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OUR STAFF

Chris Strainer:  Owner/Manager/Guide/Instructor, Chris has been fishing and hunting since he was big enough to handle a rod and gun.  Chris started fly fishing in 1982 and it has taken him to some wonderful places including Ireland, Canada and all over the United States.  His addiction for the sport eventually got the best of him and he decided to give up his career as a field biologist for The Nature Conservancy to run his own fly shop (now 2 fly shops!).  He still gets to somewhat use his Biology Degree from Furman University and graduate studies from SFS at Northeastern University, University of Alabama at Birmingham and South Dakota State University as he is a member of the Citizens Advisory Panel for the Future Fisheries Improvement Fund for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and is a current Board Member of the Pat Barnes Missouri River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (a two-term President, Vise President & two-term Treasurer), and also was on the Montana Trout Unlimited State Council.

Chris is the lead instructor for CrossCurrents Beginner & Intermediate Fly Tying Classes, Rod Building Classes and Group & Private Casting Lessons.  He is also a Montana Fly Fishing Guide (#9980) and guides on the Missouri, the Smith and the Blackfoot.  As a business owner, Chris was a two-term Board of Directors member for Downtown Helena, Inc. and served as Vice President of the association for two years.  He also has an addiction for upland, waterfowl and big game hunting.

Our Sensational Seasonal Staff:  Over the past 15 summers, CrossCurrents has been blessed with the best seasonal employees.  We hire intelligent, articulate people that love to fly fish and help people.  Many of our alumni are now successful Outfitters, Guides, fisheries biologists, business owners, military officers, teachers, attorneys, engineers, dentists, loving parents - and a few trout bums.  Most have or are acquiring a Bachelors, Masters, PhD’s and JD’s.   I don’t know if we are just plain lucky or that we attract great people of solid character.  (I hope it’s the latter.)

Lisa Verzani:  Shop Staff and Guide.  Lisa grew up in Helena and has always had a love of the outdoors.  Several years ago she took a fly fishing clinic from our own FFF Casting Instructor, Gene Shimel and the fly fishing fever has only gotten stronger!  In 2006 she attended the Reel Women Guide School and for the last 3 years has gotten paid for pullin’ oars, untangling knots and nettin’ fish on the Missouri.  Lisa is also a Board Member or our local, Pat Barnes Missouri River Chapter of Trout Unlimited.  In the off season, she teaches not on the river but in the school rooms in Helena.

Lisa in the Spring of 2010 was diagnosed with a serious illness that will keep her busier with the doctors than with the trout.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

Larry the Urban Legend:  Shop Staff.  Larry grew up in New Jersey fishing both in freshwater for trout and on the Jersey shore for big saltwater species like “stripas.”  You’ll catch Larry on the weekends during the season in either shop because during the week he pulls duty as the Wetlands Mitigation Specialist for the MT DOT.  However, in 2009, Larry presence will be a bit limited due to some recent knee problems from years of abuse on the ice playing, ref’ing and coaching hockey.  That will also limit is time wading in the waters as well.

Jim Bowerman:  Part-Time Shop Staff & Full-Time Angler.  Jim retired fairly early from a career as a Conservation Officer (aka Game Warden) in Michigan.  Now he has the pleasure of traveling full-time in his 5th wheel.  Winters in Arkansas & other sweet, mostly tropical fishin’ locales and then Summers on the MO.  Very knowledgeable, friendly and one, super-handy dude around the shop, we are pleased to have Jim hang out with us in the Summer up in Craig shop!

Kurt Michels:  Shop Staff & Guide.  Kurt started with CrossCurrents back in 2002 as a full-time, seasonal employee in our Craig store.  He’s now a full-time Guide but helps us out in our Craig shop in the early part of the season until his guiding gets busier in late Spring and through the Fall.  This Helena native knows his stuff on the MO and many other rivers and is available to guide on the MO, Blackfoot and the Smith.  Give us a call if you want Kurt to put you on fish this season!

Caleb Skjervem:  (Yeah, have fun with the pronunciation of that last name.  Vanna, can I buy a vowel!)  Shop Staff, Engineering Student, Fly Fishing Addict and Fly Tyer.  Caleb’s upbeat attitude and his passion for talking about all things fly fishing make him a great addition to the shop.  His engineering studies will keep him only part time in both our Helena and Craig stores.

Don’t Ask!

With Greg, some things are better left unanswered!

Believe it or not, this guy worked for the MT Supreme Court!

Tyler Bachtel:  Shop Staff-Craig.  Tyler has been working in our Craig shop for the past 4 summers.  He’s also a great fly tyer.  Tyler and his family have been fishing the MO every summer for the last several years.  Most customers and our Guides were shocked to find out how much knowledge and skill (you should see him cast!) this young angler possess!  Next time you’re in our Craig shop, be sure to ask for Tyler’s Fuzzy Face!

Jim Stein:  Instructor of our Fly-Fishing Schools & Fly Tying Classes.  Jim has done an absolute amazing job with CrossCurrents’ Fly-Fishing Schools over the last four years.  Besides having a passion for teaching people about fly fishing and tying, Jim loves working with his horses all year around and hunting for upland birds with his English Setters in the Fall.

If you want to get started right in fly fishing -or just want to greatly improve your skills and knowledge in this lifetime pursuit, you would do yourself right by taking one of Jim’s fly fishing schools!

Matt was our original Web Designer, getting us online in 1998.  Now he has a Ph.D. in Genetics!

Randy Cypers: Shop Staff.  Randy has been  with us for five seasons and enjoys talking fishing in our Helena shop.  You’ll also see him out at our Craig store so he can spend more time on the MO and play a little music on the Log Jam at Izaak’s.  You may also see him with his dad on some “secret streams” they like to fish.  You can also see Randy around Helena playing guitar at various venues - he’s quite good.

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Justin Smith: Craig Shop Dog & all around good, young punk!  2008 was Justin’s first year on the river up in Craig.  He mostly performed our much needed maintenance/boat/shuttle duties but he learned the ropes on the river and was a big help in the shop in ’08 and a HUGE help in 2009.  A native of Simms, Montana, he’s one of the hardest working teenagers you’ll ever come across.  He has become a valuable team member for our Craig operations.  Look for him in 2010 on the MO doing a lot of fishing.

Gene Shimel:  Shop Staff and Certified Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Casting Instructor and all around fly fishing guru!  Gene has fished more places with more people (many you’ve read about in magazines and books) then the rest of CrossCurrents staff combined.  You will not meet a more experienced or knowledgeable person in any other shop in the area!  Gene’s time in Montana will very limited this year due to family obligations back home in Colorado.

John Roby: (AKA “Roby-Wan Kenobi”)  New to the CrossCurrents Staff list but not new to Shop or the Missouri River is our long-time, good client turned fly fishing bum with an early retirement from Seattle’s Best Coffee is John Roby.  John has traveled the world, speaks multiple languages and has pretty much been there & done that but now wants to just relax and fly fish full-time!  So stop by the Craig shop, have a cup of SBC coffee (provided by Scenic Valley Lodge) and talk trout with John.

Roby-Wan spent the Winter down in Florida chasing all sorts of things with fins from his flats boat.  His double-haul should be spot on this year - and his tan.

Ashley VanSickle: Carroll College student and passionate fly angler, Ashley will be mostly in our Helena store this Summer and part-time in during the academic year.  From a Montana fishing and hunting family, Ashley loves the outdoors and loves talking about it with our customers.  Ashley’s smile and up-beat attitude is infectious and will make you want to get out and fish after talking with her.

Beth Hood: Shop Staff, Guide & Partner in The River Chef.  Beth has been in the fly fishing business for over 6 years now and we are glad to have her working part-time in both the Helena shop and in our Craig store.  Beth loves to fish, float and hunt and she and her boyfriend, Geoff are just plain fun to hang out with in the shop, on the water, in the field or at the pub.  CrossCurrents is privileged to have Beth on board even if it is just part time.

Beth & Geof also have a custom catering business where they can provide gourmet meals for your group staying up on the Missouri River in one of our Rental Houses.  Give us a call at either shop or drop us an e-mail for more information.

See Below for Job & Application Information for 2010.

Nord Johnson:  Shop Staff and Guide.  Nord has helped out in CrossCurrents several times in the past - mostly during the holiday season in our Helena store.  This time, he’s going to be mostly in our Helena store for the Summer!  He’ll also be doing some days helping people bend a fly rod and have a great time on the water as an Orvis-Endorsed Guide.  We are so pleased to have him around more this year.  You will be hard pressed to find someone more enthusiastic about the outdoors than good ol’ Nordo!

Jesse Anderson:  Shop Staff and Guide.  Jesse hails from the banks of the MO down in Fort Benton.  Jesse is one of the hardest working dudes we know -both on the water and in the shop.  We are happy to add Jesse to our team and look forward to a fun season with a muddy water MO native.

Beau Albright:  Shop Staff/ Collegiate Angler.  A Flathead Valley native, Beau is a great addition to the staff here on the East side of the divide.  The transition from Cutthroats and Bulls on the West side to Rainbows and Brown here on the MO came pretty naturally to this lifetime fly angler.  Working his way through Carroll College, you should see Beau around the Helena shop in Fall & Winter.