Meet the Laughing Grizzly Guide Staff
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Mike Kruise: Owner
Mike is usually the first person you meet at the Laughing Grizzly. His enthusiasm for fly fishing is obvious to everyone who meets him. Mike has fished all over the western US, Alaska, the Seychelles, the Bahamas and Belize. While he loves fishing for bones, his favorite saltwater target is barracuda. Mike guides in Rocky Mountain National Park, at North Fork Ranch near Bailey and streams in South Park near Fairplay. If you want to know where and how to fish in the Western US, Mike is the guy to talk to. Mike is the co-author with Steve Schweitzer of A Fly Fishing Guide to Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. |
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Scott Bley: Owner
Scott's favorite place is floating the Reef or the San Juan with a big fish on. Scott is a man of few words, often very funny ones, and many fish, often very big ones. He's fished for bonefish, tarpon and permit in the Bahamas and Belize, and has fished all the major rivers in the Western US. |
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Dick Shinton: Shop Manager/Guide/Fly Tying Instructor
Dick loves teaching fly tying and fly fishing, and guiding beginners of all ages, especially kids. He does most of his fishing and guiding in RMNP, and has developed several fly patterns especially for the Park. He also founded the St Vrain Anglers TU Kids Learn to Fly Fish program, and has been a counselor at the Colorado TU Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp for twelve years. Dick has tied by invitation at most of the regional fly tying expos, and his signature fly patterns have appeared in Pat Dorsey's Colorado Guide Flies, Rick Takahashi's Modern Terrestrials and Steve Schweitzer's Fly Fishing Guide to RMNP and Fly Fishing Guide to Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. |
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Dan Kloster: Guide
Dan's real job is at Silver Creek High School where he teaches AP Chemistry and Physics. He was also the girls basketball coach at Silver Creek for many years, and now works part time with the boys teams. An accomplished angler and fly tyer, Dan is a terrific guide; his clients comment on his excellent instructional skills and knowledge of the waters in Rocky Mountain National Park. |
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John Majerus: Guide
Another Silver Creek High School teacher, but recently retired, John has been fishing Colorado and other Western US waters for years. He's an excellent fly tyer and once upon a time was a production tyer selling his flies to local shops. John loves to work with beginners as well as experienced anglers. He's an expert in the waters of Rocky Mountain National Park. |
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Joe Johnson: Guide
Joe is an avid fisherman and fly tier. He has fished all over the US, Hawaii and many other saltwater destinations. He was a member of a youth team in the 2008 and 2012 America Cup International fly fishing competitions. In addition to guiding for the Laughing Grizzly, Joe guides at North Fork Ranch near Bailey, and on several streams in South Park. Joe has worked at the Laughing Grizzly since he was 11, and now at 23, he graduated from CSU in 2020 with a degree in Environmental Engineering. Joe is a natural guide and intuitively knows how to work with his clients and co-workers. |
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Shyanne Munson: Guide
Shyanne joined the Laughing Grizzly guide staff in 2019, and guides in Rocky Mountain National Park and at North Fork Ranch. Shyanne spends a lot of free time fishing high alpine lakes for cutthroat trout and hiking and summiting Colorado's fourteeners. In real life, Shy is an orthopedic nurse at Longmont United Hospital.
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Reed Katzmann: Guide
Like all of our guides, Reed is an excellent instructor. His enthusiasm for fishing and guiding comes through with his guests, and he gets great reviews. Reed is an expert on the Big Thompson tailwater in Estes Park, and knows his way around Rocky Mountain National Park as well. |
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Rod Dufour: Guide
Rod is a long term fly angler. His favorite waters are in Rocky Mountain National Park, but he's also an avid tailwater and lake fisherman as well. Rod is also an excellent fly tyer. Rod owns a home healthcare business, which keeps him busy when he's not fishing and guiding. |
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John Cook: Guide
John is a long term fly angler and guide. He has guided throughout the western US, including the Miracle Mile and Gray Reef. He'll be guiding for the Laughing Grizzly primarily on private waters. John is an excellent fly tie as well, and loves to tie and fish big streamers for big fish. |
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Trenton Sendziak: Shop Rat
Despite only being 14, Trenton is an accomplished fly fisher and is honing his fly tying skills as well. We hope he becomes one of our guides when he's old enough. Right now he works in the shop on weekends, working with customers and doing the odd jobs that need to be done. He is an excellent student and has started high school this year. |