Meet Our Guides
Ohio anglers with experience and passion for catching the many species of fish Ohio has to offer.
Pat Kelly
Brian Flechsig
Serving as lead instructor and a guide for Mad River Outfitters, Brian is also the founder of the company. Brian began his guiding career right here on the Mad River in Ohio in 1989. Spending most of the nineties chasing steelhead along Lake Erie. Most notably, he spent 9 years guiding for trophy largemouth bass at the Wilds and was featured on an episode of the Walker's Cay Chronicles with Flip Pallot.
Brian’s not a full time guide, but he does still find a few days a season to float the Mad River in his AuSable River boat.
Guides For: Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Musky
Follow Brian: @MadRiverOutfitters
Josh McQueen
Josh Grew up chasing smallmouth bass on the Kokosing River. Fishing Lake Erie at 11 for the first time left him hooked. He has been fly fishing since age 14 and his passion for fish on the fly has never stopped growing.
At 24, Josh began guiding and teaching fly fishing and has been guiding now ever since. His jet boat and raft can get you into places where you will see more bald eagles than anglers! Josh also holds a 25 ton masters license with the U.S. Coastguard and uses his 16ft Lowe deep v to guide near shore warm water and steelhead harbor trips and also inland lake Muskie trips.
Guides For: Steelhead, Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, Hybrid Striped Bass, Carp
Follow Josh: @TheGreatPikesby
Pat Kelly has been fishing in Ohio since he was a young boy. Honing his skills in recent years, he has become one heck of a fishing guide. We’re thrilled to offer his services to our clients.
To say that he is a multi-talented guide is quite an understatement. His loyal following books with him season after season and if you get a chance to fish with him, you will too. Pat guides drift boat trips on the Mad River for Trout, jet boat and drift boat trips for smallmouth bass, pike and his specialty musky trips in Southern Ohio.
Guides For: Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, Pike, Brown Trout
Follow Pat: @PatKellyFishing
Justin Christopherson
Ryan Ratliff
When Ryan’s not bringing in steelhead trout or brown trout on the fly rod, he’s honing his skills in the traditional Japanese method of fly fishing called Tenkara.
He serves as an instructor for our fly tying classes and being a help with everything fly tying around the shop. When you’re out on the water with Ryan, you can expect a trip of great technique and years of knowledge.
Guides For: Steelhead Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass
Follow Ryan: @o_h__fly_o
Katie Johnstone
Donnie Knight
While on a trip in Alaska, Katie got a taste of fly fishing for the first time. From then on, she was hooked. With a heart for the outdoors and staying active, you can often find Katie spreading her love for the sport of fly fishing with her friends, fishing from her SmithFly and chasing smallies when in Ohio. Co-Founder of Ohio Women on the Fly, she has a passion for brining women in Ohio's fly fishing community together and inspiring more women to get on the water.
Guides For: Trout, Smallmouth Bass
Follow Katie: @_KatieJohnstone
Justin grew up in the Cleveland area and has been fishing since he was just a kid. Ten years ago, he picked up fly fishing for the first time and it has grown to be a life passion of his.
Inspired by Bob Popovics and Blane Chocklett, he has become an avid fly tyer fishing many of the flies and streamers he ties himself. He's particularly fond of Stealhead with Smallmouth and Brown Trout following close behind here in Ohio, he also loves to fish Musky when the opportunity arises
Guides For: Steelhead Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout, Muskie
Follow Justin: @JustinJChris
Andy Jensen
Andy serves as our head carp guide. A position that nobody else wanted! Seriously though, he is a carp fishing expert and a true professional at what he does. Our carp trips are one of the most unique fishing trips you can experience!
Andy can be found in our shop serving as our General Manager when not out on the water! He has a genuine passion for carp and we’re proud to have him as a guide and manager at the shop.
Guides For: Carp
Follow Andy: @Otter1939
Ben Phipps
Ben grew up in Ohio and has been fishing for as long as he can remember. He has been dedicated to fly fishing for the past decade. Throughout his years, he has traveled all over Ohio, Michigan, and Alaska to take advantage of any fishing opportunity available.
During his time in Alaska, Ben was a fly-out guide in Katmai National Preserve area, guiding clients along the Naknek River as well as the famous Brooks Falls and other popular fly-out destinations. While there, he realized his genuine passion for fly angling and helping others learn and get involved in what we do!
Guides For: Steelhead Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Trout, Pike
Follow Ben: @b.phipps22
Donnie grew up in Miami County and has fished the rivers and creeks throughout the Great Miami River watershed since 1988. He’s a full-time wildlife biologist that guides fly fishing on the side.
He owns a Hyde Rocky Mountain Skiff for the big waters and a Smithfly Big Shoals raft for smaller tributary fishing and low water situations. He loves to target Smallmouth bass and Brown trout with frequent by catches of Saugeye, Pike, Carp, Rock Bass, channel catfish and Largemouth not uncommon.
Guides For: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass
Follow Donnie: @OhioFlyByKnight