Every summer for the past 17 years, Jim Stibbs -- Big Hole River Outfitters' head guide - returns to one of the west's most prolific rivers to guide another season. In 2007, colleagues Chuck Ravetta and Allen Baker will each celebrate 12 years at the lodge. The three master guides, along withowner Craig Fellin, have traveled the world in search of the greatest fly fishing experiences' from Argentina to Australia, from Colorado to the Caribbean, from the East Coast to Europe. Collectively, they have more than 100 years of fly fishing experience. They've been there, fished that, and have amazing stories and techniques to share with you. But every summer, like the eagles and elk, they return to the banks of Big Hole River. If you ask them why, they'll tell you that the Big Hole offers the finest fly fishing in the world. If you are an accomplished fly fisherman, our guides will help you take your skill to new levels. If you are a beginner, you will advance in the sport quickly. Our guides are the main reason our clients return year after year. Clients learn something new every day, sometimes with each cast. And all of us have a reverence for the river that we share intimately and uniquely with each and every client

CRAIG FELLIN
Pictured here with his son Wade, who will be helping out this summer, Craig Fellin has owned and operated Big Hole River Outfitters for the past 20 years. A guide can make or break a fly fishing trip and the guiding staff deserves special mention. Craig's business philosophy is very simple, "try and make each fishing day the best you will ever have and our guides will strive to do this for you and do it with a smile." Craig has guided in Argentina, fished New Zealand on numerous occasions and the Yucatan in Mexico with his son Wade.

CHUCK RAVETTA
Chuck has been guiding for the lodge since 1995 and grew up fishing for Steelhead in Michigan. Lifelong friends, Jim Stibbs and Chuck are inseparable and according to some clients, verge on a comedy act when paired for a trip to the Beaverhead. Chuck is a building contractor during the off season and with the help of his buddy Jim, they build or remodel homes. Chuck's work ethic has become legendary here at the lodge and he has been known to hold a boat in fast water with all the strength he could muster, just to allow a client one more cast to a big fish. Chuck travels to New Zealand for three months each winter where he keeps his own truck and boat. He stalks double-digit trophy trout while we shovel snow and split firewood in Montana.

RICK ROSSI
Rick and his wife have a beautiful home south of Butte where they board their horses and enjoy the pleasures of living in Montana. Rick has a Ph.D. in mathematics and heads the math department at Montana Tech in Butte. With his background in teaching, Rick has a great sense of what a client needs to enjoy a successful day on the water. He has a calm, reflective demeanor about him and since he was a professional fly tyer for eleven years, he’s very knowledgeable about aquatic insect life. Spending a day on the river with Rick is not only fun but very informative and rewarding.

JED FITZPATRICK
Jed has been a fishing guide in Montana since moving here from Kansas in 1998 and has extensive knowledge of the Yellowstone, Big Hole and Bitterroot Valleys of the region. He enjoys educating people about proper casting techniques and how to present the fly for optimum fish response. With a background in biology, Jed also teaches others about the ecology of the river. Jed, his wife and daughter live in Sula, Montana on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River.

CLIFF PAGE
Cliff has been doing our horse pack trips to the high lake country since 1988. He runs a successful elk hunting operation in the fall (www.pioneeroutfitter.com) and his horses are accustomed to clients with little or no experience in the saddle. Cliff is a gentle man with a big heart who knows the backcountry, his "office" as he describes, and its wilderness spirit. A day spent with Cliff in the Pioneer Mountains catching cutthroat trout at 9,000 ft. elevation will change you forever.

WADE FELLIN
Wade is the son of Craig Fellin, and has worked at the lodge since he was twelve. He started fishing the Big Hole when he was three years old, and has floated and waded the local rivers and streams every summer since then. Wade's enthusiasm, engaging personality and sincere enjoyment of teaching novices, along with his strong work ethic, have allowed him to make his mark as an excellent guide amidst the seasoned staff at Big Hole Lodge. Wade is attending Bucknell U. and enjoys fishing the limestone streams in central Pennsylvania on the weekends in the spring and fall.