Our Guides

Leonardo

Leonardo grew up in North Italy, the home of the Alps. His grandfather inducted Leo into a fishing club at 3 years old. When he was a teenager, a family friend got him into fly fishing and since then he has focused on casting techniques, traditional Italian fly tying and native trout. When he moved to California 5 years go, he felt an immediate connection to the nature of the Sierra Nevada, where he spends his free time perfecting dry fly presentations to rising wild fish.

leonardo

Jacob

Jacob Gorman was born and raised in Pasadena, California. His family has been making pilgrimages to the Sierra since the 1930's. Obsessed with fishing, he picked up his first fly rod in grade school and never looked back. He has vast experience in both the Western and Eastern Sierra drainages and continues to fish them hard for the love of the game. In addition to Sierra Fly Fisher, he has more than a decade working for The Orvis Company and operates as Fishing Manager out of the Pasadena location.

jacob

Spencer

Spencer grew up locally, residing at Redinger Lake through elementary and high school years. He graduated from Fresno State with degrees in Recreation Administration, Physical Education and California Teaching Credential. Also a partner at Wild Water Adventure Park where he worked the “off ski season” for 21 years. With 17 years at Table Mountain Casino as Risk Manager, Spencer is currently semi-retired. He was a professional ski instructor since 1972 at China Peak and currently the Ski School Director.

spencer

Steve

Steve was born in Cody Wyoming and moved to California as a one year old. He's been married for 38 years now. He started fishing at age 3 with a pond in backyard in Hughson, California. Moved to Power House #3 at Redinger Lake at age 6 and began fishing the stocked lake and Mill Creek which empties at the Power House. He was addicted to fishing early, most often fishing by himself. He would travel by bicycle behind the locked Edison gate to fish the San Joaquin River at the “Million Dollar Mile” and around the Power Houses #8 & #2 pre-driver’s license. Steve began fly fishing in high school along with trolling for the trophy browns in Huntington, Edison & Mammoth Pool lakes. He loves fishing streams and small rivers and chasing Steelhead on the Feather River in the Fall. Steve's best fish day was 10/22/18 on the Upper Kings above Garnet Dyke when 50 Rainbow Trout were landed.

steve

Lyle

Lyle's fondest childhood memories revolve around chasing fish on the lakes and rivers of northern Minnesota with his father and brother. The childhood pastime has evolved into nearly four decades dedicated to exploring the outdoors and living a fishing lifestyle. After he first picked up a fly rod in 2013, his passion for fishing would regularly flirt with obsession.

After moving to Mariposa in 2021 and spending over 200 days a year on the water, Lyle took a leap of faith in leaving his career as a Healthcare Consultant to guide full time with Sierra Fly Fisher.  As a teaching guide, one of Lyle's primary goals (after safety, having fun and catching fish) is for each client to end the day having learned new knowledge and skills that will bring confidence and success, while discovering the vast fulfillment found in fly fishing.  Lyle enjoys guiding all skill and ability levels; from first timers and kids, to discussing advanced techniques and concepts with adept anglers.

Some highlights from last season include landing a 30” steelhead on a 6wt, extraordinary brown trout encounters at sundown, and being “tripled up” for the first time, having all 3 clients with fish on simultaneously, and landing all three fish.

Fly fishing guide holding a trout he just caught.
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