Our Shop Staff

The people who make up the Yellowstone Angler are recognized as some of the most helpful in the business. All expert fishermen, they'd be happy to respond to your questions by phone or via e-mail: staff@yellowstoneangler.com.

George Anderson

George is the general manager and owner of the Yellowstone Angler here in Livingston, Montana.  He started his fly-fishing career in the Catskill Mountains

of New York but refined it the Rocky Mountain West while attending the

University of Colorado and working summers in West Yellowstone Montana, managing a tackle shop there for the Eagles.  After graduating from CU’s business school, George and his wife moved to Livingston Montana where George worked as assist. Manager for Dan Bailey’s for six years before opening The Yellowstone Angler in the fall of 1979.  In 1985 the “new” shop was built where it exists today, a half mile south of Livingston on Highway 89.  Over the years George has written many fly fishing articles that have appeared in Fly Fisherman, Trout, Big Sky Journal, Saltwater Fly Fishing and several Scientific Anglers publications.  In 1989 and 1990 George won top individual honors at the Jackson Hole One-Fly in the only two years he fished in the event, setting records for numbers of trout caught on his own George’s Rubber Legged Brown Stone nymph.  In addition he has appeared as guest angler on many television fly fishing shows like John Barrett’s “Fly Fishing the World”, and saltwater angling shows like Jose Wejebe’s “Spanish Fly” catching big tarpon in the Florida Keys.  With Trevor Gowdy, George was the guest angler for two ESPN shows that were filmed in Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina, flats fishing for bonefish, tarpon and permit.  George’s love of saltwater fly-fishing has led to arranging and hosting saltwater trips each year with friends to various destinations in the Caribbean. George also hosts trout fishing trips each year to Alaska, Argentina, and other world-class destinations. When he’s not fishing he enjoys golf, alpine skiing, scuba diving, bird hunting and riding his KTM motorcycles in the dirt and his Ducati motorcycles on the street.  You can e-mail George at: georgea@yellowstoneangler.com

James Anderson

In November of 1977, James was born in Livingston Montana to George and Kathryn Anderson. His father had worked as a fishing guide and fly shop employee at Eagles (in West Yellowstone) and Dan Bailey's (in Livingston) before opening his own shop, the Yellowstone Angler. Fly fishing thus became a integral part James' life. Even before he could walk, James joined his father on fishing expeditions, riding in his Dad's kiddypak. By age 4 James had a Zebco in his hands and a love for spending time in the outdoors. Around 7 or 8 James picked up a fly rod and was instantly frustrated with tangles and wind knots as he watched his Dad land fish after fish. Eventually with his Dad's guidance he learned to cast long enough to avoid a bird's nests every five minutes and began catching fish instead of fixing tangles. Not much later he began working at the Yellowstone Angler. Early job opportunities included picking up cigarette butts on the dirt parking lot for a penny a piece and swatting flies. Later in high school, Jim Brungardt and Brant Oswald helped teach him the realm of retail sales, shipping & receiving, inventory but wasn't allowed to guide until his college years. Once behind the oars, James instantly fell in love with his new office view window.  He was shocked that you could actually get paid to fish and show someone a good time on the river. Still he couldn't help but wonder if there was something else besides Montana calling him.

After graduating with a degree in Chinese from Middlebury College in Vermont, James moved to Taiwan, where he first started out teaching English. On the side, he and his college friends brought there turntables, records, and microphones with the plan of becoming Chinese rap stars.   Within 6 months of teaching english to Taiwan's rambunctious youth, James was ready to switch things up.  He started working for Genimex, one of Taipei's successful import / export companies.  Faced with financial security but the ins and outs of everyday life in a big city, James decided he was ready for a little more space.  He had made just enough money to travel through China and South East Asia on a shoestring for almost a year. Upon returning to the states, James struggled to find his niche.  He lived in Dallas for about a year where he worked at Thai restaurant cooking and cleaning dishes. He lived in San Diego for a little more than a year, where he worked the graveyard shift at Barona Casino dealing Black Jack and cash Baccarat. Looking back at his life, he decided that Livingston really wasn't so bad after all, and returned to Montana in 2004 to help his folks run the Yellowstone Angler.  The best part about his job was working with people who are passionate about fishing and the rare opportunity to host flyfishing trips to places like Argentina, Alaska, Belize, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

James continues to guide for the Yellowstone Angler in the summer months, and continues to be the Yellowstone Angler's webmaster. If you ever have a question about our area, flyfishing equipment, or would simply like to share a photo for the fishing report you can e-mail James at: james@yellowstoneangler.com. If you would like to contact james regarding his photos for use in books, magazines, or advertisements, you can e-mail him at: jamesanderson406@gmail.com.

Doug McKnight

Doug learned to fish on some of the Eastern United States' best and most challenging waters.  Growing up in Pennsylvania provided him with the opportunity to learn technical, spring-creek-style fishing at a very young age. By the time Doug was 15, he began tying flies commercially and has taught fly tying lessons since he was 18.  In the Fall of 2005, Umpqua Feather Merchants added Doug to their list of fly tying designers.  You can find several of Doug's flies in the Umpqua catalog.  Doug's career has provided him with the chance to fish around the world, including: New Zealand, Chile, Alaska, Russia, Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, the Florida Keys as well as all over the Western and Northeastern United States.  Doug has had over 10 years of experience outfitting clients who travel the world.  He can rig anything from trout to billfish and would be glad to help you plan your next fly fishing adventure.  Doug also happens to be one of the "fishiest" guys on the planet. As an aspiring artist, Doug has a growing portfolio of oil paintings and pastel drawings of the many fish and flies he has come in contact with.  Many of his flies have been framed and displayed in galleries.  You can contact Doug at: doug@yellowstoneangler.com

Also check out how to tie some of doug's flies at The Weekly Fly...

Robert Kovich

Robert grew up fishing in Waterford Michigan.  Coming from the land of big lake run browns and steelhead, Robert knows a few things about streamer fishing.  Watching him launch an 80 foot cast and retrieve his articulated, tricked-out fly is like watching a Walter Payton tribute clip - they are relentlessly unstoppable.  Robert can also get 'er done with a spey rod in his hands, not to mention his enthusiasm for competition style casting.  He's been known to launch a line farther than George and Rick on the casting lawn adjacent to the shop.  When Robert isn't on the water he's at his fly tying bench, whipping out his latest creation for fooling big fish, and not just freshwater species.  Robert has gone on several saltwater fishing trips, targeting tarpon, permit, bonefish, snook, and whatever else that swims.  Robert is not afraid to put some miles on the car (or trail) to get into some good fishing.  He likes high mountain lakes and off the beaten path kind of places that only those who live out here seem to find.  He also enjoys the technical aspects of with tiny dries on the Paradise Valley spring creeks and Montana's blue ribbon tailwaters.  Robert now manages the retail aspect of Yellowstone Angler.

Rick Wollum

Rick started flyfishing at the age of six, at an uncle's cabin in Minnesota for bluegill. Flyfishing quickly became a lifetime pursuit in Colorado, with Rick spending a lot of time fishing Colorado's South Platte while he attended Denver University.  He then started guiding with mentor Steve Herter at Elk Trout lodge in Colorado, and later in Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. Rick guided Jackson Hole's One Fly for ten years, and also spent many summers guiding on Montana's Bighorn and Yellowstone Rivers. Later, Rick went on to host ESPN's FLY FISHING AMERICA, traveling and fishing extensively around the U.S.   Rick has fished for trout, steelhead and salmon all over the world,and his vast knowledge of tackle, techniques and places to go makes him a great asset here in our shop. If Rick has one passion in fishing, it's steelhead fishing with two handed spey rods.  Rick is a top notch fly tier.  His classic spey flies are works of art, many of which have been shadow boxed and sold in the shop. Rick manages the floor at the shop and can find you just about any fly tying material you can think of.   In the off season, Rick is one of Bridger Bowls head ski instructors. You can contact Rick at:  rick@yellowstoneangler.com