About Us
Who are we?
The story of the White River Trout Club starts at The University of Arkansas, when fraternity brothers David Burgher and Stephen Balogh first met. The two quickly bonded over their love for all things fly fishing and trying to find the best fishing the natural state had to offer (in between classes, of course). After graduation, best friends David and Stephen chased opportunities to fish all over the world – living and guiding in places like Alaska, South America, Colorado, New Mexico and the Catskills. It wasn’t until 2020 that the two decided to join forces and officially call Arkansas home again. With their combined experience working in some of the greatest fisheries in the world, David and Stephen embarked on their latest journey of creating what they hope will become one of the greatest fishing lodges on The White River – The White River Trout Club.
Stephen Balogh
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas – Stephen is a tenured fly fishing guide who loves taking beginners and experts, both young and old. Stephen is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in Hotel/ Restaurant Management. His combination of guiding professionally and nearly 10 years in the Vail, CO hospitality management industry gives him solid insight of what a true fishing lodge needs in order to thrive. He is exceptionally proud to be in partnership with both his fiancée, Peyton, and best friend, David.
David Burgher
Texas native but Arkansas proud, David is a very well-traveled and seasoned guide and angler who is always on the search for knowledge and loves sharing what he has learned to others. David loves teaching everyone, from beginners to experts, the sport of fly fishing and seeing their excitement when they catch fish or learn something new. After 14 years of guiding all over the country from New York to Alaska and mainly places in between and 5 seasons in Chile, David has seen and learned a lot to make people’s day the best experience possible. He is very excited to call Arkansas home again and to be an owner of the best lodge on the White River.
Clay Mills
Clay is a lifelong angler with a passion for conservation. His love for the outdoors is enjoyed by fishing, hiking, and kayaking in the natural beauty of North Central Arkansas. Clay has spent many years in the customer driven service industries. Through this experience he has developed a skill set to make each guest’s stay feel memorable and uniquely tailored to their needs.
Peyton Thompson
As a native of Denver, Colorado, Peyton’s Texas connection is that she graduated from Texas Christian University (go Frogs!). An interior designer by trade, Peyton has experience working in the client services industry and is excited to help curate the perfect “home away from home” for each individual guest. When she’s not working on the grounds, you can find Peyton spending time outside with her dogs and soaking up all of the beauty the natural state has to offer.
