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 2018 season, Brian is slated to host the Peacock Bass Trip in January, the Labrador Brook Trout trip in July, the San Jaun River trip in September and his new favorite trip....the New Orleans Redfish Trip in October. 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.

Erie Steelhead, Instructor

Certainly one of the most recognized names in the Midwestern arena. Guide, instructor, author, lecturer.....sales rep. He does it all and has been doing it all for a long time.

We have been working with Jerry for nearly 25 years now! He is a true pioneer in the Erie Steelhead fishery and one of the "original" steelhead guides in the region. His guiding is limited and by request so if you are interested in fishing with him just let us know!

Jerry also does some instructing for us...teaching seasonal classes and helps out with the 2-day Fly Fishing Schools. He will also be co-hosting the July Alaska Trip alongside fellow MRO guide Josh McQueen.

Ohio Smallmouth, Ohio Pike, Mad River, Ohio Musky

Patrick Kelly has been fishing the streams in Ohio since he was a young boy. He has been honing his skills in recent years and has become one heck of a fishing guide. We are thrilled to offer his services to our clients. Pat also works in the shop and is our "Fly Manager".

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 walk-in and drift boat trips on the Mad River for Trout. Pat guides jet boat and drift boat trips for smallmouth bass. Pat guides jet boat and drift boat trips for pike.....and....his specialty and "claim-to-fame" are his Musky trips in Southern Ohio.

Patrick is also one of our best "Trip Hosts" and is currently slated to escort the 2016 Peacock Bass Trip in Brazil.

Erie Steelhead, Switch and Spey Instructor

Jerry Darkes says that Jeff Liskay is the single best angler that you will ever meet! If you know us you know Jerry, and that is saying ALOT! When we got the chance to work with Jeff here at MRO we jumped at the chance.

Jeff will be running a limited number of Steelhead guides trips in the Erie region each season. We are especially excited about the fact that he can specialize in Spey/Switch techniques and he is quickly becoming a big name in the science.

Jeff serves as an official "Ambassador" for the Patgonia company which is something that we certainly agree on wholeheartedly. They have a great bio on him HERE.

Erie Steelhead, Erie Smallmouth, Ohio Trout, Instructor

Patrick grew-up in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. He purchased his first fly rod when he was 10 and spent his youth chasing panfish and bass. Since those humble beginnings in central Ohio he has went on to pursue fish on the fly from Florida to Alaska including everything from tiny native Pennsylvania brook trout, coastal redfish, angry musky, largemouth & smallmouth bass, and of course salmon and steelhead.

Patrick is a certified casting instructor and is a very patient teacher. He does the majority of his guiding for steelhead across Steelhead Alley from October through May, as well as lake run smallmouth bass across Steelhead Alley each Spring. BUT, he also loves to guide streamer trips for brown trout on his home waters, the Mad River. He will also be helping us out on the 2-Day Fly Fishing Schools as well.

"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!