|
|
Matt Millner
Owner/Guide
Matt was one of the lucky ones who was raised on the water. His family loved to spend their free time exploring the Ozarks. "A family that camps together stays together," his dad, Joe, would say. Joe was passionate about fly fishing and had Matt proficient with a rod by the time he was in the third grade. After high school Matt headed west to southern Colorado to play in the big mountains and cold rivers. Eventually he landed in a more practical place to start a guiding career: Heber Springs, Arkansas. The Little Red River was like a magnet to him spending every possible minute learning its every rock, seam and pool. Matt went on to spend ten years learning the Little Red, The White, The Norfork and dozens of other creeks, streams, lakes and blue lines in the area. During that time Matt also spent several seasons guiding on the Illiamna Drainage of Bristol Bay. Later Matt would move to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to become partners in an outfitting operation guiding on the Yampa, Colorado, and Roaring Fork, as well as the Flat Tops wilderness. While in Colorado Matt also was a guide instructor for a state certified guide school teaching aspiring guides the ropes to becoming a safe, professional, fly fishing guide. Matt has a diverse bag of tricks and over a decade and a half of experience as a full time guide. Matt fishes all R.L. Winston Fly Rods and he is honored to be one of 200-ish world wide pro staff members for them.
Instagram: @millnermoves, @risingriverguides
Owner/Guide
Matt was one of the lucky ones who was raised on the water. His family loved to spend their free time exploring the Ozarks. "A family that camps together stays together," his dad, Joe, would say. Joe was passionate about fly fishing and had Matt proficient with a rod by the time he was in the third grade. After high school Matt headed west to southern Colorado to play in the big mountains and cold rivers. Eventually he landed in a more practical place to start a guiding career: Heber Springs, Arkansas. The Little Red River was like a magnet to him spending every possible minute learning its every rock, seam and pool. Matt went on to spend ten years learning the Little Red, The White, The Norfork and dozens of other creeks, streams, lakes and blue lines in the area. During that time Matt also spent several seasons guiding on the Illiamna Drainage of Bristol Bay. Later Matt would move to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to become partners in an outfitting operation guiding on the Yampa, Colorado, and Roaring Fork, as well as the Flat Tops wilderness. While in Colorado Matt also was a guide instructor for a state certified guide school teaching aspiring guides the ropes to becoming a safe, professional, fly fishing guide. Matt has a diverse bag of tricks and over a decade and a half of experience as a full time guide. Matt fishes all R.L. Winston Fly Rods and he is honored to be one of 200-ish world wide pro staff members for them.
Instagram: @millnermoves, @risingriverguides
Jeremy Gilmer
Guide Jeremy grew up with a fishing rod in his hands. His journey first began on the lakes, ponds, rivers and streams of central Virginia with his father and uncle. Jeremy then fell in love with the art of fly fishing, which later became his passion and reason to wake up in the morning. Jeremy moved to the Rocky Mountains in 2010, and shortly after became a guide for Yampa Valley Anglers. He guided on the Yampa, Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers, alongside Matt. During the winter of 2020 Jeremy and his family relocated to north central Arkansas to escape the harsh winters and enjoy the natural state. Jeremy loves sharing his knowledge and enjoys interacting with people from all over. Whether fishing with a beginner or an experienced angler you are sure to have a great day on the water. Fly fishing is Jeremy’s passion, and he enjoys nothing more than sharing that with you. Jeremy has also been asked by the R.L. Winston Rod company to be apart of the Pro staff team as well. So you will enjoy a boat full of green sticks when you're fishing with Jeremy as well. Instagram: @dead_drifter_ |
Bryant Stark
Guide Bryant grew up fishing the lakes and wetlands of south Louisiana for largemouth, red fish, and speckled trout. In 2010 Bryant moved to Colorado for the clean mountain air and to explore the expansive waterways of the wild west. After settling in the Rockies, he quickly realized that the fly rod was the weapon of choice. In 2012 he moved to Steamboat Springs and started fishing the Yampa and Elk River and began exploring the lakes and streams of the Flat Tops wilderness. When fellow Rising River Guide Jeremy brought up enrolling in guide school in 2017, Bryant jumped on board and never looked back. Bryant guided for 5 seasons in Colorado’s Yampa Valley and enjoyed fishing the Green River (a little further west) on his days off. He had found his passion. Towards the end of the summer in 2021 Bryant and his two huskies packed up and moved to Norfork, AR to start guiding for Rising River Guides and to be closer to his family in south Louisiana. The allure of year-round trout fishing and floating were irresistible! Bryant is an avid fly tier and spends almost every evening at the vise. He is a very patient guide that is always willing to teach and sharpen the skills needed to cast the fly rod and catch fish proficiently. Join Bryant and Rising River Guides for a great day on the river! Instagram: @bjstark |
Taylor Wooten
Guide Taylor has been a licensed guide in Arkansas since 2011 and lives in Flippin, AR year round. He has a lot of experience on Ozark trout and smallmouth streams including the Little Red, White, Norfork, Buffalo and Spring Rivers in Arkansas and the Eleven Point and North Fork of the White in Missouri. Taylors fun energy and up beat personality make him an absolute blast to spend a day on the water with. Taylors true passion when it comes to fly fishing is streamer fishing. If Taylor's not guiding I can almost guarantee you will find him on the river with an 8 wt in his hand launching big bugs on the banks looking for one of the brown trout that have made the White River so famous. Taylor loves teaching folks about this more advanced style of fly fishing but also loves taking kids to dry run creek, drift fishing for numbers as well sneaking down one of our warm water creeks for Arkansas' Native Sons the smallmouth. Taylors never met a stranger in his life and his passion for the sport oozes out of him. Get in his boat once and I bet you'll be back for more good times soon. Instagram: @Flippinflyguides |
Matt Stinnett
Guide Matt is a second generation White River fly fishing guide, following in the steps of his father who guided on this watershed for 25 years. Matt moved to Colorado after high school to be a trout bum and hone in his skills, fishing the iconic western rivers such as the Animas. While the scenery out west is unbeatable the fishing does not compare to what the White and Norfork tailwaters have to offer, so he returned home to Arkansas to start a career as a fly fishing guide and raise his family. Matt is passionate and gives his undivided attention to every angler that steps foot in his boat, ensuring that their adventure is awesome as it can be. Matt has a dawn till dusk work ethic and isn’t afraid of launching early, ending late or doing whatever it takes to help you meet your fly fishing goals. Whether you are a first time angler or have years of experience, you’re guaranteed to have a great time. Matt is a Thomas & Thomas pro staff guide, so be sure to enjoying fishing with one of their finely crafted fly rods while in his boat. Instagram: @whiteriverflyanglers_ |
Rising River Guides also works with the best of the best independent contractors. Fly and Spin. We book large multi boat trips, as well as single boat trips. No matter how big or small your group is we can give you a killer experience with one of the best guides in the state. Matt has worked alongside many guides for the last 15 + years and can pair you with who he thinks fits your needs.
