Getting to Know Your Guide
I’m Brandon — or as my mother named me in ceremony, Running Bear. I grew up chasing fish with family in the creeks, lakes, and sloughs of the San Francisco Bay Area. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be near the water - I dreamed of becoming a marine biologist, a boat captain, or a competitive rower.
How did you get into fly fishing?
One rainy day in Oakland, I picked up a beat-up fiberglass fly rod at a garage sale, thinking it was a spinning rod. I taught myself to cast, and that simple mistake pulled me into the world of fly fishing.
My start came from the ground up, running river shuttles, rowing every chance I got, and learning the river inside and out. The local community, and mentors like Joe Vasquez of Kiene’s Fly Shop, gave me the push to turn time on the water into guiding.
Today, I’m on the water more than 150 days a year on the American River, Folsom Lake, and beyond. For me, guiding isn’t just about fish — it’s about what water does to us when we slow down and listen.
What’s your approach to fishing and guiding?
This work is about more than catching fish. It’s about creating space where people feel safe, challenged, and connected — to the river, to each other, to something bigger.
I welcome beginners, families, seasoned anglers, and anyone in between. Whether you’re chasing your first fish or looking to deepen your time on the water, I’ve got you.
