Cotter, Arkansas, United States
417-429-6530 to Book Your White River Fly Fishing
Matt Stinnett
Matt is a second generation White River fly fishing guide, following in the steps of his father who guided on this watershed for many years. Matt moved to Colorado after high school to be a trout bum and hone in his skills, fishing the iconic western rivers such as the Animas. While the scenery out west is unbeatable the fishing does not compare to what the White and Norfork tailwaters have to offer, so he returned home to Arkansas to start a career as a fly fishing guide and raise his family. Matt is passionate and gives his undivided attention to every angler that steps foot in his boat, ensuring that their adventure is awesome as it can be. Matt has a dawn till dusk work ethic and isn’t afraid of launching early, ending late or doing whatever it takes to help you meet your fly fishing goals. Whether you are a first time angler or have years of experience, you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
Matt is a Thomas & Thomas pro staff guide, so be sure to enjoying fishing with one of their finely crafted fly rods while in his boat.
Instagram: @whiteriverflyanglers_
Matt Millner
Matt was one of the lucky ones who was raised on the water. His family loved to spend their free time exploring the Ozarks. "A family that camps together stays together," his dad, Joe, would say. Joe was passionate about fly fishing and had Matt proficient with a rod by the time he was in the third grade. After high school Matt headed west to southern Colorado to play in the big mountains and cold rivers. Eventually he landed in a more practical place to start a guiding career: Heber Springs, Arkansas. The Little Red River was like a magnet to him spending every possible minute learning its every rock, seam and pool. Matt went on to spend ten years learning the Little Red, The White, The Norfork and dozens of other creeks, streams, lakes and blue lines in the area. During that time Matt also spent several seasons guiding on the Illiamna Drainage of Bristol Bay. Later Matt would move to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to become partners in an outfitting operation guiding on the Yampa, Colorado, and Roaring Fork, as well as the Flat Tops wilderness. While in Colorado Matt also was a guide instructor for a state certified guide school teaching aspiring guides the ropes to becoming a safe, professional, fly fishing guide. Matt has a diverse bag of tricks and over a decade and a half of experience as a full time guide. Matt fishes all R.L. Winston Fly Rods and he is honored to be one of 200-ish world wide pro staff members for them.
Instagram: @millnermoves, @risingriverguides
Jeremy Gilmer
Jeremy grew up with a fishing rod in his hands. His journey first began on the lakes, ponds, rivers and streams of central Virginia with his father and uncle. Jeremy then fell in love with the art of fly fishing, which later became his passion and reason to wake up in the morning. Jeremy moved to the Rocky Mountains in 2010, and shortly after became a guide for Yampa Valley Anglers. He guided on the Yampa, Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers, alongside Matt.
During the winter of 2020 Jeremy and his family relocated to north central Arkansas to escape the harsh winters and enjoy the natural state. Jeremy loves sharing his knowledge and enjoys interacting with people from all over. Whether fishing with a beginner or an experienced angler you are sure to have a great day on the water. Being a White River fly fishing guide is Jeremy’s passion, and he enjoys nothing more than sharing that with you. Jeremy has also been asked by the R.L. Winston Rod company to be apart of the Pro staff team as well. So you will enjoy a boat full of green sticks when you're fishing with Jeremy as well.
Instagram: @dead_drifter_
Taylor Wooten
Taylor has been a licensed guide in Arkansas since 2011 and lives in Flippin, AR year round. He has a lot of experience on Ozark trout and smallmouth streams including the Little Red, White, Norfork, Buffalo and Spring Rivers in Arkansas and the Eleven Point and North Fork of the White in Missouri.
Alex Tennyson
A product of the Ozark Mountains, Al was born and raised in Harrison, Arkansas. He grew up on the banks of Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River. In his teenage years he was avid with sports and fishing spin tackle for smallmouth bass. After finding his first fly reel in an older house his parents bought, he soon bought a rod to pair it with and dove into fly fishing. Al attended the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and started a career in sales after. He spent most weekends fishing or camping which worked his way into the guide world. He truly loves this area and showing off the beautiful fishery’s we have in this area. He is most certainly a streamer junkie, but is a kid in a candy store when the bugs start to hatch. Being an avid fly tier, expect to use plenty of Al tied flies when you fish with
Richard Woodall
For Richard, trout fishing was just a part of life growing up in the foothills of the Ozarks. Richard’s family had a fishing cabin on the Little Red River near Heber Springs, AR. His father, grandfather and uncle were all avid trout fishermen, and they would drag Richard along with them. At an early age, around 6 or 7, Richard received his first fly rod. It was an Eagle Claw fiberglass rod that weighed a ton. He started fishing his grandfathers’ ponds before he became proficient enough for the rivers. As his skills developed and he got older, he started venturing to the White and Norfork Rivers for some world-class trout fishing. He was hooked.
As a young adult, around 1996, Richard moved to Colorado and started guiding on the Eagle, Colorado, Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers. Changes in life brought him back to Arkansas’ tailwaters where he now calls the White and Norfork Rivers home. Richard is living his dream as a fly fishing guide and loves to pass his passion on to his customers. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a 40 year veteran fly angler, he is grateful to have you in his boat!
So if you are looking for a fun and experienced fly fishing guide for your next trip, Richard has you covered.
Brian Kick
I’m originally from Springdale, AR where I grew up spending most of my time playing Baseball and Football. When I wasn’t on the playing field, you would most likely find me in Ozark woods, rivers, and lakes. Duck Hunting and wing shooting was always a favorite in the winter months. However, any other time you would find me fishing…mostly Fly Fishing. I'm a 3rd generation fly fisherman and started carrying a fly rod at the age of 10. It all started with my Grandparents. My whole family fly fishes, from my grandparents, to my parents, my wife and I, and now our 3 daughters. I started fishing the 4 major tailwaters here in Arkansas regularly in 2009. By 2010, I quickly realized that the White and Norfork tailgaters were the place to be!
I started guiding as an independent guide in 2016. When asked, “Why did you start guiding? Well, it's pretty simple...I love being on the water, I really enjoy people, and like the satisfaction seeing individuals develop/grow in this great sport...it just made sense. What I love most about our home waters is the diversity. Simply put, you can fish a size #18 midge on low flows to a size 1/0 - 8" streamer on high flows. Then you have the different seasonal hatches. Starting in early spring targeting the fish with caddis, to early summer with sulfurs, then to late summer and thru fall banging banks with foam hoppers, and ending in late winter chunking big streamers. When asked which I like best...well, I LIKE IT ALL!