Frontier River Guides

At Frontier River Guides, we set out to provide the finest Alaska wilderness fly fishing experiences possible. Period. The critical factor in attaining this objective is the quality of our guide staff. Our team of experienced, capable, upbeat and intelligent Alaska fly fishing guides are the best in the business, this is why people return to fish with us year after year. We are proud of our ability to attract and hold onto so talented and harmonious a team. Together we have explored the rivers we operate on and refined the Frontier River Guides “program”. Our Alaska float trips are well oiled and smooth operating. Our staff truly enjoy working together and this is reflected in the positive outcomes for our clientele.

Marty Decker (owner and lead guide) is a lifelong Alaskan who began working as an Alaska fly fishing guide in 1982. His wilderness skills have been developed through a lifetime of Alaska back country experience as a fly fisherman, river rat, mountaineer, prospector, skier, adventurer and guide.

Marty also brings a cheerful disposition, an appreciation for nature, safety awareness, "fish finder" instincts and excellent cooking skills to Frontier River Guides' Alaska float trips. He is joined by similarly qualified Alaska resident guides on trips involving larger groups.

Zach Johnson (Lead Guide) is the consummate Alaska wilderness fly fishing guide. His expertise, enthusiasm, work ethic, disposition and dedication make him a model for our entire staff. Zach has guided Alaska float trips for other outfitters before settling in with Frontier River Guides. He is passionate about leading satisfying Alaska fly fishing expeditions and also about his spring season occupation as a Denali mountaineering guide. Zach has extensive Alaska salmon fishing and Alaska rainbow trout fishing experience. He is an innovative individual with excellent instincts and refined fly fishing technique. Zach grew up in Colorado, and joins most of the FRG staff in his love for alpine skiing. Zach is robust and upbeat; he receives many accolades from our clientele.

Sean Prince (Trip Leader) is an awesome guy who’s sense of humor will enliven an Alaska wilderness float fishing trip even in the most grim of weather. Sean has been with us, leading Alaska float trips, for six seasons, his clientele return on a regular basis and he is an indispensable member of our team, providing good cheer and boundless energy to our Alaska flyfishing trips. Sean is a lifetime Alaskan and rugged individual, a “valley rat” from Palmer, Alaska. In the winters Sean works as a teacher in a local high school, dedicating his energies to the next generation. Sean is very successful at putting people into excellent fly fishing for Alaska salmon, rainbow trout and the other resident species. He is ultimately conscientious and is dedicated to providing the best of Alaska float trip experiences for our clientele.

Nicholai Smith (Trip Leader) has been working with our Alaska fly fishing guide service longer than any other member of the crew. While Nicholai is the youngest of our trip leaders, his calm demeanor and his absolute degree of capability make him a rock solid guy to have on the job. Nicholai is a lifetime Alaskan, having grown up in Chugiak, Alaska where he attended high school and was “discovered” as a guide by his teacher Marty Decker. Nicholai learned wilderness skills from his father and has polished them with Frontier River Guides over the years. He is one of only two of our guides entrusted with leading Alaska fly fishing raft trips on American Creek in Katmai National Park. Nicholai is a very enthusiastic fisherman, who knows how to put people into the right place and with the right approach, to make things happen and reels sing out.

Pat Ganje (Trip Leader) is another enthusiastic Alaska float trip guide and Alaska fly fishing maniac. Pat recently returned with his wife and daughters to live in Colorado, where in the winters they can focus on their love of skiing and in the spring and fall to raft and fish Rocky Mountain waters. Pat returns like one of the geese every summer to Alaska, to cheer us down the rivers with his undaunted good spirits and enthusiasm for Alaska fly fishing raft trips. He knows how to deliver the goods, is a keen fisherman and is dedicated to connecting people with excellent Alaska salmon fishing and Alaska rainbow trout fishing experiences. Pat always keeps his cool and knows how to flow a group down the river for a successful Alaska fly fishing raft trip.

Craig Brown (Trip Second) spends a great portion of his time in the outdoors. Craig is a guy with boundless energy and a “can do” attitude that are beneficial to any Alaska wilderness fly fishing float trip He’s an expert oarsman, fisherman and guide. In the winters Craig works as a back country ski guide for a heli-ski operation and in the spring he works as a mountaineering guide. His people skills are polished by years of ski teaching and public contact. Craig is level headed well organized and is the ideal team player for an Alaska fly fishing trip.

Zak Decker (Trip Second) has the dubious distinction of being the bosses son, and while he is cut no slack by anyone (poor kid), he is able to truly hold his own. Zak is a very solid rower, developing fly fishing guide and all around great guy to have on board for a wilderness Alaska float trip. Our youngest crew member, Zachary is highly regarded by our clientele for his level headed approach to things and his ability to be conversant with people many years his senior. When things get tough, Zak is a handy guy to have around, he doesn’t whine and he gets the job done. Zak has years of Alaska salmon fishing experience and been fly fishing for Alaska rainbow trout and other resident species since he was 6 years old.