John Nagel -
NBOC Head Fly Fishing Guide
John’s love of fly-fishing began at the age of nine when he was gifted his first fly rod and took to chasing panfish and bass while on family fishing trips to Canada. He would quickly graduate to trout in the limestone spring creeks of Pennsylvania and steelhead in the Great Lakes tributaries. While an exchange student at UNC Asheville, he fished the mountain streams of North Carolina and tailwaters of Tennessee. In the summers, before graduating from Kent State University, John guided in Colorado and Alaska, honing his skills on western trout.
While those adventures were great experiences, John’s passion for the pursuit of trout and grouse eventually led him to settle in Northern Michigan with his English setters, Woodrow and Rawls. John is particularly drawn to the Au Sable for its fabled hatches and legendary night fishing opportunities as well as its rich sporting history. John runs a classic 24 foot cedar Au Sable boat built by Billy Lowes as well as a drift boat and raft. This year will be John’s 12th season guiding and 8th year at North Branch Outing Club where he plans to continue the sporting traditions that have been a part of NBOC for the past 100 years.
NBOC Head Fly Fishing Guide
John’s love of fly-fishing began at the age of nine when he was gifted his first fly rod and took to chasing panfish and bass while on family fishing trips to Canada. He would quickly graduate to trout in the limestone spring creeks of Pennsylvania and steelhead in the Great Lakes tributaries. While an exchange student at UNC Asheville, he fished the mountain streams of North Carolina and tailwaters of Tennessee. In the summers, before graduating from Kent State University, John guided in Colorado and Alaska, honing his skills on western trout.
While those adventures were great experiences, John’s passion for the pursuit of trout and grouse eventually led him to settle in Northern Michigan with his English setters, Woodrow and Rawls. John is particularly drawn to the Au Sable for its fabled hatches and legendary night fishing opportunities as well as its rich sporting history. John runs a classic 24 foot cedar Au Sable boat built by Billy Lowes as well as a drift boat and raft. This year will be John’s 12th season guiding and 8th year at North Branch Outing Club where he plans to continue the sporting traditions that have been a part of NBOC for the past 100 years.
Bear Andrews- Fly Fishing Guide
Michigan native Jeff “Bear” Andrews caught his first trout on a fly rod at age 7 on Hunt Creek in
Northern Michigan. Bear started tying his own flies while in high school , and it was then that
his passion really began. While attending Northern Michigan University studying Fisheries and Wildlife management, he spent most of his spare time fishing surrounding streams of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
In 1977, he started his professional career in the fly fishing industry opening his own business,
Bear’s Fly Shop. Shortly after opening the shop, he began tying flies commercially and produced as many as 2000 dozen per year. In the early 1990’s,
Bear joined Umpqua Feather Merchants as a fly designer and he continues to contribute patterns to them today.
For over 20 years, Bear penned a column for Michigan Out Of Doors magazine called “the Fly
Box” sharing his tying knowledge and expertise to its readers. He produced five different fly
tying instructional videos. Bear has travelled throughout the United States and Europe
demonstrating his tying skills at numerous Fly Fishing shows for more than 30 years.
As an angler Bear, has fished throughout the United States, Canada, Central America and
Europe for various fresh and saltwater species. Leading groups to diverse destinations,
including one of his favorite spots in Labrador, has enabled him to set 3 IGFA world records for
Brook Trout.
As a guide in Michigan, he targets trout, steelhead, smallmouth, carp, and salmon fishing
throughout the state.
Michigan native Jeff “Bear” Andrews caught his first trout on a fly rod at age 7 on Hunt Creek in
Northern Michigan. Bear started tying his own flies while in high school , and it was then that
his passion really began. While attending Northern Michigan University studying Fisheries and Wildlife management, he spent most of his spare time fishing surrounding streams of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
In 1977, he started his professional career in the fly fishing industry opening his own business,
Bear’s Fly Shop. Shortly after opening the shop, he began tying flies commercially and produced as many as 2000 dozen per year. In the early 1990’s,
Bear joined Umpqua Feather Merchants as a fly designer and he continues to contribute patterns to them today.
For over 20 years, Bear penned a column for Michigan Out Of Doors magazine called “the Fly
Box” sharing his tying knowledge and expertise to its readers. He produced five different fly
tying instructional videos. Bear has travelled throughout the United States and Europe
demonstrating his tying skills at numerous Fly Fishing shows for more than 30 years.
As an angler Bear, has fished throughout the United States, Canada, Central America and
Europe for various fresh and saltwater species. Leading groups to diverse destinations,
including one of his favorite spots in Labrador, has enabled him to set 3 IGFA world records for
Brook Trout.
As a guide in Michigan, he targets trout, steelhead, smallmouth, carp, and salmon fishing
throughout the state.
Ethan Berger- Fly-fishing and upland guide
Born and raised in Michigan, Ethan was never far from a body of water that he could wet a line in. After school, weekends and during summer breaks you’d find him exploring the woods and waters near his home. Ethan picked up a fly rod for the first time in his late teens. Coming from a conventional tackle background, it was not an easy transition, but he quickly became obsessed with fly fishing, eventually selling off all his conventional gear and trading it for feathered hooks. Ethan first started in Alaska guiding on the Mulchatna River and its tributaries. Now in Michigan, he focuses his guiding on the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers, floating in either his drift boat or Au Sable River boat in search of Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout.
As a kid Ethan was fortunate enough to have friends and family members that had bird dogs, and introduced him to bird hunting. Bird dogs were always something he’d wanted. Ethan now has two bird dogs, a German Shorthaired Pointer and an English Setter. In the fall and early winter, you will find him walking behind his dogs in search of grouse and woodcock.
As a guide, Ethan is first and foremost a teacher. Whether it’s a bird hunting trip or a fly fishing float, there is always something to learn, no matter how long you’ve been participating in the sport.
Born and raised in Michigan, Ethan was never far from a body of water that he could wet a line in. After school, weekends and during summer breaks you’d find him exploring the woods and waters near his home. Ethan picked up a fly rod for the first time in his late teens. Coming from a conventional tackle background, it was not an easy transition, but he quickly became obsessed with fly fishing, eventually selling off all his conventional gear and trading it for feathered hooks. Ethan first started in Alaska guiding on the Mulchatna River and its tributaries. Now in Michigan, he focuses his guiding on the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers, floating in either his drift boat or Au Sable River boat in search of Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout.
As a kid Ethan was fortunate enough to have friends and family members that had bird dogs, and introduced him to bird hunting. Bird dogs were always something he’d wanted. Ethan now has two bird dogs, a German Shorthaired Pointer and an English Setter. In the fall and early winter, you will find him walking behind his dogs in search of grouse and woodcock.
As a guide, Ethan is first and foremost a teacher. Whether it’s a bird hunting trip or a fly fishing float, there is always something to learn, no matter how long you’ve been participating in the sport.
Paul Frost - Shooting Instructor
Paul discovered his love of shot gunning through his experiences hunting in the fields
and marshes of Michigan. He started shooting skeet recreationally to improve his field
shooting skills and really enjoyed it. When sporting clays became available in this
country, he gave it a try and was hooked. He then went on to start shooting
competitively. Not long after that, he discovered that he really enjoyed helping others
achieve their shooting goals and decided to pursue his NSCA Level I Instructor
designation. That was over fifteen years ago. A few years after completing his Level I
Paul went on to complete his Level II Instructor designation. He feels that sporting clays presents one of the best opportunities to improve shooting skills because of the
unlimited variety of target presentations that the sport offers. He has helped shooters
from beginning to advanced levels. Paul enjoys working with target shooters and field
hunters on everything from fundamental shotgun skills, field shooting, how to make a
plan, eye dominance problems, gun fitting and stock alterations.
Paul discovered his love of shot gunning through his experiences hunting in the fields
and marshes of Michigan. He started shooting skeet recreationally to improve his field
shooting skills and really enjoyed it. When sporting clays became available in this
country, he gave it a try and was hooked. He then went on to start shooting
competitively. Not long after that, he discovered that he really enjoyed helping others
achieve their shooting goals and decided to pursue his NSCA Level I Instructor
designation. That was over fifteen years ago. A few years after completing his Level I
Paul went on to complete his Level II Instructor designation. He feels that sporting clays presents one of the best opportunities to improve shooting skills because of the
unlimited variety of target presentations that the sport offers. He has helped shooters
from beginning to advanced levels. Paul enjoys working with target shooters and field
hunters on everything from fundamental shotgun skills, field shooting, how to make a
plan, eye dominance problems, gun fitting and stock alterations.
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