Rod Griffin

Mike Kinney

Born and raised in the foothills of the Blue Mountains in Southeastern Washington just a stones throw from the Snake and Grande Ronde Rivers;  the little farming and ranching community of Pomeroy is home.  Rod spent his youth tagging along with his dad and grandpa hunting, fishing and learning the ways of the outdoors.  Rod's childhood dream was to be a cowboy.  As a teenager and young adult, he got to play cowboy on his uncle's ranch in Enterprise, Oregon and for the Forest Service.  This dream carried over into his adult years and there have been very few times when he hasn't owned horses or a mule or two.  Rod's best friend, a horse trainer and farrier by trade, and him have spent many a day sorting cows or leading a pack string on a trail somewhere in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, or Montana.  He has also spent many hours exploring and fishing rivers throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho over the past 20 years.  He guided fly fishers in Washington part time for a couple of years before becoming a full time guide on the Yakima River 9 years ago.  He lives in Carlton on the banks of the Methow and fishes 250+ days a year.   He also enjoys hunting big game with a traditional bow and spending time with two of his best friends, Pete and Pepper, two English Setters that love chasing upland birds and floating rivers.

His true passion in guiding is instructing, especially beginning fly fishers.  Rod spent two tours in Viet Nam in 1968 through 1970 and has a desire to spend more time sharing his love for the outdoors with disabled veterans though organizations like Project Healing Waters.  Rod is a Clackacraft, Loon, and Filson Pro-Staffer, a member and supporter of the Coastal Conservation Association for the Pacific Northwest, and a long-time member of Ducks Unlimited.  He has a son and daughter, Clint and Marcie, who live in the lower Yakima valley.  They have blessed him with four beautiful grandchildren: Coby, Brooke, Emma, and Jacie.   

Clint grew up in Prosser and has been fishing almost since he could walk. By 12, he was operating his dad’s Wooldridge jet boat and often out-fishing him. He and Rod mainly fished for salmon and steelhead, and after a few years of landing only big fish, he asked his dad if they could try fly fishing for trout. Even then he had a strong desire to row a drift boat.  His first question at the start of each trip was: can I row the boat?  The transition to guiding seemed natural and he’s been guiding on Eastern Washington rivers for about 11 years now. Clint has spent many hours dialing in the Lower Yakima bass fishery and Klickitat steelhead fishery.  He is an avid bowhunter and enjoys hunting deer, elk, wild turkey, and predators.  He also enjoys waterfowl hunting and watching his yellow lab "Chase" work.  His  quiet, soft spoken way blends well with anglers of all levels of experience, especially beginning fly fishers.   He and his wife, Terra, have 2 incredible children, Coby and Brooke.  At 12, Coby already handles the drift boat very well so we won’t be surprised if he follows in his dad and grandpa’s footsteps!    


My friend Mike Kinney, The Legend of the Skagit and Stilly, and I have teamed our guiding operations. What a duo: the Mountain Man and the Cowboy!

For 25+ years, Mike Kinney has devoted his life to fishing and guiding for Trout and Steelhead in Pacific Northwest rivers. Mike's years on the rivers have given him great first-hand knowledge of fishing under a wide range of lake and river conditions. He has developed special flies, lines and techniques to match these conditions. He is considered one of the top contemporary teachers of fly fishing specializing in Spey and Single Handed Casting. His teaching abilities will enhance your wet and dry fly presentation techniques on lakes and rivers around the world, helping you to maximize your day on the water whether fishing for Trout, Salmon, or Steelhead. Mike focuses on the Skagit, Stilly, Sauk, Skykomish and the Yakima rivers.



CONTACT ROD
509-929-3813
griffsflyfishing@yahoo.com