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Chip Hodlmair
Quality guides are the key to any successful outdoor adventure. Chip understands that. He is a highly skilled outdoor enthusiast who is passionate about sharing the beauty and hot spots of the San Juan River. Chip has an extensive résumé of guiding experience in Wyoming, Colorado and of course New Mexico. After more than 11 years and thousands of hours in a drift boat his number one goal is to have a productive, relaxing and fun day on the river. Chip is not only an excellent guide, he is also a kindergarten teacher. This assures our clients that he has the patience and instructional skills to show them everything they need to know to catch fish. Chip will not hesitate to tie on a dry or streamer to get you into fish and is a top wading guide on the San Juan. Check out Chip on the You Tube clip on our home page. Reading river conditions is one of Chip's biggest attributes. A day on the river with Chip will be a great time.
Aaron Hyder
Aaron Hyder began fishing the San Juan when he was only 12 years old. He now knows the San Juan as well as anyone and ranks as one of the river’s best guides. Aaron has also spent part of his life guiding for a fly-in guide service in Togiak, Alaska. During that time, he mastered numerous techniques for catching Alaskan salmon and enormous rainbow trout. Aaron has successfully integrated many of those special techniques into fishing the San Juan River. Aaron truly believes that guiding is not just a job, but it is a way of life. He’s an excellent instructor and says, “There is nothing like teaching a beginner how to lay out a perfect cast to a rising trout or surprising an experienced angler with a new technique”. Aaron has a great sense of humor and is an absolute blast to be around. Aaron is not afraid to toss a dry fly, ant or terrestrial to hook fish. You may see the San Juan differently after fishing with Aaron. You will request this guy again.
Bubba Smith
Bubba started fly fishing at the young age of 5 and became a professional guide at the age of 14. Growing up in the holy land...Montana, Bubba grew up around some of the finest guides in the industry working for some of the most famous fly shops in North America. He has fished most of the famous trout streams in the West and is a purist at heart. Friends know that Bubba would just as soon be casting a bamboo rod from a wooden drift boat. From a guide standpoint, Bubba has been guiding the San Juan for over 15 years. He has met the famous Lefty Kreh and considers his friendship with him a huge influence. Bubba also designs flies for Orvis and really enjoys working with kids, women anglers and beginners. Fishing with Bubba will be an experience you will not forget.
Brian Capsay
Brian Capsay has matched his fly fishing skills against the best anglers in the world. He served as Team Leader of the USA Fly Fishing Team in the 2007 World Championships in Finland. Brian is also a recent winner of the North American Fly Fishing Classic. Brian has also finished in the top 10 in both the 2004 ESPN Great Outdoor Games and the Field & Stream 2005 Total Outdoorsman Challenge. Brian and his teammates walked away with the team gold medal at the first ever North American U.S. National Fly-Fishing Championships in 2006. So, there is no doubt that you'll be fishing with one of the finest guides and anglers out there. Brian is also the owner of the Caddis Company, a full service Orvis Fly Shop in Durango. As an FFF certified guide, Brian is extremely skilled at putting his clients on fish and has extensive knowledge of the San Juan and the Animas River in Durango. Aztec Anglers is proud to have the professional services of Brian.
Mark Clark
Mark first picked up a fly rod at the age of 10. His Dad was an avid fisherman and it didn't take long for Mark to be bit by the fly fishing bug. Living in Colorado it was not hard to find ample opportunities to fish. Flyfishing had a magical allure to him and toting a fly rod into the back countries of Colorado sealed the deal. His first trout on a fly was a Brown that took an Irresistable. First trout on a dry, unforgettable.
Mark's abilities are multifaceted. Aquatic entomology is something he has mastered. He has been commercially fly tying for 10 years. His mentors are of the likes of Jack Dennis, Mike Lawson, and Gary LaFontaine. A graduate of Hubbard's Orvis guide school in Gardiner, Montana, has added to his guiding skills. River guide certified through Fly Fishing Outfitters in Vail, Mark is comfortable on any river. His patience and ability to communicate makes him an awesome teacher. His fishing skills are impeccable.
Now, some thirty plus years later after picking up that bamboo rod, he finds himself living on the banks of his favorite river, the San JUAN River in New Mexico. You'll see him and his lab Ruger often on the river. Obviously, flyfishing is his passion.
P.S. Mark; (a.k.a. Dr.Mark, practiced medicine prior to guiding for us. He has fishing on the brain. What can you say?)
Aztec Anglers also utilizes the services of the following Top Guides.
Jeremy Nolan-Full Time SJR Guide
Bruce Lane-Full Time SJR Guide
Roger Hibner-Long Time SJ Wade Guide
All our guides are CPR and First Aid Certified
Call Us Toll Free at 877-AZTEC-04
877-298-3204 | 
