floating and navigating almost every stretch of water during the daytime while bartending at night. Years of practice and exploration eventually led to turning his passion into a career. Jacob has developed his fishing knowledge and application through the guidance of owner Joe Cummings and attributes his success on the water to hard work and willingness to adapt. Jacob is a multifaceted guide who works well with all levels of angling, from single dry flies to streamers and nymphs he is a grinder who is willing to pull out all the stops to ensure a fantastic day on the water. When Jacob isn’t guiding clients, you can find him fly fishing and hunting with his wife and son and occasionally surfing the waves of the Clark Fork.

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Aaron Bonsall

Growing up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I learned to fly fish and tie flies from my father at a young age. I quickly found this hobby to turn into an obsession, spending most of my free time on the water. Originally being from Montana, I knew I wanted to make the trek back out west to some of the best fly fishing in the world and moved to Missoula in 2009. I enjoy guiding for many reasons, but the best part is getting to share my passion with others and helping them learn as much as possible during a day on the water. I get just as excited watching people catch fish as I do catching them myself and seeing their reaction and adrenaline is part of what makes guiding so rewarding.

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Dylan Curry

Dylan was born and raised in Missoula, MT and from the time he could ride his bike to the Clark Fork river he has spent almost every day chasing fish. At a young age he caught his first fish on a fly and hasn’t put the rod down since.

Dylan started guiding right out of high school; working as a hunting and fishing guide for almost a decade now.  His relaxed and hardworking attitude comes with a medical background (EMT) and whitewater rafting experience. Dylan works as a ski patrol in the winter, spending almost every day outside enjoying all Montana has to offer, and he plans to keep it that way! If you want to have a great time out on the water chasing big fish with someone who grew up on Missoula rivers, Dylan is your guy!

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Jed Nagler

Jed grew up in the Northwest corner of Montana, where he gained his love for the outdoors.
The Forks of the Flathead river were just a short drive away from home and offered great fishing
for Cutthroat Trout. This is where his addiction to fly fishing really began. That same passion for
fly fishing followed him as he made his way to the University of Montana in Missoula. Jed
played football for four years at UM and earned his degree in Recreation Management. Each second
of free time he had between academics and athletics was either spent exploring all the great
fishing Missoula has to offer, or enjoying his time in the woods hunting. Guiding was always a
dream for him, and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncles.

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Mitch Strang

Mitch grew up in Cleveland, Ohio learning to fish for walleye and perch at a young age, and took summer trips up to Canada for pike and other species.  Mitch came out to Montana on vacation when he was 10 years old, and experienced fly fishing for the first time, and fell in love with them both.  Mitch moved out to Missoula after high school and earned a degree in business management, but was constantly drawn to guiding.  He has spent the last 15 years learning our local waters, and looks forward to sharing his knowledge with you.  When he’s not fishing you can find him hunting, snowboarding or hiking with his wife Malori and dogs.

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Alex Kopko

Alex grew up in northwestern Pennsylvania where he learned to fish at a young age. Not long after, a mayfly hatch on a stream near his grandparent’s house had him hooked on fly fishing. After high school, Alex moved west to Colorado and Utah, spending as much time outdoors as possible. Having fished all over the mountain west, he prefers guiding on the rivers of Northwestern Montana. Alex currently spends his winters ski patrolling at Snowbird in Utah and summers fishing in Montana.

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Dalton Sand

Growing up in central Montana, Dalton has been fly fishing longer than he can remember. Using his brothers untouched fly rod, he explored the irrigation canals and drainage ditches around the farms of his hometown in hopes of finding big browns. At age 14, he bought his first drift boat. More focused on learning to row than getting his drivers license, he would have his parents drive him to the Missouri River every weekend and run his shuttle so he could spend the hours it took learning to row. When he turned 18, he moved to Missoula to pursue a career chasing trout. With little money and dropping out of college, he decided to move into his car and fish full time. For the next six years Dalton guided extensively on the Blackfoot in the summers, and spent countless hours of his free time exploring the Clark Fork and Bitterroot chasing after big water fish. In the few months of the off season, Dalton spends his time climbing in the gym and chasing mountain summits.

In Memory of:

Missoula River Lodge guide Patch Godown.
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Patch Godown

Patch Godown grew up the youngest in a family of deer hunters and fisherman, so was schooled at an early age in the outdoors. His fisheries were the Delaware River, its tributaries, and the branches of the Raritan river. Montana fly fishing drew Patch to Montana MT in 1992. Patch spent years constantly fishing Western Montana before he found a home on A Classic Journey’s staff in 2011. Patch has a great combination of experience, enthusiasm, and work ethic. Although he is the newest member of our staff he immediately stood out as a highly requested guide and we look forward to many more seasons with him guiding our clients. To quote Patch – “Showing people a good time in a great place is truly living the dream. Fly fishing has connected me with some great people and started a lot of great friendships.”

Missoula River Lodge guide Curt McChesney.
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Curt McChesney

Curt is a Missoula native fly fishing guide that has spent a life time Fly fishing the Bitterroot River, Blackfoot River, Missouri River, Rock Creek and Clark Fork River. His previous career was as a Smokejumper and Fire Management officer for the Forest Service. His water knowledge runs deep as well as his life perspectives. Curt is known for a cool headed intensity, work ethic, and fun educated boat conversations. He is a multi-layered renaissance man that all ages and levels of guests enjoy.

How I Choose Missoula Fly Fishing Guides : Joe Cummings’ Criteria

If you are on this page then then you are looking to put together a day on the water with a professional fishing guide in Missoula. I have been doing exactly the same thing for the last two decades. As we add or subtract guides from our in-house roster of professionals I have to make decisions about the personalities that I believe are able to put together successful days on the water. In building our guide staff these are qualities I look for in Missoula fly fishing guides.

1. Excellent Attitude

At its most basic level time on the water should be fun and about the guest. The day is a team effort dialing in the expectations and trip goals of the guest. Western Montana is a beautiful multi-layered place blessed with great water. Find a guide that won’t ruin that with an intense pushy attitude.

2. Work Ethic

We expect our fly fishing guides staff to show up on time, have a clean boat, bring a great lunch, work to find solitude in our large drift area, and fish a full day. When these fundamental building blocks are put in place daily the odds of succeeding on the water rise tremendously. The ability to execute on fishing guide basics is a sign of other facets of the guide’s performance also being in order.

3. Fishing Talent

Just like in any other profession there are those that perform at a higher level. The band of top guides is a narrow. They catch more fish, they know more water, and they re-book at a much higher level than the run of the mill fishing guide. This is the hardest skill to find and quantify. You really only find it out by working with a guide as he navigates all the changing conditions of the season. If I could boil it down to two characteristics that define the top guides – 1. A constant curiosity about how to leverage what the rivers gives each day. 2. A competitive drive to improve themselves while keeping their boat atmosphere calm and focussed.

4. Missoula Fly Fishing Permits

This is so basic, but has become increasingly more important as the State of Montana has put in place access restrictions on much of our water. We are the only outfitter in Missoula who owns the full suite of permits to be able to float all sections of our area waters.
Rock Creek is the most limited access river with only three float outfitting permits available. It is a unique ecosystem that has many protections in place that have kept it pristine in every way.
The Blackfoot River also requires a permit whose enlightened fee structure uses those funds to help in habitat restoration and resource maintenance.
The Bitterroot River has two permits; one on the West Fork and one on the mainstem. They limit use and provide for an effective system that generates a great deal of solitude and productive fishing.
You can book the best missoula fly fishing guides, but if they don’t have access to our rivers your trip options can shrink quickly.

Missoula Fly Fishing Guides:  The System and Brand

We are not the only fishing guides in Missoula, but after two decades of triumphs, mistakes, and constant drive to learn and improve we have come up with a criteria for choosing our staff. If you are looking for hard working, friendly, patient, and ultimately successful fishing guides to spend a day with on Missoula’s waters we are choice we encourage you to investigate.

How I Choose Missoula Fly Fishing Guides : Joe Cummings’ Criteria

If you are on this page then then you are looking to put together a day on the water with a professional fishing guide in Missoula. I have been doing exactly the same thing for the last two decades. As we add or subtract guides from our in-house roster of professionals I have to make decisions about the personalities that I believe are able to put together successful days on the water. In building our guide staff these are qualities I look for in Missoula fly fishing guides.

1. Excellent Attitude

At its most basic level time on the water should be fun and about the guest. The day is a team effort dialing in the expectations and trip goals of the guest. Western Montana is a beautiful multi-layered place blessed with great water. Find a guide that won’t ruin that with an intense pushy attitude.

2. Work Ethic

We expect our fly fishing guides staff to show up on time, have a clean boat, bring a great lunch, work to find solitude in our large drift area, and fish a full day. When these fundamental building blocks are put in place daily the odds of succeeding on the water rise tremendously. The ability to execute on fishing guide basics is a sign of other facets of the guide’s performance also being in order.

3. Fishing Talent

Just like in any other profession there are those that perform at a higher level. The band of top guides is a narrow. They catch more fish, they know more water, and they re-book at a much higher level than the run of the mill fishing guide. This is the hardest skill to find and quantify. You really only find it out by working with a guide as he navigates all the changing conditions of the season. If I could boil it down to two characteristics that define the top guides – 1. A constant curiosity about how to leverage what the rivers gives each day. 2. A competitive drive to improve themselves while keeping their boat atmosphere calm and focussed.

4. Missoula Fly Fishing Permits

This is so basic, but has become increasingly more important as the State of Montana has put in place access restrictions on much of our water. We are the only outfitter in Missoula who owns the full suite of permits to be able to float all sections of our area waters.
Rock Creek is the most limited access river with only three float outfitting permits available. It is a unique ecosystem that has many protections in place that have kept it pristine in every way.
The Blackfoot River also requires a permit whose enlightened fee structure uses those funds to help in habitat restoration and resource maintenance.
The Bitterroot River has two permits; one on the West Fork and one on the mainstem. They limit use and provide for an effective system that generates a great deal of solitude and productive fishing.
You can book the best missoula fly fishing guides, but if they don’t have access to our rivers your trip options can shrink quickly.

Missoula Fly Fishing Guides:  The System and Brand

We are not the only fishing guides in Missoula, but after two decades of triumphs, mistakes, and constant drive to learn and improve we have come up with a criteria for choosing our staff. If you are looking for hard working, friendly, patient, and ultimately successful fishing guides to spend a day with on Missoula’s waters we are choice we encourage you to investigate.