Meet Our Jackson Hole Fishing Guides

Fish the Fly LLC employs the best collection of fly fishing guides in Jackson Hole. In addition to the intangibles all good fishing guides possess, all of our guides have extensive fly fishing and boating skills, an out-going personality, and an amazing amount of patience.

Fish the Fly LLC is a licensed fishing outfitter for both the Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. We are also a CUA holder for Yellowstone National Park and a Special Recreation Permit holder for the Bureau of Land Management.

Want to know more about us? Click here

Jason "JB" Balogh

Head Fishing Guide
Memphis, TN

JB hails from Memphis, TN, but his first fishing experiences were with his grandfather on the lakes of Northern Minnesota catching Bass, Blue Gills, Crappie, and Pike. He studied Physics at Sewanee and Civil Engineering at Washington University and chose to follow his passion for fly fishing instead of sitting in an office. He has lived in Jackson Hole for 25 years and has been guiding the region’s rivers for the past twenty one years.

His fly fishing passion has taken him all over the world to chase different species including Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon. Recently, JB ran the Fishing program at the famed Crescent H Ranch, and when it closed to commercial operations, he purchased their permits and started a guide service to complement his travel business.

JB cherishes time spent with his children, especially in the outdoors!

Taylor Upton

Fishing Guide
GA

Taylor was born and raised in the southeast and spent most of his childhood in Georgia. He developed a love for fishing in high school where he would poach neighborhood ponds for Large Mouth Bass. After “borrowing” his dad’s fly rod and hooking into a giant brown trout in a North Georgia creek, he knew he had to pursue trout fishing on the fly.

At an early age he headed west in search of a fly fishing haven and landed in Jackson, WY in 2006. He has been rowing boats and chasing trout ever since!

When he’s not on the river, you can find him performing at the local bars as a musician and teaching guitar in the commuting as a music teacher.
Let’s go fishin!

Favorite Rod: Scott S4 9ft 5wt
Favorite Reel: Ross Gunnison G2
Favorite River: The one with the least boats!

Cooper Pinckney

Fishing Guide
FL

Cooper cut his teeth on fly fishing on the small streams of North Carolina. Chasing redfish and tying flies that catch them were his game after his family moved to Amelia Island, Florida. Cooper spent a season guiding in Alaska, but moved to Jackson Hole to be a full time guide in 2021. He instantly became a guest favorite with his down-to-earth nature and fish finding skills.

Tim Smith

Fishing Guide
TN/TX

Tim spent his childhood in both Tennessee and Texas chasing fish wherever he could. After graduating from the University of Memphis, his love for fly fishing brought him to Jackson Hole where he has lived for the past nine years. He managed a local fly shop before his desire to spend as much time on the water as possible became too much to bear and he became a full-time guide four years ago. In his free time you‘ll find him researching local fishing holes or tying flies. Tim’s enthusiasm is contagious and his clients always come back for more!

Nat Murphy

Fishing Guide
Portland, OR

Nat grew up in a fishing family outside of Portland, Oregon, and started flyfishing at the age of 12. He worked as an outdoor educator for many years for Nols, guiding trips in Wyoming’s Wind Rivers, Montana’s Beartooths, Alaska, and Chilean Patagonia. After graduating from the University of Montana, the Big Sky state remained as homebase until gravitating to the mountains and rivers of the Jackson Hole region. In the winter months he can be found riding powder while guiding backcountry skiing in Grand Teton National Park.

Tracy Yannelli

Office Manager/Fishing Guide
Maine

Tracy grew up in the most Northeastern state of Maine where she was taught to fish by her dad and grandfather. After years of visiting and fishing with her brother in Wyoming, she decided to make Jackson her home. When not fishing, Tracy can be found hiking and exploring all the beautiful places that Wyoming has to offer. One of her goals in life is to catch as many species of fish as she can.

Meet Our Jackson Hole Fishing Guides

Jason "JB" Balogh

Taylor Upton

Cooper Pinckney

Tim Smith

Nat Murphy

Tracy Yannelli

Fish The Fly

Not A Fisherman?

Trout Destinations

Contact Us