Pro Staff

 Mike has lived to fish for all of his adult life and his passion has evolved into a full time career. As a member of the first wave of guides on the Green River in Utah in the 80's, he camped behind the hanger at the Dutch John airport for years with some of the most influential names in the fly fishing world. Fishing and guiding in the daytime and talking fishing with the boys by the campfire in the evening led to the development of many of today's standard trout flies and techniques. Mike credits this experience as the basis of his knowledge, comparable to an advanced degree in cold water fisheries.

Expanding his horizons, Mike branched out to numerous rivers and streams in the intermountain west, guiding in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Winters were spent in the warmer southern climates, fishing the seasons in Costa Rica, the Florida Keys and New Zealand.

Mike helped establish the fishing programs at Seven Lakes Lodge and Three Forks Ranch near his base in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, leading to new fly fishing opportunities. These exclusive lodges offer private water, world class fly fishing to a limited number of clientele. Many well known celebrities were guests, and Mike was involved in numerous television fishing productions.

Settling in recent years in San Diego, he currently lives on his 36' sloop on San Diego Bay. Mike fishes daily from his skiff for light tackle inshore species, targeting spotted bay bass, halibut, white seabass, corbina, croakers and bonito. Summers are spent guiding the famous Musky rivers near Hayward, Wisconsin. He is also involved with various stream restoration projects and guides an exclusive clientele on private water in Colorado. You can reach him at 602-617-9735 or on the web at flishin@mac.com.