ALASKA RAFT FISHING TRIP GUIDES AND STAFF

STAFF

At Frontier River Guides, we set out to provide the finest Alaska wilderness fly fishing float trip 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. The staff truly enjoy working together and this is reflected in the positive outcomes for the fishermen joining us for an Alaska fly fishing raft trip.

Marty Decker

Marty Decker grew up in the frontier town of Fairbanks, Alaska where at a young age he began his fishing and river adventures. Marty is at home in the wilderness and enjoys sharing his passion for adventure and the beauty of Alaska with our guests. Marty’s wilderness skills have been developed through many years of back country experience as a fly fisherman, mountaineer, river rat, gold prospector, skier, adaptive outdoor recreation specialist and wilderness guide. Marty first began his guiding career on the Kanektok River in 1982. In 1998, after many years of conducting Alaska float trips and driving guide boats for reputable lodges and outfitters, Marty established Frontier River Guides, intending to offer the finest guided fly fishing float trips available in Alaska. He has explored countless miles of back channels and hidden river braids by raft and on foot to locate the best, most secluded and productive fishing waters on the several rivers on which Frontier River Guides operates. Marty’s culinary skills and joviality set the tone for the Frontier River Guides approach to providing memorable Alaska fly fishing vacations.

Chuck Ash

Chuck Ash is a veteran raft guide who for over forty years operated Brightwater Alaska, the state’s original provider of hard-core fly fishing floats in Alaska. Chuck brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Frontier River Guides’ team. He is a most excellent guy to spend time with on the river, or in any circumstance for that matter. Chuck is the ultimate professional and has been inducted into the Freshwater Fishing hall of Fame as a legendary guide. He is the most capable and savvy Alaska float trip guide on our rivers. Chuck is a biologist and retired high school educator; he is ultimately knowledgeable regarding Alaska’s flora and fauna. In Alaska’s off season, Chuck has for many years led saltwater flats-fishing trips in warmer climes. No one on the planet knows the the Goodnews and Koktuli Rivers better than Chuck, and FRG is excited have him leading guided Alaska fly fishing float trips on those rivers, and joining us for new adventures.

Zach Johnson

(15 years with FRG) returns to lead wilderness Alaska fly fishing float trips after taking a hiatus to start a family. He is the consummate raft guide and wilderness guru. Zach has a solid skills set in all aspects of conducting fly fishing raft trips in Alaska: he is an expert fly fisherman, oarsman, cook, camp worker and is enjoyable company on the river. ZJ has a degree in Outdoors Studies and worked for many years as a mountaineering guide on Denali and elsewhere. His background includes years of experience as a white water oarsman. He is a stout individual who maintains cheery spirits even under the worst of conditions. Zach is level headed, reliable and foresighted; he can flow out the best of Alaska float fishing expeditions. Zach and his family have created a good life for themselves in Seward, Alaska.

Pat Ganje

(12 years with FRG) having launched his daughters off to college, Pat returns to the FRG guide team to share his skills, talents and years of experience leading fish and float trips in Alaska.  Congenial and good natured, Pat can take foul weather, challenges, and the fates…and still be positive and smiling.  He is level headed and makes good decisions.  Pat is among the upper echelon of Alaska Fly fishing raft guides; his enthusiasm, sturdiness and work ethic make him a good guy to have around for a wilderness float fishing trip in Alaska.  The man knows his stuff, and is highly capable when it comes to rolling out a smooth running and very productive Alaska float trip.  Pat is an incredible asset for FRG and we are happy to have him back onboard to fish and float Alaska with our clientele.

Tom Schwartz

Tom Schwartz (14 years with FRG) is a highly experienced river expedition leader, naturalist and Alaska fly fishing guide. Tom is one of several FRG guide team members who spend winters in a classroom (or who have retired from one). He is a middle school teacher and lives in Juneau with his wife and daughters. Tom is a life-long fly fisherman and is rock solid in putting people into excellent Alaska rainbow trout and salmon fishing. On the side, Tom occasionally does some catering in Juneau and is an especially proficient camp cook. HIs many years working as a naturalist prepared him to be very well informed on the flora and fauna encountered on a guided Alaska fly fishing trip. Tom is conscientious, hard working , kind hearted and knowledgeable. His skills set and experience make him a good man to have on hand, for a float fishing trip in Alaska.

Oscar Jones

Oscar Jones (3 years with FRG) is the youngest of the Alaska fly fishing guides on our team, but his youthfulness belies his capability and level of experience. Oscar grew up in Juneau and is a consummate outdoorsman, expert fly fisherman, avid hunter, rock climber and a guy who runs a trapline in the winters. He is also a skier, which is almost a prerequisite to being on the FRG guide team. Oscar is sharp minded, observant, is upbeat company and a very handy guy to have onboard for a fly fishing river trip in Alaska. From his late teens through his early 20’s Oscar has professionally guided Alaska fly-out fly fishing trips based out of Juneau and Haines. Oscar is completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Alaska Southeast, with the objective of a career with a state or federal agency, working in resource management and the preservation of wildlands in Alaska. In the meantime, he contributes a very positive attitude, youthful enthusiasm and a strong work ethic to FRG’s multi-day guided Alaska fly fishing float trips.

Phil Armstrong

(1^st year with FRG) Phil grew up in a fly-fishing family, and his earliest fishing memories are of casting to trout with his grandfather by moonlight. He started out running rivers on whitewater canoe trips, and 12 years ago transitioned to float fishing trips in Alaska and elsewhere. Phil loves the landscape and ecosystems of western Alaska – particularly the prodigious biomass in the rivers, and is always excited to share his passion to fish and float in Alaska. His other outdoor activities include ski touring, climbing, bike-packing, hunting, and photography. He is an aspiring birder and animal tracker. When not involved in float fishing in Alaska, Phil runs a renewable energy business in Colorado that helps municipalities and electric utilities buy, develop and maintain renewable energy systems.  He is an FRG kind of guide: skilled, good-hearted, experienced, upbeat, conversant and stalwart.