Kootenai Angler Guide Team

Our guides are long-time local residents with over a hundred years combined fly fishing experience on the Kootenai. They fish the river twelve months of the year, under every weather and water condition. Our guide team has an extensive wealth of knowledge that they freely share with each other. They collaborate on what has been working best or the most effective technique to raise fish. This is one of the major advantages of fishing with us. You don't just get one guide; you get a whole team that is working together. They live, work, and raise their families in Libby, year-round. They are here because there's no place else on earth they'd rather row a drift boat, cook a streamside gourmet meal, or share the stories and satisfaction that dozens of seasons on this river have birthed. These things, along with a deep respect for the area's natural resources and the wildlife that call the Kootenai home, enable us to provide our fishing friends with our most valued commodity, "The Real Montana Experience."

Dave Blackburn

Not content simply running and administering Kootenai Angler, Dave continues to play a role in the guide team. He has logged more than 24,000 hours plying the Kootenai and its surrounding waters since 1982. Dave provides a wealth of knowledge and experience to his guide team and customers. You will find Dave most days at his mobile office on the river.

Joe Cielak

Our senior guide Joe Cielak will be returning along with his super laid-back style of guiding. Joe enjoys revamping fly patterns to his own version. Joe was able to guide a customer from Spokane into the largest client-caught rainbow in the history of Kootenai Angler (see pic). He officially retired his red Toyota 4-Runner with 480,000 miles and drove a newer Chevy Trailblazer last season. Joe's team, once again, placed in the top 3 of the Cabinet View Golf Member/Guest Invitational, with scores of 69 and a 72!

Michael Colberg

Michael Colberg splits his work in Montana on the Kootenai and Northern California, where he spends time working the Pit and Fall rivers. He's enjoys fishing small dries and emerger patterns. He also likes to explore the myriad of small streams and lakes in the area. He can be found fishing the river when he gets a day off with his black lab.

Gary Lamey

Gary Lamey, a counselor and lifelong Kootenai flyfisher, will return to the ranks of Kootenai Angler this year. Gary's innovative fly patterns produced some good fish last season. Gary will work his hardest to make your day enjoyable. Gary likes to throw streamers and has taken some very large trout in recent years.

Jared Lampton

Jared Lampton will also be doing some part-time guiding this season. He cut his teeth on the river and has always had a knack for finding fish. Jared is approaching the big 30 and started guiding for us when he turned 18! He was married last spring at the River Bend.

Monti Moniz

Monte Moniz continued to be a bundle of energy last season. He recently moved from Whitefish to Libby to be sure his grandkids grow up knowing trout eat flies! Monte guides with high energy and enthusiasm.

Vince Rossi

Vince Rossi will be joining us again this year. Vince now retired for several years from Dentistry and has been enjoying his second home "fish camp," on the banks of the Kootenai. Vince has had many memorable trips and highlights one of them from last season. Check out "Between the Oarlocks" in the newsletter.

Team Photos