Our AFFTA January Member of the Month is Alice Owsley, owner of West Yellowstone, Montana-based Riverside Anglers. Offering guide trips throughout the greater Yellowstone region, including inside Yellowstone National Park, Alice keeps busy throughout the fishing season with her guiding and outfitting business, and has a unique off-season gig as well. (Read below to find out what it is!)
Read more about Alice and her business here.
What led you into guiding?
I love having the river as my office. I started instructing fly fishing in 1996 and really wanted to get on the water with clients.
You have some pretty awesome off-season work, too. Can you share a bit about that?
In addition to promoting my guide business I drive a snowcoach into Yellowstone National Park, leading interpretive and cross-country ski trips.
How has AFFTA membership benefitted you?
Networking with the top professionals in the industry has been the most valuable.
What’s one thing you wish AFFTA members knew about your business?
While we certainly love showing clients what the fishing on the Madison and Yellowstone National Park have to offer, we are instructors and want to help all our guests improve their skills.
When you’re not on the river, what are you most likely to be found doing?
Sleeping, eating. Depends on the season, either researching the next fresh or saltwater destination for the offseason, skiing or following our wirehair, Norman, around in the woods.
What’s in a name?
When asked “Why Riverside Anglers?” Alice notes on her website: “Don’t we all dream of being by the river, watching dancing mayflies, waiting for a rising trout and letting the soothing waters carrying our attention downstream? Yes of course, but Riverside also refers to a place. Riverside, Montana. You won’t find it on a current map. It was one of the names for the settlement now referred to as West Yellowstone, MT. When Yellowstone National Park was first established on March 1, 1872 there was no governing body to look after the 1.9 million acres, roaming bison and exquiste hot springs. In 1886, the Interior Department asked the US Army to intervene and Yellowstone was going to be looked after by the War Department. Riverside Station was built as patrol cabin, on the banks of the Madison River about 2 miles from the current town site. On February 9, 1933, the all time record low of -66 was recorded at Riverside Station. Brrr. I picked it to name my buiness as a nod to the history of this amazing place and in reference to where we would all like to be with fly rod in hand, riverside.”
