In 1973 Bob graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Fisheries biology. Upon graduation, Bob left Michigan for Alaska in 1974 where he went to work for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Following a 22 year career with the state of Alaska… where he worked with the salmon and herring programs establishing seasons based upon the best evidence possible (so we won't blame Bob for any apparent decrease in salmon in Southeast Alaska)… Bob retired from the state and moved to Victor, Montana in 1996.

Having a hard time trying to decide if he wanted to spend the rest of his life raising hunting dogs, or fishing, Bob made the only choice possible. He decided to do both. This was a very fortunate decision for us at Backdoor Outfitters. With a naturally gentle disposition, the people who've fished with Bob find that he is able to assist them in a manner that is both professional and relaxing. A pleasant combination for those learning how to fly fish, as well as those experienced in the sport!

With a reservoir of knowledge about the habits of fish, entomology, and fishing in general, as well as being one of the better oarsmen in the Valley, one could not find a better person to go down the river with than Bob De Jong. We at Backdoor Outfitters are very happy to have him as one of our guides, and are sure that you will feel the same way after spending a day or two with him.

Kurt has fished western Montana rivers for more than 30 years, and gladly shares this knowledge with the people who float with him. Our nickname at Backdoor Outfitters for Kurt is 'versatile'... since he caught his first Steelhead on a fly at age 14, was run up a tree by a Montana moose at 16, and graduated with honors from the University of Montana at the youthful age of 39.Though Kurt has fly fished the waters from Costa Rica to the Northwest Territories, he still believes the best all-around fly-fishing lies right here, in western Montana!

With his journalism degree on the wall, and a fly rod in the gun rack, Kurt now "guides by day and writes by night." He recently completed an internship with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's Bugle Magazine, where he spent six months writing and editing articles. Still, Kurt's first love is to be on the water - rain, sleet or shine. If you're looking for a guided fly-fishing experience on western Montana rivers, we think Kurt will more than fulfill every expectation you might have!

Travis grew up in Washington State, where he fished, went to school occasionally, fished, went to Central Washington University occasionally, fished, and then started guiding fishermen. He began his guiding experience on the Yakima River in central Washington, then diversified into Montana in 2003, where he has been living and fishing ever since.

Though he started guiding the waters of Western Montana in 03, his love affair with Montana streams started much earlier in life, when he would visit Montana with his family on a regular basis.

A 'fish bum' at heart, Travis fits in well with the older guides at Backdoor Outfitters. As happy chucking a streamer as a dry, and as comfortable at a bench as a rowing seat, Travis' overall knowledge, and love of the sport is reflected in his guiding approach. We're as happy to have Travis aboard as you will be to spend a day on the water with him.

Or, as Travis would say, "I look forward to seeing you on the water, Fish On

Hi, my name is Matt Clawson and I have been fishing in Montana my entire life. I was fortunate enough to grow up in Montana, where one can enjoy fishing and hunting at its finest. It was during these years that I learned a great appreciation for the outdoors, which I still carry with me.

I recently graduated from the University of Montana, where I spent as much time in school as fishing. This is probably why it took me five years to get my degree. Now that I have earned a business degree, I can focus all of my attention on the only job I am passionate about, fishing.

I started guiding in Aniak, Alaska, and spent six months chasing brown bears out of my fishing holes in order to catch Dolly and Salmon. For the last five years I have been guiding all over Montana and enjoy working on the river everyday with my friends.

I now live in the Bitterroot Valley, about a mile from the river, and have come to the conclusion that it is the most enjoyable place to fish. I am 27 years old, and I still get as excited about catching fish as I did when I was six.

Jenny grew up in the Bitterroot Valley and has fished the Bitterroot River since the young age of 8. Instead of holding pom poms, she held a flyrod. Her father taught her everything she knows about fishing and rowing down the river. She has rowed down many whitewater rivers such as the Selway and the Colorado River.

Jenny graduated from Montana State in 1996 with a business degree and she tried the business world for awhile, but soon discovered that the river was calling her name. This will be her fifth year guiding and she loves teaching people about fishing and sharing the Bitterroot River experience.

She is also involved with Trout Unlimited and teaches women's flyfishing classes around the valley. She is tall, blonde and blue-eyed and loves to fish.....need we say more!

At twenty-three years of age, Cody, is the youngest guide at Backdoor Outfitters. But don’t let his age fool you.

Cody began fishing at the ripe old age of 2; caught his first silver salmon… completely on his own… at the age of 4; won a fishing derby in Kodiak, Alaska, at the age of 5; landed his first 18 inch brown… on a fly he tied… at the age of 11; and started rowing his father and friends down Montana rivers at the age of 13.

Cody left Montana at the age of 18, to get a degree in computer networking and try a stint at working with the corporate world, but returned in 06… deciding the rivers meant more to him than office buildings.

Though Cody would be the first to admit he’s probably not quite as experienced as some of our guides, what he lacks in experience, he more than makes up for with enthusiasm. I know when I want someone to go fishing with, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend a day on the river with than my son, Cody Cook.

Owner... right after his wife, son, and chocolate lab...of Backdoor Outfitters. John has turned an ongoing love affair with the outdoors into his business. A graduate of Wildlife Biology from Central Washington University, John spent ten years working for the Washington Dept. of Fisheries before moving to Alaska and serving a stint with the National Marine Fisheries Service. While in Alaska, John found time to write as a field editor for ALASKA OUTDOORS MAGAZINE. A desire to return to the family business called him back to Montana in 1994 when he opened BACKDOOR OUTFITTERS!

Under the tutelage of his father, John started flyfishing at the age of eight. John has melded his educational background in aquatic biology with forty years of fishing experiences into a unique learning opportunity for his guests.

If you're looking to enjoy a day on the river while learning something about the finer points of flyfishing, you couldn't find a better companion than John. He'll go out of his way to make sure you have the best trip possible.