Guides
We are outdoorsmen. We all ride horses, hike trails, and fix fences. We slide on the snow in the winter, and float in the river’s spring runoffs. Our dogs are always right there. But when you really boil things down, it’s all about the Elk River and this valley. We have all been drawn here, and there is no more intimate and enjoyable connection to the river than standing in its waters and enticing one of its inhabitants to rise up to your fly. It’s a sacred environment, and nothing brings us more joy that sharing it with our friends.
Greg Creamer
When Greg was 18 years old, he met a girl who taught him how to cast a flyrod in the tailwater of 3 Island Lake high in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness north of Steamboat Springs Colorado. He let the cutthroats go, but kept the girl. Greg and Libby have now been married for 25 years and have raised their 3 kids in the Elk River valley, living closer to 3 Island Lake than anybody else. Greg’s passion for the outdoors is only rivaled by his love of teaching and introducing people to the valley and sports he loves. When he’s not in the water, you’ll find him on skis and on horseback.
Fritz Boniface
Fritz is originally from Harford County, MD and learned to fly fish on the waters of Deer Creek. He moved to Colorado with his band the “Deer Creek Sharpshooters” because of the amazing Bluegrass scene in the area. He also enjoys riding horses and snowboarding, but usually you’ll find him wet wading or floating his drift boat on the river with his dog Béla.
Tom Whiddon
Tom grew up in Texas but has lived in Steamboat Springs most of his life. He was a radio personality for over 20 years in the Yampa Valley and worked another 20 years at the Steamboat Springs Police Department. Fly fishing became his passion over 40 years ago and he became a fly tying instructor at Colorado Mountain College and is a part time fly fishing guide for Freestone Anglers. Tom is a volunteer courtesy ski patroller at Steamboat Ski Resort in the winter. In addition to fishing our local streams and lakes in the Rocky Mountain West, Tom has traveled to New Zealand, Belize and Mexico on fly fishing adventures. Tom and Jeanne have been married for 39 years, have a son Clay who is a Captain in the Air Force National Guard and father to their grandson Parker. Tom spends his time fly fishing, floating in his drift boat, camping, white water kayaking, skiing and gardening. Tom invites you to spend some time fly fishing with him on the spectacular Elk River.
Jared Helfman
Originally from Charlotte, Vermont, Jared found a passion for fly fishing at a young age while attending the Orvis Fly Fishing Academy in Manchester. After living in Florida and California after high school, he moved to Steamboat in 2018 to further his passion for fishing, snowmobiling and overlanding. In his spare time, he will either be on the river in his raft, exploring new areas with his wife and two German Shepherds or when the snow falls, in the backcountry on his snowmobile.
Michael Lackey
Like many in Steamboat, Michael originally moved from his home state of North Carolina to the Yampa Valley for the skiing. Although he still loves catching as many days on snow as he can, he has fallen in love with everything the Yampa Valley has to offer, and is also an avid angler and mountain biker. When not on the river or his bike, you can find Michael volunteering for Routt County Search and Rescue and working at Steamboat Mountain School. As a professional outdoor educator, Michael loves sharing his passion for fly fishing with others.
