Your Hosts on this trip will be Josh Trammell, Brian Flechsig and Ben Woodard:
Josh Trammell
Josh was born and raised in Northeast Ohio and caught the fishing bug early in life as he watched a neighbor fly fishing their backyard pond. At the age of 10 he started exploring all things fishing that Ohio had to offer. From there he has gone on to chase steelhead and warmwater species across the southern shores of Lake Erie and beyond, always looking for that next opportunity.
Josh has also spent his last seven summers guiding in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska for Naknek River Camp, where he also enjoys pursuing fish on two handed rods in his downtime. While not on the water, Josh can often be found hovered over a vice somewhere whipping up all sorts of fishy flies. Josh enjoys sharing his passion with others and hopes they can catch the bug as bad as he’s got it!
Brian Flechsig
Along with serving as lead instructor and a guide for Mad River Outfitters, he is also the founder and President of the company! Brian started his guiding career right here on the Mad River in Ohio in 1989. He also spent most of the nineties chasing steelhead up along Lake Erie and in Michigan. Most famously, he spent 9 years guiding folks in hot pursuit of trophy largemouth at the Wilds and was featured as such on an episode of the Walker's Cay Chronicles with Flip Pallot.
He is also the host of our popular YouTube Channel and has become one of the most recognized names and faces in the fly fishing business. He has been hosting fly fishing trips like these since 1922!
Brian will be along on this trip and have a film crew in tow. They will be making a documentary of the trip as well as the White River and their usual fly fishing tutorials.
Ben Woodard
Benjamin Woodard is a full time Guide on the White, Norfork, Kings, and Little Red River. He has guided in the Ozarks and Ouachitas since 2015. His family Lineage runs deep in Arkansas dating to the 18th century outside of Harrison. Ben is at home on the Ozark waterways where he spends every waking moment hunting fish. In past, Owner of a Fly Rod Company, Film Producer, and Fly Fishing Retail Manager, Guiding on multiple rivers for multiple species, He’s got the experience to put you on fish no matter the condition.
Ben started Woodard Fly Fishing in 2019 upon moving full time to Cotter from the Kings River, changing his former named Southern Fly Outfitters. He has built his business on developing anglers, relationships, putting people on big fish, and creating experiences that will last a lifetime.
He Guides or has Guided on the White River System, Little Red River, Kings River, Ouachita River, Caddo River, Little Missouri River, the Big Hole River in MT, and the Beaverhead River in MT. Ben is board member for his local Trout Unlimited, a Certified Casting Instructor, a Fly Rod Designer, Fly Designer, Professional Sandwich Artist, Retired Bartender, and scared of the ocean.
Ben and his staff will be our official hosts in Arkansas and provide the guides for the trip, as well as arranging the lodging and the food.