Presentations

Donavan Clary is a full time fly fishing guide in Oklahoma. He also guides in Missouri. He has been fly fishing since 1982. Spending an average of 250 days a year fishing, it’s easy to say he’s committed! He has been a volunteer with the Tulsa chapter of PHWFF for a number of years. He also supports and volunteers with KEKOA Outdoors, another nonprofit focused on exposing veterans to fishing and hunting. He is an avid supporter of Trout Unlimited, and very active with the local 420 chapter. His family owns and operates a lodge on Tenkiller Lake in northeast Oklahoma where they offer all-inclusive guide trips for individuals and groups. He loves Oklahoma and the Illinois River. The majority of his time is spent guiding float trips and wading trips above and below Lake Tenkiller for Smallmouth Bass, especially the Neosho strain Smallmouth. He will even take occasional trips on the lake with anglers ready to chase still water Bass on the fly. He is a master at finding and catching large trout, striper, carp, gar and Smallmouth bass on the fly. He holds classes and seminars around the region teaching all aspects of fly fishing and targeting numerous species on the fly.

Chris is the owner and founder of Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly shop and guide service based out of Round Rock, Texas. He has guided the Texas Hill Country for fifteen years, and has fly fished the heart of the state for over 20 years. Chris has been a licensed guide in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska. Chris is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor, Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Tenkara USA Guide, and TPWD Angler Educator Area Chief. He is also a pro team member for Whiting Farms, Scott Fly Rods, Dyna-King, and Scientific Anglers. Chris is dedicated to sharing his passion for the sport and investing in the next generation of fly anglers. He often is a featured presenter/fly tier at fly fishing, outdoor, and community events throughout the state.

Chris and his shop have also been featured in several outdoor publications including Trout magazine, Garden and Gun, and Tenkara Magazine. He was also awarded the 2014 Man of the Year from the FFI Texas Council and in the same year, Living Waters was the recipient of the FFI’s prestigious Lee Wulff Award.

In addition to fly fishing, Chris is passionate about film and photography. He co-produced the short film “Unspoken,” in an effort to raise awareness for Rio Grande Cutthroat trout conservation. As a result, Living Waters is working with Trout Unlimited as a Gold Level endorsed TU Business to restore Rio Grande Cutthroat throughout their native range. Chris also serves at the current State Council Chair for Texas Trout Unlimited and is the Conservation Chair for Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited as well.

Chris is happily married to his wife Emily and together they enjoy fly fishing the world and raising their children in the sport.

Julie Mattson, a seasoned fly fishing expert from Oklahoma, USA, brings over 25 years of experience to the forefront as a guide and a prominent member of the Women’s National & Worlds Fly Fishing Team since 2022. Her journey into the world of fly fishing began in Montana at the tender age of ten, which sparked a lifelong passion that has taken her across the country from Alaska to Montana, and her home state of Oklahoma.

Julie’s dedication to her craft was showcased in 2022 when she participated in the inaugural USA Women’s Fly Fishing Nationals in Colorado, clinching a Silver Team medal and securing her well-deserved spot on the National Team. She then proudly represented her country at the first Women’s Worlds Competition in Norway. In 2023, Julie’s contributions as both an angler and teammate helped the team bring home the Bronze Medal at the 2nd Worlds Championship in Canada.

Currently, Julie is gearing up to represent the country again at the upcoming World Championship in the Czech Republic in May 2024. Beyond her competitive pursuits, Julie is the owner and operator of On The Rivers Fly Fishing Company, located in Southeast Oklahoma along the Lower Mountain Fork River. During the summer months, she guides in Southeast Alaska at The HookUp Fly Shop.

Julie’s commitment extends beyond her professional endeavors as she actively engages in volunteer work for organizations like Reel Girls, Casting for Recovery, Boy Scouts, and Healing Waters. Her role as a mentor for the May Fly Project shows her dedication and passion for fly fishing with the next generation. Experience first hand Julie‘s spirit of empowerment and teamwork within the fly fishing community. 

Cari Ray is a fly fishing instructor, licensed guide, FFI Certified Casting Instructor, and founder of The School of Zen Fly Fishing. She is also a writer, speaker, and serves on the FFI Texas Council Board as Casting Director. Calling Texas Hill Country home, Cari spends the summer season guiding in the mountains of Southwestern Colorado and on New Mexico’s famed San Juan River Quality Water.

Cari has a particular passion for inspiring and mentoring students/clients at every level to identify, gain, and grow the skills necessary to achieve consistent and independent success on the water. She believes that one’s access to the enjoyment, relaxation, and “zenefits” available through the sport is commensurate with one’s mastery of fly casting and angling skills.

Stephen has fly-fished for over 25 years. His passion for fly fishing has taken him to the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, North America, Canada and he has guided in Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Stephen has lived in Fort Worth for the past 27 years. Stephen has been President, Vice President and speaker chairman for the Fort Worth Fly Fishers and loves to fly fish anytime he can. He is the Fly Fishing Manager at the Orvis Fort Worth store.

Nick Streit was born into somewhat of a fly fishing dynasty. His father, Taylor started guiding anglers in Northern New Mexico in the late 70’s and has literally wrote the book on fly fishing New Mexico. His Uncle Jackson, likewise, owns and operates The Mountain Angler in Breckenridge, Co and has authored the book Fly Fishing Colorado.

Getting into the family business at an early age, Nick was guiding fisherman before he was old enough to drive them to the river, and by the age of 17, Nick was a member of the U.S. fly fishing team that took second place in the World Championships in Wales. After college, Nick followed his father’s footsteps to such fly fishing destinations as the Bahamas and Argentina. He also ventured out on his own for a brief stint guiding in Alaska. But the call of his home-waters could not be denied, and in 2004 Nick, along with his wife Chrissy, re-opened the Taos Fly Shop (in the same location his father had the store in the 80’s). The shop has grown from its humble beginnings and is now Northern NM’s premier fly shop.  In 2012, Nick- along with longtime friend and fellow guide Ivan Valdez, purchased The Reel Life, a fly shop and guide service in Santa Fe.

Nick now spends the majority of his time running his two businesses, guiding and instructing classes. In the winter, he hosts group trips to Argentina, Cuba and beyond. Nick also enjoys photography and his work has been featured in publications such as Southwest Fly Fishing and New Mexico Magazine.

Nick is also a passionate conservationist, volunteering his efforts over the years to organizations like Trout Unlimited. He is also the Director of the Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte national monument, a organization focused on conservation and community outreach.

If not at work, Nick is usually camping, hunting of fishing in the woods somewhere with his wife Chrissy and their two children, Taylor and Christian.