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Meet the WRTC Team

From world-traveled guides to warm hospitality, our team is here to make your stay unforgettable.

Captain Stephen Balogh

Owner / Head Guide

Stephen grew up in North Texas, where fishing quickly became his lifelong passion. He began guiding in 2009 and has since worked waters from Alaska to Colorado, building a reputation as a skilled float guide for anglers of every level. While trout are his specialty, Stephen’s love for saltwater has taken him across the globe hosting trips for permit and other flats species. At White River Trout Club, he leads with deep experience and a genuine drive to share the river with every guest.

David Burgher

Owner / Head Guide

Originally from Texas, David has spent more than a decade guiding across some of the most celebrated fisheries in North and South America. His experience ranges from the Delaware River in Pennsylvania to Colorado’s trout streams, the tailwaters of Arkansas, remote lodges in Alaska and Chile, and even permit flats in the Caribbean—where he currently holds the record for most permit caught in a single day (7) at The XFlats. Along the way, he’s earned recognition in competitive fly casting, including a win at the GoPro Games in Vail, and has been featured in publications such as The Flyfisherman and Outdoor Life. Known for his technical skill, calm demeanor, and ability to help anglers of any level progress, David brings both global expertise and a deep passion for the White River to every trip he guides.

Brian Kick

Guide

A Springdale, Arkansas native, Brian grew up splitting his time between the ballfield and the Ozarks’ woods, rivers, and lakes. A third-generation fly angler, he picked up a fly rod at 12 and soon added fly tying to his passions—something he still practices daily for his guests. When he wasn’t chasing ducks and upland birds, he was on the water, especially the Arkansas tailwaters he’s fished regularly since 2009. Today, Brian focuses his time on the White and Norfork, where his deep local experience and hand-tied flies anchor every trip he guides.

Rudy Chelednik

Guide

 Rudy grew up fishing the limestone streams and Lake Erie tributaries of Pennsylvania, later using fly fishing as an outlet during his time at the U.S. Military Academy. After 12 years of Army service, he turned his passion into a full-time guiding career. Known for his patience and ability to connect with clients, Rudy works with anglers of every age and skill level to create lasting experiences on the river. When he’s not guiding, you’ll find him fishing with his wife and two sons or chasing tarpon and snook in Florida.

Kyle Bogard

Guide

Born and raised in a small town in central Arkansas, Kyle was introduced to fishing by his grandfather at an early age but never really gauged his interest until he was 17 when his grandfather gave him an old Eagle Claw fly rod with an automatic fly reel. Interest became obsession and you could find Kyle running around in his beat up Honda Civic with that Eagle Claw fly rod hanging out of the passenger window heading to any body of water that looked like it had bass or panfish in it. After graduating high school, Kyle joined the Navy and was stationed in Sasebo, Japan for 4 years. When Kyle was honorably discharged from the Navy he used his GI Bill to attend Sweetwater Guide School in Fort Smith, MT and after that he moved up to the White River in his home state of Arkansas to pursue a career in fly fishing. Since moving to North Central Arkansas, and joining the White River Trout Club in early spring of 2023, you can find Kyle in the office or on the river looking for big browns.

Luke Coffey

Guide

Born and raised in the Ozarks, Luke pairs a lifelong love of fishing with a background in environmental science. After serving six years in the U.S. Air Force, he guided professionally across Alaska, the Gulf Coast, and his home waters of Arkansas. Nearly a decade into his career, Luke’s experience spans trout on cold rivers to tarpon in tropical flats. Guests appreciate his knowledge, calm presence, and the passion he brings to helping others connect with the natural world through fly fishing.

Dustin Doss

Guide

Originally from Tulsa, Dustin grew up fishing with his father and grandfather before setting out to explore waters across the U.S. and beyond. He spent 16 years in Colorado honing his guiding craft before moving to Arkansas full time in 2021 to focus on the White River. Deeply invested in entomology and fly tying, Dustin loves sharing his technical knowledge with guests while also chasing his personal passion for tarpon and other saltwater species. His guiding style blends patience, expertise, and a love for teaching.

Brennon Garrett

Guide

Brennon’s fly fishing journey started in Iowa with a rod inherited from his grandfather and has since taken him across the country in pursuit of fish. He began guiding at 15 and later trained at a Colorado guide school, eventually making his way to the White River. With a passion for chasing big browns—especially through night fishing and dry fly tactics—Brennon brings both skill and charisma to the boat. Whether working with beginners or experienced anglers, his goal is always the same: make the day on the water unforgettable.

Richard Woodall

Guide

Raised in the foothills of the Ozarks, Richard grew up trout fishing with his father, grandfather, and uncle at the family cabin on the Little Red River near Heber Springs, Arkansas. He picked up his first fly rod at six or seven and was soon honing his skills on farm ponds before graduating to the famed White and Norfork Rivers. In 1996, Richard moved to Colorado and spent years guiding on the Eagle, Colorado, Roaring Fork, and Frying Pan Rivers, building deep experience across a range of Western trout fisheries. Today, life has brought him back to Arkansas’ tailwaters, where he calls the White and Norfork home. Whether you’re brand new to fly fishing or a seasoned angler, Richard is grateful to share his boat, his stories, and his lifelong passion for these rivers.

Mike Sexton

Guide

Mike has been guiding since 1995, beginning his career on the rivers of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico before bringing his expertise to the White River. A member of Fly Fishing Team USA since 2006, he has competed internationally and was part of the gold medal–winning team in Italy in 2022. With nearly three decades of experience, Mike is passionate about sharing the knowledge he’s gained and takes pride in teaching the art of fly fishing to anglers of all levels.

Cody Morden

Guide

Cody Morden grew up in Texas with a passion for fly fishing, spending his early years chasing bass in ponds and creeks, while traveling to chase trout. That passion for the outdoors led him to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he moved to study Business Management at the University of Arkansas. During his college years, Cody fell in love with the Ozarks and began spending every spare day learning the White River—studying its seasons, hatches, and guiding anglers of all skill levels.

Peyton Thompson-Balogh

Guest Services

Originally from Denver, Peyton brings her background in design and client services to the lodge. She’s dedicated to making every guest feel at home, curating thoughtful details and ensuring smooth stays from arrival to departure. When she’s not at the lodge, Peyton enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dogs and soaking up the beauty of the Ozarks.

Courtney

Office Manager

Courtney is the Office Manager at the White River Trout Club, where she plays a key role in helping individuals, groups, and organizations plan unforgettable fly-fishing vacations. With a warm, detail-oriented approach, she ensures every guest’s stay is seamless and memorable, from trip planning to the final farewell. Courtney takes pride in creating exceptional experiences that make the White River Trout Club feel like a true home away from home.
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