Our Guides

Mad River Trout, Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Trip Host, Lead Instructor

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.

Although not a full-time guide, he does occaisionally still find a few days a season to float the Mad River in his AuSable River boat when requested. Brian is also planning a return to the largemouth bass business and the musky business in the 2018 season along with his usual teaching of classes and schools for the shop on a regular basis.

For the 2022 season, Brian is slated to host the Slide Inn trip to Montana with good friend Kelly Galloup. He is also working on several special trips with his friend, mentor and business partner Flip Pallot. See our Travel page for more details on these trips and don't hesitate to call Brian directly at the shop for details on any trip or guide trip.

Pat Kelly has been fishing in Ohio since he was a young boy. Honing his skills in recent years, he has become one heck of a fishing guide. We’re thrilled to offer his services to our clients.

To say that he is a multi-talented guide is quite an understatement. His loyal following books with him season after season and if you get a chance to fish with him, you will too. Pat guides drift boat trips on the Mad River for Trout, jet boat and drift boat trips for smallmouth bass, pike and his specialty musky trips in Southern Ohio.

Guides For: Smallmouth Bass, Musky, Pike

Follow Pat: @PatKellyFishing

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 six 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!

Guides For: Steelhead, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Hybrid Striped Bass, Carp

Follow Josh: @jtrammell_72

When Ryan’s not bringing in steelhead trout or brown trout on the fly rod, he’s honing his skills in the traditional Japanese method of fly fishing called Tenkara.

He serves as an instructor for our fly tying classes and being a help with everything fly tying around the shop. When you’re out on the water with Ryan, you can expect a trip of great technique and years of knowledge.

Guides For: Steelhead Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass

Follow Ryan: @o_h__fly_o

While on a trip in Alaska, Katie got a taste of fly fishing for the first time. From then on, she was hooked. With a heart for the outdoors and staying active, you can often find Katie spreading her love for the sport of fly fishing with her friends, fishing from her SmithFly and chasing smallies when in Ohio.

Co-Founder of Ohio Women on the Fly, she has a passion for bringing women in Ohio's fly fishing community together and inspiring more women to get on the water.

Guides For: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout

Follow Katie: @_KatieJohnstone

Ben grew up in Ohio and has been fishing for as long as he can remember. He has been dedicated to fly fishing for the past decade. Throughout his years, he has traveled all over Ohio, Michigan, and Alaska to take advantage of any fishing opportunity available.

During his time in Alaska, Ben was a fly-out guide in Katmai National Preserve area, guiding clients along the Naknek River as well as the famous Brooks Falls and other popular fly-out destinations. While there, he realized his genuine passion for fly angling and helping others learn and get involved in what we do!

Guides For: Steelhead, Smallmouth Bass, Trout

Follow Ben: @b.phipps22

Steve grew up right here in Columbus, OH and has been fishing for bass and trout in nearby ponds and rivers since 2001. From then on, his excitement and passion for fly fishing has only continued to grow.

Steve loves to target big Mad River Brown Trout with streamers on his Smithfly Big Shoals raft, but isn’t afraid to throw a dry fly when a hatch goes off. When not fishing for brown trout, he enjoys chasing around Smallmouth, Pike and Steelhead.

Guides For: Brown Trout, Steelhead and Smallmouth Bass

Follow Steve: @stevepileski

Donnie grew up in Miami County and has fished the rivers and creeks throughout the Great Miami River watershed since 1988. He’s a full-time wildlife biologist that guides fly fishing on the side.

He owns a Hyde Rocky Mountain Skiff for the big waters and a Smithfly Big Shoals raft for smaller tributary fishing and low water situations. He loves to target Smallmouth bass and Brown trout with frequent by catches of Saugeye, Pike, Carp, Rock Bass, channel catfish and Largemouth not uncommon.

Guides For: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass

Follow Donnie: @OhioFlyByKnight

"Dr. Steelhead"

Michael was one of the original "Steelhead Pro Staff" members.....launched in our Fall 1998 newsletter. Very close friends with Jerry Darkes and Brian Flechsig- their steelhead addictions in the 90's were of legendary proportions. Being a psychologist, many knew him as "Dr. Steelhead" and he was simply one of the finest fishing guides you would ever fish with!

Not only was he a guide for Mad River Outfitters...he was a friend, a mentor...and..."Head Mental Health Specialist".

Michael unfortunately passed away on May 9th of 2003. He retains a permanent spot on Mad River Outfitters guide staff! He is sorely missed to this day and is always on guide trips in spirit!