Hey there, I’m Riley! My journey into fly fishing began back in 2016 during a ski trip up in Steamboat. While riding the ski lift, I struck up a conversation with a local about what to do during the warmer months, and fly fishing quickly became the focus. Intrigued, I headed home and dove into some research. That’s when I discovered that Austin boasts some of the top guides in the game, like Jt Van Zandt, Alvin Dedeaux, and David Mangum. I hadn’t realized Austin was such a hotspot for fly fishing.

Driven by curiosity, I started scouting for bass fishing locations, which naturally led me to buy my first rod. From there, I ended up spending countless hours on the river and investing more money than I expected—but no regrets! I completely fell for the sport. I landed my very first bass on the fly in my hometown and soon got hooked on fly fishing for carp. Catching carp on the fly was a serious challenge at first, but after a lot of effort, I finally succeeded. This victory opened the door to understanding these fish better, leading to numerous catches and boosting my confidence for saltwater fishing.

Not long after, I took my first guided redfish trip and nearly achieved the Texas slam in a single day. That experience was transformative for me—it sparked a strong desire to fish and guide on saltwater full-time. However, it wasn’t as simple as it seemed. To pursue this dream, I joined the fire service with hopes of joining the Corpus Christi department, which would have allowed me to gain time on a skiff, captain it, and eventually guide saltwater trips professionally. Funny enough, I ended up falling in love with firefighting and got hired by a local department near me. So, for now, the saltwater guiding dream is on hold—but maybe someday!

As the years have passed, my goal has become to become a premier fishing guide and instructor, especially for fly fishing carp in my local waters. While I do guide for other species too, carp are my passion. I often joke that carp are like a "poor man’s redfish" because their behavior—whether it’s backing, turning, feeding, or tailing—is strikingly similar. If you’re up for the challenge of catching one of the toughest freshwater fish out there, I’m your guy. And if you want to build skills and confidence for targeting redfish eventually, I can help with that as well.

My hope is that my story inspires you to get out on the water and try your hand at catching some fish for yourself. Get ready to embrace the saltwater spirit! Cheers!

Your guide is flexible with start locations, is a great person, and consistently puts anglers on the fish—no complaints!