Guides + Instructors
Lance & Kirsten Gray
We have more than 50 years of combined experience in fly fishing.
Lance started fly fishing with his father and brother Lincoln at age 7. In his teens, he began tying flies commercially for shops around Northern California. At 17, he went to work at Powell's Fly Shop in Chico, where he worked in the fly shop and built rods. He guided Powell’s, conducted fly-tying and fly-fishing schools, and traveled.
In 1993, Lance and Kirsten started Saltwater Innovations, a company that manufactured and distributed products for saltwater fly fishing. Lance’s Crystal Popper, Gray’s Billfish Fly, the KO Charlie line, and the Raghead Crabs are all Saltwater Innovations products. Kirsten worked behind the scenes, handling the day-to-day operations and running the company's manufacturing floor.
In 2003, they launched Lance Gray & Company, a full-service outfitter offering guided trips, fly-fishing tours, workshops, and a travel agency.
Lance conducts presentations at fly clubs and fly-fishing shows. While volunteering with veterans, Kirsten and Lance support local groups like Cub Scouts and 4H.
He's a signature tier for Aqua Flies, a pro staff member for Sage, RIO, Simms, Fishpond, and Umpqua Feather Merchants, and a featured writer, with articles published in Angling Trade Magazine, California Fly Fisher, Fly Fishermen, and American Fly Fishing.
Lance is a columnist. His column “The Foraging Angler” is published bi-monthly in the California Fly Fisher Magazine.
Kirsten is a fantastic photographer. Her images have been published in many fly-fishing/outdoor periodicals, such as Fly Fishermen and California Fly Fisher, and on websites throughout the fly-fishing industry.
Lance & Kirsten are on Pro Staff with the following companies:
A passion for the sport of fly-fishing, vast knowledge, easy-going teaching style, and zany wit make Tim a really fun fishin’ buddy.
Tim Fox
Tim & I are lifelong friends. We worked together at Powell’s in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He then ventured off to work at the original California Fly Shop that was in Fairfield, CA, in the 90s. He is the former manager of The Fly Shop in Redding, CA., until he retired and became a fulltime guide.
A genuinely brilliant fly tier, fly fisher and hunter, these passions are exceeded only by his love for his family.
Kirsten and I are privileged and very excited to announce that Tim Fox has joined our team of guides—he is a great fit in our fly family.
Ryan grew up in Vacaville, CA, as did Kirsten. He began to fish Putah Creek as a teenager. He started to guide Putah Creek. After gaining experience on his local water, he branched out to other fisheries around Northern California, including Lake Oroville, Feather River, Lake Berryessa, and more.
Ryan now lives on the shores of Lake Oroville and is best known for re-discovering the Float n’ Fly with a fly rod and its application for stillwater bass during the Winter. He’s also been a significant proponent of top-water fly fishing on California’s public reservoirs.
Ryan is a full-time guide and fly tyer who designs flies that work, which he uses in his guiding and instruction.
Ryan Williams
Ryan is the 2023 Costa Bass n’ Fly Champion, along with fishing partner Brian Pultz.
In the winter of 2021, Ryan won the 178-boat Wild West Bass Trail team tournament on Lake Shasta. Some of the best bass pros around attended this tournament.
Ryan used only his fly rod and the Float n’ Fly technique, making it the first significant bass tournament victory for a fly rod in the USA.
He is about as passionate about fly fishing as they come and truly enjoys sharing his information. Ryan is a teaching guide, and as one, he is a perfect fit.
Brian Clemens
After graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force, became a U-2 Aircraft Mechanic, and was stationed at Beale AFB in California. He soon discovered the waters of Northern California and began fishing once again.
Inspired by his late uncle, Brian started fly fishing in 2005. His journey began while searching for steelhead, trout, salmon, and bass in Northern California, and his fly-fishing travels have included Oregon, Nevada, New York, Mexico, and Alaska.
In 2009, his passion blossomed into a career as a fly fishing guide. Brian’s knowledge, hard work, patience, and dedication to the sport have brought him and his guests much success on the Yuba, Feather, American, Truckee, Trinity, Lower Klamath, and Lower Sac, as well as Putah Creek.
Brian was born and raised in upstate New York, where his passion for fishing started at a very young age.
No matter what fishing technique, fish species, or fishing experience you seek, Brian will ensure an enjoyable day on the water.
Brian offers many specialized guided trips but also offers a few exclusive trips: an all-inclusive Lower Klamath trip and an all-inclusive Trinity River trip. If you like swinging for SHAD, he offers a unique swing-only Shad trip on the Lower Yuba with his jet boat as well.
Brian is known as the “Spey Mechanic” for his teaching abilities in spey casting. He lives chasing steelhead, trout, and shad on a two-handed rod and truly enjoys sharing the art of spey casting and swinging with everyone.
Brian is a passionate, hardworking guide and a perfect fit for Lance Gray & Company.