Aaron O'Leary
Owner / Head Guide
Aaron inherited his first fly rod at age nine and never looked back. At age 18, Aaron's first guide job took him to Alaska, where he spent two summers with Bristol Bay Lodge and one summer with Reel Wilderness Adventures. Aaron has fished across the globe and most recently spent six months in New Zealand, where he bounced back and forth between islands hunting kiwi browns. "My time in New Zealand taught me about precision, persistence, and patience; but most of all I realized I wanted to devote the rest of my life to fly fishing." Upon his return to Washington, Aaron started Angler's Obsession and now focuses primarily on Olympic Peninsula Steelhead and Yakima River Trout. Aaron currently spends just about every day of the year on a river somewhere, blown out or in shape. His passion for our sport is highly contagious and truly inspirational.
Nathan McDonough
Guide
Nate grew up with a fly rod in hand, a vise at his desk, and bedtime stories of Alaska. Nate began venturing to Alaska to work when he was 15 years old following in the footsteps of his father, who spent over a decade guiding in AK back in the late 70s. After two seasons guiding on the Kenai Peninsula, Nate felt the urge to work in a more remote area and took a job guiding for Bristol Bay Lodge (BBL), located within the Wood-Tikchik State Park. Nate has chased salmon and trout on many rivers across the Bristol Bay region, and has thoroughly enjoyed putting many guests on the fish of a lifetime. In the Alaska off-season, Nate spends as much time as possible on the water, typically pursuing his steelhead addiction across much of the Northwest. He also works for BBL as Head Guide/Assistant Manager. Whether it's Alaska or Washington, Nate works hard to provide his guests with an exceptional and memorable experience on the water.
Jarad Skeels
Guide
Jarad spent much of his younger years researching, map reading, and putting obscene amounts of miles on worn vehicles in pursuit of desert spring creek trout. Growing up in Tri-Cities, Jarad's positive and optimistic mentality kept him sane as a fly fisherman stuck in the desert. Between trout-hunting trips across the basin, Jarad made best of his situation by doing what any seasoned fly fishing guide would do: use the fishery you have. Jarad has spent countless days wading the carp flats on the Columbia and Snake, as well as floating the Lower Yak in search of feisty smallies. After playing two years of college football a stone's throw from the Grand Ronde, Jarad hung up his jersey to pursue another lifelong addiction- steelheading. Jarad currently spends his summers guiding for Alaska's Bristol Bay Lodge. His passion for our sport and the conservation of our wild fish borders on what some would call a fanatical obsession.
