In a whirlwind of fish and water, the world of fly fishing hooked me when I was just twelve years old. Since then, I've taken every chance to travel the world, fly rod in-hand. Most of my fly fishing life has been spent chasing wild trout all over the western United States, to famous trout waters across California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. There is something truly magical in throwing a dry fly to a rising rainbow and stripping streamers for big browns and jaw-dropping runs of steelhead.
But this crazy fish passion of mine stretches beyond the trout of the west. I've also been caught casting to bright chrome steelhead in Oregon, blitzing Dorado in Mexico, tailing Bonefish around the Yucatan and Redfish in Texas, and chasing the spunky Bonita in San Diego Bay.
UC Davis brought me to Northern California in 2001. I thought I had made a responsible decision, giving up the prestigious fly fishing of the Universities of Montana and Colorado for a serious college education at UCD. Ha! Little did I know that the location of UC Davis in Northern California is near some of the best wild trout fishing on the west coast.
During my "B.S." years, it seemed I spent just as much time studying trout behavior on the rivers as I did in the classroom. And despite the unrelenting call of the fish, I managed to earn a degree in Business & Management and land a beautiful, passionate, fly-fishing wife. 
I guess you could say Northern Califoria's been good to me. In pursuit of more fish and an ever higher education, I came to Chico, California, where I work part-time on an M.B.A. at CSU Chico and full-time on helping people satisfy their equally merciless passion of fly fishing.
Guiding isn't just a job. When you love fishing as much as I do, it's an art and a passion and a life all wrapped up. There's nothing better than seeing a client's face light up as his or her line tightens. That kind of moment is just plain addictive, for me and for them. I love that that?s my job - I get paid to make other people happy with fish. That's gotta be one of the best jobs in the world.
I've had the privilege of guiding some incredible clients on some incredible waters (check out the website for details!). And now my wife and I are counting down to our next big adventure - really another dream come true for me - this summer, I'll be guiding the South Fork of the Snake for The Lodge at Palisades Creek in Idaho. 
Talk about some astonishing fishing! Think about a trip to Idaho this summer; a phenomenal area for fly fishing, boating, fly fishing, beautiful landscapes, fly fishing, relaxation, fly fishing, family time, fly fishing, hiking...oh, and did I say fly fishing?!
Over the years my clients and I have caught some great fish, but even better than that, we've made some great memories. I want to thank you all for making my guiding career so enjoyable and filling my storybook with countless fish tales. I'm looking forward to seeing you back on the water soon!
Tight Lines,
Ryan Johnston
"Some go to church and think about fishing, others go fishing and think about God."
Tony Blake
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