At the age of 10, Gene held his first rod and tied his first fly. He was inspired by his first big catch – the goldfish in his parent’s fishpond. Since then, his appreciation for the sport developed into a seasonal hobby that he loves to share with his son, family and friends.
Growing up in northern California influenced his passion for the outdoors. At the age of 11, Gene was backpacking through the incredible Desolation Valley area with his family and fishing high mountain lakes around Lake Tahoe. When Gene and his wife Sharon relocated to Idaho for Gene’s schooling, he fell in love with the vast amount of public lands, diverse recreational opportunities and friendly residents. They eventually found themselves in the Sun Valley area, allowing them to further cultivate their adventurous spirits.
Gene decided to share his love of fly fishing with others and joined the team of guides at SCO in 2008. He recommends that beginners and seasoned fisherman alike get as much current info on streams and conditions as possible before heading out. He also encourages everyone to take advantage of the free casting clinics, ask questions, and MAKE IT FUN. Don’t be surprised if you find Gene wading in his favorite fishing waters; Magic Reservoir, Big Wood, Yellowstone’s Firehole River or Montana’s East Fork of the Bitterroot.
Gene takes full advantage of his retirement from season to season. When he is not out on the water, he spends his days upland bird hunting, Nordic skiing, and tying flies. But the fun doesn’t stop there; Gene is devoted to his beautiful vegetable garden, cooking, and practicing the Banjo.
As a fly fishing guide, Gene receives the greatest satisfaction from knowing that when a guest leaves a trip, they understand more about the process than when they started. For guests who want to continue fishing on their own in the future, Gene makes a point to show them everything he can to get them started. “When a guest goes out after a trip and catches a fish or two on their own, he can’t wait to tell you about it on the next trip. That always makes me happy!”
Firehole River – June 2008
