OUR GUIDES
CAPTAIN STEPHEN BALOGH
HEAD GUIDE
Stephen grew up in North Texas where he started fishing at a very young age on the numerous lakes and creeks surrounding his hometown. Instead of playing on the jungle gyms, 4-year-old Stephen could be found baiting his own hook and reeling in bass, perch, giant catfish and the occasional behemoth carp. His passion for fishing grew larger and larger through his early school years until college; it then exploded. Stephen attended the University of Arkansas where he studied Hotel/Restaurant Management, with the dream of one day owning a fly fishing lodge… He spent more time on the water than in class; whether it was an evening trip to night fish the White River or romping around Northwest Arkansas streams looking for smallmouth bass.
Stephen’s guiding career started in 2009 during his sophomore year of college at a private rod and gun club north of campus. Eventually, in 2011, Stephen made his way to guide in Unalakleet, Alaska and from there the addiction grew. Between 2012 and 2019, he guided out of Vail, Colorado where he has established himself as the go-to float fishing guide for both beginners and experts.
While Stephen loves trout fishing, he spends most of his free-time off on the pointy end of a panga in Mexico. His addiction to permit, and other saltwater flats fishing species, has allowed him the opportunity to host groups to some of the best permit fishing destinations in the world.
DAVID BURGHER
HEAD GUIDE
David was born and raised in Texas until he moved to Arkansas where he is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. He started guiding throughout college and the day after graduation, he began his 10-year guiding and fishing road trip. The driving force to which location will be next requires constant learning, whether it be rivers that focus primarily on dry flyfishing and entomology or more nymph focused, as well as many other techniques. Over the years David has also had several very important mentors who helped shape him into the angler he is today, which include Al Caucci, Chuck Farneth, Bob Lewis and Jeff White. His guiding career has led him to work in several states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania. He also spent 5 seasons in Chile, where he was the head guide for the last 2 seasons. David called Colorado home for nearly the last 9 years, guiding primarily on the Gunnison River from the lower pleasure park area to the Gunnison Gorge, with the majority on the Upper around the city of Gunnison. But when Covid came about in 2020, it resulted in David trying to figure out his next move, and since Chile’s borders were closed, it was no longer a wintertime option. Thankfully, it led him to team up with his best friend, Stephen Balogh. Stephen had already created a guide service, Riffletrip Outfitters, and it was a natural fit for the two to team up. This company enabled both to have their dreams come true and become lodge owners together and in 2021 The White River Trout Club.
Besides guiding, David is active in the competition scene and has been competing in fly casting, fishing, and guiding for years all over the Western US. He has taken top guide, floating and wading in several well know tournaments, has won 2 gold and 1 silver medal at the Go Pro Mountain Games, and silver in the Top Gun casting event in Salt Lake City. Fame and notoriety have never been the focus for David but the hard work, constant search of knowledge and relationship has resulted in him being in several magazines, the most notable being the cover of The Flyfisherman Magazine and an interview in Outdoor Life Magazine.
When David is not on the water guiding you can probably find him tying flies, working on creating the next hot fly or on the beach in Mexico chasing permit. When it’s time for personal fishing, Saltwater fishing is his true passion and he takes any possible chance to be on the flats.
KYLE LUCK
FLY SHOP MANAGER / 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.
MIKE SEXTON
GUIDE
Mike has been guiding since 1995, beginning his journey in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. For the past five years, he has brought his extensive experience to the White River in Arkansas. A member of Flyfishing Team USA since 2006, Mike has competed globally and was part of the gold medal-winning team in Italy in 2022. He truly enjoys sharing the knowledge and experience he has gained over the years with his customers, as well as teaching the art of fly fishing.
RUDY CHELEDNIK
GUIDE
Rudy grew up in western Pennsylvania and fished at every opportunity, from the famous limestone trout streams to the Lake Erie Tributaries and every golf course pond in between. While attending the United States Military Academy, he used fly fishing as a welcomed escape from the rigors of military academy life. Following graduation, Rudy developed a passion for helping military friends learn how to fly fish.
Rudy served 12 years in the United States Army and decided to resign his commission and become a full-time fly fishing guide. He enjoys building lasting relationships with clients and works tirelessly to ensure that they have the best opportunity for success on the river. He is a patient teacher and will work with anglers of all ages and experience levels.
When not guiding, Rudy enjoys fishing with his two sons and wife. Although he enjoys guiding more than fishing, you will find him from time to time chasing Tarpon or Snook in Florida.
BRIAN KICK
GUIDE
Brian is an Arkansan originally from Springdale, AR, where he grew up with a strong passion for sports and the outdoors. After high school, he graduated from Missouri Southern State University, where he continued to pursue his love for baseball. When he wasn’t on the playing field, you could often find him exploring the Ozark woods, rivers, and lakes of Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas.
Duck hunting and wing shooting were his favorite activities during the winter months, but at any other time, you'd find him fishing—mostly fly fishing. As a third-generation fly fisherman, Brian began carrying a fly rod at the age of 12. Fly tying is another passion of his, and he started tying regularly at the age of 14, with the guidance of many great mentors along the way. Rest assured, everything you fish in his boat has been personally tied by him.
Brian started fishing the four major tailwaters in Arkansas regularly in 2009, and by 2010, he quickly realized that the White and Norfork Tailwaters were the place to be.
KYLE BOGARD
GUIDE
Arkansas native, Born in Stuttgart Arkansas and grew up working on the family rice farm, and duck hunting guide service, Kyle was guiding waterfowl by age 14. Waterfowl hunting and fly fishing have been a major part Kyle’s life. Kyle has over 20 years and around 3,000 days on the river between fly fishing and whitewater guiding. Kyle says fly fishing and the river, have been an unmeasurable gift to help navigate through life. “Teaching someone to fly fish and unlocking the keys to tap into that gift themselves is probably my favorite part about guiding
