What our customers have to say

I have fished with some amazing smallmouth guides throughout the Midwest, and Ryan is among the best of the best. He has so much water accessible to him, including a lot of private access points, and he knows it all incredibly well. Even if it has been raining for days on a particular watershed, he’ll put you on another river nearby that is running steady and clear. He is quick to change flies and presentation when they’re not cooperating and will grind all day with you to get you on the fish. It’s obvious that he loves guiding and watching his anglers succeed and I’m proud to say my current PB landed in his net. He is a patient instructor that is always willing to share his knowledge, and is an incredible steward of our amazing natural resources. I always enjoy getting to spend the day in a boat with him and can’t recommend him highly enough. Free the fighter!

"As in fly fishing so goes life, the moments that define one's character, in this case a guide's ability & character, is not measured by the easy, happy, awesome, epic times but how you proceed after getting smacked in the face. Adversity lets true character shine.  These words could not be more true than my experience fishing with Ryan Walker. 

Now I feel it's imperative to set the stage to understand the opening statement. I had followed Ryan for several years before fishing with him. Purchasing flies, watching his videos, Ryan was in my circle but not directly. Then a buddy and I "won" a trip Ryan had donated to benefit FrontLine Fly Fishers.  We went in April 2023, and it could not have been a better day. Seriously, the first cast not even really fishing yet, and 19.5+ smallie to the boat. The day continued with multiple big (18-20in) smaillies, along with big numbers. And yet the highlight of the day was Ryan's fajita shore lunch. I could have retired from fishing that day and went out on a high note. But as an angler that typically spends 100+ days on the water, I don't know what I would have done with my free time. LOL! 

I grew up on Ozark waterways my whole life- fishing, floating, swimming, anything you can imagine. Meeting Ryan and spending countless hours and trips on the water with him has been more informative than any experience I’ve had. Ryan Walker knows fish and he knows how to catch them. He can find fish year round in any body of water and is more than keen on navigating that body of water. Two of the best days of fishing I can recall have been all thanks to Ryan Walker and his guiding tactics. We caught smallmouth, walleye, crappie, you name it. He truly is an expert at his craft. Not to mention how enjoyable his company is. Truly some of the best trips I’ve ever experienced. It has become a tradition of mine now to plan trips with him every year!