Guides

Alex Emery

Hailing from the northeast, Alex grew up fishing with his father in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains. He fished his way through college at West Virginia University, securing an Advertising degree and a drive to continue west to allow his passion for fly fishing to grow. After attending Sweetwater Guide School in 2016, Alex went on to work in Livingston, MT, primarily on the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, and surrounding watersheds. He has also spent time as a guide school instructor and has guided the Rio Baker in Chilean Patagonia. Alex’s patience and knowledge make him a great fit for anglers of all skills.

Sean Havey

Sean Havey grew up in Idaho, chasing trout on the Boise, Payette, and Salmon Rivers. He moved to Montana in 2013 to attend Montana State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and continued to explore his passion for rivers and mountains. Having spent many years recreating on wild rivers, skiing big lines, and kayaking Class V whitewater, his background allows him to convey a unique perspective to the world of fly-fishing and create an outstanding educational experience. His goal is for every angler to walk away with greater fishing skills, and an increased appreciation for rivers.

“The river is to the land what the artery is to man. There’s no other place quite like it.”

When he is not guiding, Sean stays busy with kayaking in the spring, hunting in the fall, and working as a ski instructor at Big Sky Resort in the winter.

Alex Sweeney

Alex is a sixth-generation Montanan that was indoctrinated into fly fishing at a young age by his Step-Father, Gary Padgham, who ran a small outfitting business (Montana Riverworx) out of their home. Alex’s professional river career started at the ripe young age of 12 when Gary indentured him into servitude rowing gear boats on Montana’s famed Smith River. By the age of 15, he was guiding whitewater for Montana Riverworx and began guiding fishing clients at age 18. Unfortunately, his Step Father passed away in 2002 and the family business was dissolved.

Alex lived in a 12x12 outfitters wall tent on the bank of The Gallatin River through most of his 20s and fished/guided over 200 days a year until life called him to Minneapolis, MN, to start a family. During his 2 years in the Midwest, he had the pleasure of Guiding Smallmouth Bass, Pike, and Muskie as well as Trout.

Alex has worked with a tremendous amount of beginners and loves introducing people to fly-fishing.

When he is not plying the waters of Southwest Montana with his flyrod you can find him chasing Elk with a recurve or hiking The Ridge at Bridger Bowl to ski powder.

Alex is haunted by waters.

Jamie White

Jamie is passionate about every aspect of fishing and hunting but specializes in fly fishing in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  He believes that the purpose of a guide is not only to take clients on a scenic float or walk the banks of a river but to teach his clients the skills they need to return to the water and be successful.  He covers everything from step-by-step casting instruction to reading the water.

Jamie has worked hard to create a life independent of the indoors and is proud to work for of the most respected outfitters in Montana.

Jan Axtell

Jan is a Father, Husband, Guide, and Hospital Administrator in Livingston MT. A self described "Jackass Of All Trades", he has guided trout anglers for 25 years and is currently in the Guide rotation at Sweetwater Fly Shop in Livingston MT. He guides on the Yellowstone River, the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, and in Yellowstone National Park. When not fishing Jan enjoys Nordic skiing, reading, wing-shooting over his pointing dog....and more fishing. Additionally, he enjoys tying flies for his clients, area fly shops, and his own fly box. He lives in Paradise Valley with his very loving and tolerant wife Vicki, his very sophisticated 9 year old daughter Zoe, and their 2 hunting dogs Greta and Cooper. He and his family operate Fin & Feather Enterprises together "in 3 part harmony".

" Trout water is the most beautiful place one can find themselves, at any given time, in any given place. I am simply a student of the game, my only desire is that through fishing together my clients leave feeling that they have greater insight into that which makes trout fishing possible... oh yeah... and a few "Big Fish" stories to brag about"

Brad Kaufman 

Brad grew up on an Illinois farm with the advantage of having a river that ran through it and many neighbors with ponds full of bass and bluegill. It didn’t take him long to notice the longer rods sticking out of the many piles of fishing poles his dad brought home from the many auctions he went to. Brad was soon on the water with them, catching fish on the surface with small poppers. He was hooked!
In 1985, Brad moved to Atlanta to pursue a career building houses. It was then that he discovered the wonderful Chattahoochee River and began fly fishing from its headwaters in the North Georgia Mountains and on down. He then became a hunting guide for outfitting camps in New Mexico and Alaska, guiding his clients to elk, moose, and other big game. Of course, he couldn’t resist fishing the rivers that flowed right past camp.

Brad moved to Livingston in 2009, got married and still lives there with his wife and three kids. When not guiding for fish, fur or feathers, he enjoys camping with the family, taking his kids fishing and wrestling with his dogs.

Brad loves fishing his home waters right here on the Stone and it will show when he guides you!

Dewey Siebert

Born in Daytona Beach, Dewey’s dad got a rod in his hand as soon as he possibly could. That’s all it took as Dewey has been fishing ever since!

Dewey honed his skills and passion for fishing by spending time on streams in Tennessee and the Carolinas. During this time, he learned from his dad one important lesson; if you fall in the water, hold your rod up high! Before he hit double digits, Dewey and his family started spending time in Paradise Valley and fishing the Yellowstone River. In 2002, the family decided that this is where they wanted to spend their summers and bought a place in Pray.

Dewey now spends his time guiding the waters he grew up fishing. He and his wife split their time between Pray and Daytona.