Meet The Guides
We are a team at About Trout. When not working on the water, you can find us fishing together on our off days. We are here to provide the best customer experience on the water through our hard work, passion for the sport, and dedication to your satisfaction.

Operator/Head Guide
James Garrettson
James Garrettson was quickly consumed by fly fishing after receiving a copy of the Curtis Creek Manifesto at age 10. At 14 years old James was the youngest employee at Orvis.
About Trout is focused on creating positive experiences for all anglers. James wholeheartedly represents this philosophy. Whether it is your first time or 1001st time fly fishing, you're sure to have a great day on the water with James. James is a Douglas Fly Fishing and Fulling Mill Pro Team member.

Guide
Kyle McCallum
Kyle grew up fly fishing with his dad on the Arkansas, South Platte, and high mountain lakes and creeks in Colorado. He moved to New Mexico almost two decades ago and has fished the San Juan almost every free day since. Kyle lives only minutes from the river.
Knowledgeable, teacher, patient, and kind are just a few of the many positive adjectives our customers have used to describe "Mr. Nice Guide."

Guide
Jackson Maestas
Jackson Maestas is a Northern New Mexico based fly fishing guide. Jack has years of experience fishing in Northern New Mexico, with the San Juan River being his bread and butter. Jack also has a YouTube channel “Fishing Jack” where you can find helpful tutorials and fishy videos.
Jacks technical understanding of fly fishing and his patient, laid back teaching style make him a joy to be around. He spends nearly every free day available fishing the San Juan, always trying to find new methods and techniques to teach his customers.

Guide
Alex Rodriguez
"I like guiding."
- Alex Rodriguez

San Juan Legend/Guide
Dave Torres
Dave Torres has been fishing the San Juan since he was old enough to hold a fly rod. Dave started guiding at age 18 and worked for Rizoutos and "Born and Raised" in the early 90s, where he became on of the most requested guides. Also known as "Super Dave", he is a grandmaster at fly fishing the San Juan and a pioneer of the small midge patterns that have shaped the guide culture of the river. Dave is exceptional at sight fishing and provides his clients with a master class in fishing education. Dave works hard to provide those in his boat with plenty of opportunities at the San Juan rivers trout. It is an honor to have Dave on the team. We often joke he is your favorite guides favorite guide.

Guide
Dominic Valdez
Dominic was born and raised in Farmington, NM. He has always had a passion for the outdoors and fishing. Dominic has been fishing the San Juan for more than 15 years. Dominic's patience and in-depth knowledge of the San Juan makes him a joy to spend the day with.

Fly Fishing Oracle
Norm Maktima
Norman Maktima grew up in Pecos, New Mexico fishing on the Pecos River and surrounding fisheries. In 1997 Norman qualified to be a competing team member of the Youth Fly Fishing Team USA. In 1998 Norman won the individual gold in the first World Youth Fly Fishing Champion held in Wales, UK. Since then he continued on to compete on the Senior Fly Fishing Team USA and traveled as a competitor to 9 other World Championships held across Europe & US. As well, he has been guiding for over 20 years in the Santa Fe area. Along with guiding, he is also a Signature Fly Designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. As of May 2023, Norman created and launched NMaktima Fly Fishing LLC, an online business which drives to connect Indigenous Fly Fishers and people of color to the sport of fly fishing. You can find him on social media and you can follow his fly fishing tutorials on YouTube