This lifelong journey and my lifestyle remind me of a Japanese saying dating back to the 16th century: “Ichigo”-“ichi-e,” which means “one time, one meeting.” It is a Japanese idiom that describes a cultural concept of treasuring the unrepeatable nature of a moment. The term has been roughly translated as “for this time only” or “once in a lifetime.” It encourages people to cherish every gathering they partake in, recognizing that no moment in life can be exactly recreated; even if the same group of people and circumstances come together again, a particular gathering will never be the same, making each moment a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our fishing journey and our lives reflect this.

I was born in Upstate New York, where my father, grandmother, uncle, and grandfather taught me to fish conventionally for bass, pike, trout, walleye, and musky on the lake my grandmother lived on—the St. Lawrence River—and many other creeks, rivers, and lakes throughout Upstate New York. During the summer, when school was out, I was fortunate enough to stay on Canadarago Lake in Richfield Springs, NY, with my grandmother all summer long. Each day, I would be on the water, fishing in an old 12-foot rowboat. At age 11, I earned my boater’s safety card, allowing me to operate a motorized vessel without an adult present. For that accomplishment, my father and grandmother gifted me their old 12-foot aluminum boat with a 5hp motor—everything I needed to explore the lake. What a dream—having a hand-me-down boat, a reliable motor, and a lake full of fish. I loved every moment; what more could a young boy ask for?

Later in life, right after graduating high school in the summer of 1999, I joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California, as a U-2 spy plane aircraft mechanic. It was an incredible job. I didn’t fully appreciate the history behind the U-2 until I left the service in 2003. The U-2 remains a remarkably cool aircraft. After my separation from the USAF, that’s when my true journey began. In December 2004, my uncle passed away, and I later discovered he was an avid fly fisherman in his youth—well before I was born. What better way to honor his tradition than to try fly fishing myself? Although I didn’t know what the future held, I decided to give it a shot.

One late summer evening, I was fishing the East Carson River and saw a fly fisherman. I was captivated, in awe of his silhouette against the sunset, his perfect casting stroke, and the tight J-loops of his fly line. That moment made me realize why my uncle loved the sport. It’s so pure, raw, and immersive—embracing nature and becoming part of it.

On August 15th, 2005, I bought my first fly rod at a local sporting goods store and have been hooked ever since. It’s the one thing I felt was missing from my life’s journey. Standing in the middle of a river, water rushing by, the sounds of nature—mimicking insects, the gentle flow—all create a peaceful, Zen-like experience.

No technology in the world can replicate this feeling; it’s priceless. This is the one place where I can be myself, forget the outside world, and soak in beauty. It’s also where I feel closest to my uncle. Weird how life brings surprises and connections we didn’t anticipate.

My guiding journey began in 2009. I love chasing all creatures that swim, guiding on the Yuba, Feather, Trinity, Lower Sac, Lower Klamath, American, and California Coastal Rivers. My guiding philosophy is to be a teacher first, then a guide. This approach helps anglers improve their skills under my guidance. While I teach and guide all aspects of fly and conventional fishing, I have a particular passion for chasing steelhead and trout on the swing. I’ve become skilled at demystifying spey casting, gear choices, dos and don’ts, and the art of swinging.

Let’s build some special memories together.