Tell me a little about your
background and how you got into fly fishing
I grew up in the little town of Bonner,
Montana. The Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers were within easy reach of my
bicycle. My grandfather was a great fisherman. I don't think that he
ever turned down a request to go fishing. The first fish I caught on a fly
rod was about five inches long. I was using an old fiberglass rod with a
Perrine automatic fly reel - I hit the line retrieval button and zipped the
little brookie right in to the tip of the rod. I've been told that when I
was young, five or six years old, I would even fly fish the puddles in the
street after a good rain.
How long have you been guiding and
how did you get started?
This will be my
eighteenth year as a guide or outfitter in Montana. I truly started at the
bottom - I started by mowing lawns at a fishing guest ranch in the early
eighties. I moved on to shuttle driver once I got my driver's license.
Once I got to college there was no stopping me - classes became something to do
in the off season. While I try to avoid cliches, I truly believe the job
chose me rather than the other way around.
You spend the
winter months in South America - tell us about some of your experiences on those rivers.
I primarily guide
on the Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The fish are absolutely
amazing. Big browns have always been my favorite, and this is the best big
brown river in the world! Watching those monster sea-trout roll in a pool
at dark is one of the most awesome sights in the entire sport of fly fishing.
The high winds of Tierra del Fuego make things interesting as well. You
learn very quickly to park facing into the wind, so as to not get one of your
doors ripped off.
How does your
approach to guiding differ from other guides you know?
I think most guides
and a lot of anglers fall into the "monkey see, monkey do" method of angling.
It's easy to learn at the local shop what flies might catch a few fish.
The angler or guide can then copy where others are fishing and how they are
fishing. Combining the two will usually result in some success.
Instead, I like to take bold chances. Whether bold is defined as some
crazy fly that defies conventional thinking for a place and time, or a certain
piece of water that can be good, but often is not. Occasionally I get
burned. However, by taking chances, I've uncovered a wealth of
information, and gotten into some of the best fishing I've ever seen.
When you guide a
fisherman, what are you trying to accomplish?
The short
answer is, don't crash the boat, have a few laughs and catch a few fish.
It sounds simple but seldom is. As a guide you'll encounter all types of
people, some will tell you what they'd like, others will leave you to
ponder. Reading your fisherman is as important as reading the water.
At the end of the day all I can ask is that my anglers are a little tired and
have had a lot of fun.
Describe some
typical mistakes that clients make and what can they can do to correct them.
The most common
mistake I see is beginning or novice anglers showing up for a trip and having no
clue how to cast a fly rod. If you were going on a golf vacation to St.
Andrew's, wouldn't you hit a bucket of balls before you went? While I
don't mind teaching people to cast, their success will be limited as most of the
day will be spent learning the basics. Casting and fishing are two
different aspects of the sport. Beginning anglers should try to get some
instruction either from an acquaintance or at an actual casting class. Anglers should also
be upfront about what they would like to experience on their trip. Do you
only want to fish dry flies? By knowing any requests in advance, your
guide can plan the day according to your wishes.
What is your funniest guide story?
I guided a guy many
years ago that had a BS factor that was off the charts. This gentleman
claimed to have invented the Chevy suburban. Said he called GM and told
them that he needed a custom truck with a full-length cab and an extra seat in
the back. Very possible were it not for the fact that he also
claimed to have called the plays for legendary Bears coach George Halas from the
stands. I had a great time egging the guy on all day.
Is it true that
women make better clients? If so, why?
Yes, as novice
anglers, women tend to listen better. They also learn quicker that casting
is about finesse and timing rather than power.
Do you have any
comments you would like to make about environmental or stream access issues that
relate to your work in Montana?
We're still in a
lingering drought here in southwest Montana. As a result, most of our
fisheries are not at peak levels. Tensions between fishermen and the
agricultural industry are increasing. It's my hope that in the near future
our fisheries will not be treated as mere ditches to ferry water for hay
growers. The disrespect of these national treasures is completely
appalling at times.
What river or
rivers do you enjoy fishing on your own time?
I fish all of the rivers in SW Montana at
some point during the year. I love the Bow River in Alberta. I try
to steelhead fish in Idaho or B.C. each year as well.
If you weren't
guiding what would you like to do?
If I wasn't guiding I think I'd probably be a
teacher, probably a history teacher.
Shaun can be reached by visiting his website at:
Shaun Jeszenka Outfitting