Montana Fly Fishing guides

Julie grew up working & fishing on her dad’s charter fishing boat in upstate New York. After moving to Idaho to attend Idaho State University in the early 80’s, she earned degrees in both ecology and secondary education. Since then she's worked for the Idaho Fish & Game, U.S. Forest Service, taught high school biology, worked for Trout Unlimited on the Western Water Project and now spends countless hours fishing and guiding on the local rivers. As a fishing guide and instructor, she's taught fly fishing courses for “Becoming an Outdoors Women” in Colorado and Idaho. She co-owns, guides and instructs for Eaton Outfitters. Her fishing instructional workbook called “A Fly Rod and a Trout” was published in early 1997 and she continues to be on the pro advisory staff for the Scott Fly Rod Co. and Ross Reels.

When he's not a Fire Chief he's continuing to log over 2,000 guide days on the rivers of southwestern Montana. Alongside his wife Julie, he co-owns, operates and guides for Eaton Outfitters. Chris specializes in working with the beginning fly fisher and with his vast fishing experience gives his clients a variety of blue ribbon fishing opportunities. Chris has also been the featured on ESPN for “Fly Fishing the World” and “Trout Unlimited TV”, and on PBS for their show “Flyfishing Destinations”. His business background includes a degree in public relations along with many years spent working for an investment banking firm.

Among Montana’s standout young fly fishing guides is Josh Eaton, son of longtime guides Chris and Julie Eaton. Josh truly grew up in a drift boat on the Madison River, raised in a family where guiding wasn’t a side job but a way of life. From an early age, his parents and grandfather taught him the fundamentals of fly casting, river etiquette, and how to read water the right way. Along the way, many well-respected Montana guides helped shape his skills with a fly rod and on the sticks. Josh returns each season as one of our most dependable guides, known for his steady presence, strong river instincts, and ability to make a day on the Madison both productive and enjoyable.

Just when you thought three was a full roster in the Eaton family of fly fishing guides, Hannah stepped in. She did it the right way, quietly paying attention, learning from three of the best guides a young angler could ask for, and earning her place season by season. From her first year on the oars, it was clear she had the instincts, work ethic, and river sense that can’t be taught. Over the past few seasons, Hannah has proven herself as a confident, capable guide who puts anglers first and fishes hard from morning to take-out. Calm, determined, and genuinely easy to spend a day with, she’s become a guest favorite in short order. With the same Eaton family standard of giving anglers exactly what they came for, Hannah represents the next generation of Montana fly fishing guides and does it without needing to say much about it