We bring in America's finest fly fishing experts to share their wisdom and experience. Please take a moment to read about our instructors and presenters.
Tom Rosenbauer
Known far & wide as the iconic face of Orvis fly fishing, Tom is one of the most respected and admired anglers on the planet. The author of a dozen books and hundreds of fly fishing articles, as well as the host of the weekly Orvis fly fishing podcast, Tom is an exceptionally talented angler as well as a truly gifted instructor. His passion, knowledge and angling skill are unmatched, which is why Forbes Magazine has described him as "a living legend in the world of fly fishing." The School of Trout is incredibly fortunate to have Tom as an instructor.
Craig mathews
When Craig won Fly Rod & Reel’s prestigious Angler of the Year award in 2005, fly fishing icon Nick Lyons called him “a spectacular and versatile fly fisher, a keen conservationist, and one of the most passionate anglers I know.” Lyons went on to say, “He is a hard man not to like — always pleasant, soft spoken, eminently knowledgeable, and one of those gifted teachers who do their work by gentle verbal hints (when you want it) and by example. His enthusiasm for fly-fishing is infectious; he's remarkably modest for someone so successful on the water — especially in a field known for bloating egos to the size of the Titanic. The range of his abilities is just stupendous.” Craig is not simply a fly fishing savant; he's also one of the finest human beings you'll ever meet.
Kirk Deeter
Kirk is the vice president and editor-in chief of Trout Media, the publishing arm of Trout Unlimited. He’s also the editor of Angling Trade, which covers the business of fly fishing in the United States, and an editor-at-large for Field & Stream, the leading outdoors media brand in the world. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, Wired, Garden & Gun, Outside, Men’s Journal, The Denver Post, Big Sky Journal, The Drake, Flyfish Journal, and elsewhere. He’s the author of several books, including The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing, and Trout Tips. His travels have taken him from the tip of Tierra del Fuego in South America, throughout the jungles of the Amazon, to New Zealand, the South Pacific, the flats in Central America, to Ireland, Iceland, and north of the Arctic Circle in Russia. Of course, he’s also fished extensively throughout North America. He lives with his wife and son in the mountains of central Colorado.
Bob White
A member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, Bob White is an acclaimed artist and author, as well as a recipient of Fly Rod & Reel magazine’s coveted “Guide of the Year” honors. Bob's angling expertise has taken him from Alaska to Argentina to Russia, and he hosts fly fishing and wing shooting trips to Patagonia, Alaska, Kamchatka and other destinations. Bob has been featured as a guide and artist on ESPN’s Fly Fishing the World and Fly Fishing America, and he contributes artwork and writing to a myriad of national and international sporting publications. In addition to the time he spends teaching at the School of Trout, expect to see Bob on the water with his paint and brushes. If you're truly fortunate, perhaps you'll go home with one of his plein air paintings.
Tim Romano
If you know fly fishing at all, then you already know that Tim Romano is a rock star. A former editor with Wild on the Fly and Fly Fishing Trade magazines, and the original photo editor for The Flyfish Journal, Tim has overseen Angling Trade magazine for the last decade. A singularly talented professional photographer, Tim stands out in an industry long known for its absolutely stunning images. His photographic assignments have taken him around the world, including Alaska, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Russia, the Bahamas, Mexico, British Columbia, and all over the United States. His artwork is part of the permanent collections at Lake Forest College, Photo Americas Portland, Instituto de Artes de Medellin, Colombia, and the University of Colorado, Boulder. And ... drumroll, please ... Tim will not only be sharing his extensive angling knowledge at the School of Trout, but he will be be taking photos and offering tips to our students.
Hilary hutcheson
Hilary started her fly-fishing career as a teenaged guide in West Glacier, Montana. She guided through college, then took her journalism degree to Portland, Oregon where she worked as a television news anchor and reporter. She eventually returned to Montana, where she co-owned and operated Outside Media and Trout TV for nearly a decade. Hilary still guides on the Flathead River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, and she owns and runs Lary’s Fly & Supply fly shop in her hometown of Columbia Falls, Montana. She also volunteers as a fly fishing instructor for Casting for Recovery, serves on the national board of directors for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, is a climate activist with Protect Our Winters, and writes for a number of outdoor industry publications. In addition, Hilary is an ambassador for YETI, Orvis, Costa, Fishpond, Patagonia, Loon Outdoors and Scientific Anglers. She loves hanging out with her two teen daughters, especially when they volunteer on the oars.
John Juracek
Known for his prodigious skills as an angler, casting instructor, photographer and fly fishing writer, John is a former partner in Blue Ribbon Flies, one of America’s most respected fly shops. He’s also the acclaimed author of Yellowstone: Photographs of an Angling Landscape, and the co-author (with Craig Mathews) of Fly Patterns of Yellowstone, Fishing Yellowstone Hatches, and Fly Patterns of Yellowstone, Volume Two. John started teaching fly casting back in the early 1980s and all his accumulated wisdom and experience shine through at the School of Trout. Our students absolutely love John’s approach to teaching, and to fly casting. We are unbelievably lucky to have John as our head casting instructor.
Jeff currier
Long recognized as one of America’s most successful and respected anglers, Jeff is an internationally acclaimed fly fishing lecturer, instructor, and artist. His books, articles, and artwork are part of the fabric of modern fly fishing, while his passion for angling has taken him all over the world. Jeff is a champion caster and angler who has appeared in numerous fly fishing films and on a wide array of fly fishing television shows, including Fishing the West, Fly Fishing the World, In Search of Fly Water, Reel Adventures, Fly Fish TV and Fly Fish America. He has taught fly fishing skills, guided anglers throughout Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park, and hosted fly fishing trips on six continents. He is also an IGFA World Record holder and a National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Record holder who has fished in over 60 countries and caught more than 400 species of fish on the fly. Most importantly, Jeff brings a sense of humor, an enthusiasm, and an approachability — along with more than 40 years of fly fishing experience — to the School of Trout.
Steve Mcfarland
Steve "Mac" McFarland is one of the most talented and hard-working professional outdoor instructors in America. Whether he's offering guidance to fly fishermen during the summer or skiing backwards with his Deer Valley ski clients in the winter, Mac's 30+ years of expertise invariably lead to miraculous results. You won't find a more dedicated, patient instructor anywhere. The School of Trout is proud to have Mac on our staff.
Pat mccabe
Pat McCabe started fly fishing in his teens, and cut his teeth tying flies and working for angling luminary Andre’ (Andy) Puyans at Andy’s Creative Sports fly shop in Walnut Creek, California. In addition to helping as an instructor at Andy’s legendary fly fishing school, Pat guided anglers for Last Chance Lodge & Outfitters on the Henry’s Fork. We’re unbelievably fortunate that Pat, who is one of the finest fly tyers and casters we know, has signed on to share his superb angling skills at the School of Trout.
TODD TANNER
Todd's love affair with trout started more than 50 years ago on the stream that ran by his parents' home. He spent years guiding anglers on the Henry's Fork, the Madison, the Yellowstone and other western rivers before becoming the fly fishing columnist for one of America's top fish & game magazines, Sporting Classics. A long-time outdoor writer, Todd has contributed to Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, American Angler, Field & Stream, Sports Afield, Shooting Sportsman, The Flyfisher, Retriever Journal, Hatch Magazine, The Flyfish Journal, MidCurrent, Fish & Fly, Salmon & Steelhead Journal, Angling Trade, Fly Fishing & Tying Journal, Montana Outdoors, Fly Tackle Dealer, Big Sky Journal, Writers on the Range, Backcountry Journal, Forbes, The Hill, Men's Journal, Newsweek and the NY Times. He was also instrumental in producing the short Conservation Hawks films Cold Waters, Chrome and Convergence for the Fly Fishing Film Tour, and In The Heart Of The Rockies for the Sportsman Channel. Todd heads the School of Trout.
Karlie Roland
Karlie grew up with a fly rod in one hand and a fly tying vise in the other. She spent her summers in Last Chance, Idaho, where her family has fished the Henry's Fork for multiple generations. Over the years, Karlie has traveled from the Rockies to the Pacific northwest to Patagonia as part of her ongoing search for trout, salmon and steelhead. A tireless advocate for fisheries conservation and watershed protection, a passionate angler and educator, and a veteran guide with extensive experience leading fly fishing schools and hosted travel, Karlie is also a member of the Hardy Rods & Reels pro staff.
Brant oswald
Brant Oswald is a fly fishing instructor and guide with over 35 years of experience. He has worked in nearly every segment of the fly fishing industry -- as a fishing school instructor/director (for both the Orvis and Mel Krieger schools), fishing travel consultant, fly shop manager, casting instructor, commercial fly tier and now as a guide and outfitter in Livingston, Montana. As a guide, Brant spends most of his days with clients on the Paradise Valley spring creeks (Armstrong, DePuy’s, and Nelson’s) and the Yellowstone River. He has written extensively for fly fishing periodicals and contributes regularly online.
Brant has also been active with conservation groups, including CalTrout, the Joe Brooks (Livingston, Montana) Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the Park County Environmental Council, and he served on the Governor's Upper Yellowstone River Task Force from 1997 to 2003. He is a founding member of the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition and currently serves as senior advisor to the board of directors for the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana (FOAM).
Lindsay Kocka
Lindsay Kocka, a Minnesota native, began her fly fishing journey while walking and wading the meandering spring creeks of the Driftless region. A professional movement, mobility and mindfulness teacher, she was enamored with the meditative quality of fly casting and the challenge of incorporating intentional movement into angling. In 2019, Lindsay founded Fluent Movement on the Fly, a mind-body practice for fly anglers. She helps fly fishers improve their joint health and movement capacity, while her mindfulness methods enhance the therapeutic benefits of the outdoors. A long time volunteer with a variety of community and conservation-focused organizations, Lindsay is passionate about protecting our fisheries and teaching anglers how to minimize their ecological impact.
