Keren Zucker is a Montana based hunting and fishing guide with a passion for photography and all things outdoors. Keren is uber encouraging to new anglers trying to find their stride on the water, and absolutely loves helping anglers catch fish on the fly. Keren enjoys the more intimate, quiet qualities that fly fishing provides, as well as the humbling moments when the fish are not being as cooperative and you really have to work to figure out what they are after.
Where are your home waters? / Is this different from where you guide now?
I started my fly fishing journey in Maine. I currently guide in Montana and have done some guiding in Wyoming, too.
Where do you fish/guide?
I do a lot of personal fishing wherever I happen to be; Montana, and Maine mostly. I guide on the Ruby river in Southwest Montana.
What species of fish do you guide for?
Trout (Rainbow, Brown, Brook, Cutthroat).
When guiding clients, are you walk-in fishing, fishing shorelines, fishing from a drift boat/jet boat/prop boat? What is your specific style?
The trips I guide are walk and wade.
How long have you been professionally guiding?
2022 has been my fifth year working as a guide.
Who is your biggest inspiration or mentor?
As far as guiding goes, my biggest mentor has been Donna McDonald, owner of Upper Canyon Outfitters, where I guide.
Not only did she give me the opportunity to train and then work as a guide for her outfit, she is an incredible guide herself and throughout my years working for her has been so generous to share her knowledge, tips and tricks, stories, lessons etc. with me.
Donna is also an inspiration for blazing the trail for women guides in Montana. She was one of the first women in Montana to become a licensed outfitter, and was the first woman to serve as president of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, among many other impressive milestones.
What is your favorite part about guiding and the thing that keeps you coming back every day?
I love being able to share fly fishing and the outdoors with others. It is especially rewarding to introduce new anglers to the sport and be able to share what I know about fishing with them, help them improve or learn something new. Also, nothing compares to being there to witness someone catch their first fish on the fly!
What was your first fishing experience? / When did you begin fly fishing?
I grew up in southern Israel, so essentially in the desert. Fishing wasn’t even a probable activity to participate in. When I was 12 years old, my parents and I moved to the U.S., we lived in northern Idaho for about a year and a half, by a lake, that is where my fascination with fishing began.
Initially, I started out spin fishing with worms and bobbers. When we moved to Maine my dad would take me out to the local pond, that is where I caught my first trout! On one of those outings to the pond I saw a person doing some type of fishing I hadn’t seen before (fly fishing). I was intrigued and my dad and I went over to find out what he was doing. That winter my parents got me my first fly rod for my birthday and it just snowballed from there, I was about 14.
Most embarrassing thing to happen while guiding a trip?
When I started training as a guide, netting fish proved to be quite the challenge. There is video footage of me doing pirouettes in the river trying to net (and mostly missing) fish. My fellow guide who was with me on the river that day makes sure to show me that video at least once a year so I can remember how far I’ve come.
Best day on the water with clients, tell us about it.
Recently, my best day on the water was guiding at a girls summer camp. The level of enthusiasm I was met with was refreshing. They were so eager and proved to be great listeners and students.
Dream fishing trip?
I’d love to give fly fishing in Israel a go!
Do you think that conservation plays a role in guiding? Why or why not.
Absolutely! As a fly fishing and hunting guide, I feel an additional responsibility to educate my clients on the area we are recreating in, the mammals and fish, and any conservation related topics that we face in the area.
I also think it’s important to be role models in conservation by getting involved hands on when possible with local service projects, local meetings, etc. I think guide input can be very impactful since we spend every day out on the water and have in-depth knowledge of the waters we guide on, due to that.
What is it that draws you to fly fishing?
I enjoy the more intimate, quiet qualities that fly fishing provides, as well as the humbling moments when the fish are not being as cooperative and you really have to work to figure out what they are after.
Best and worst places you have guided clients?
As the saying goes, trout don’t live in ugly places, so as far as that goes I don’t think there’s been a ‘worst place’ I have guided. That is one of the benefits of fly fishing, even when the fishing sucks the scenery is usually quite rewarding.
What is a trick that you teach guests often?
The number one thing I usually get asked for help with is knots, so going over how to tie different knots more effectively and quickly.
A helpful, easy ‘trick’ I like to share is showing clients how to string their rod by pulling a bunch of fly line out, doubling it over, then grabbing the folded over section and stringing that through the eyelets, vs trying to string your line leader first. Surprisingly a lot of people are not aware they can do that and it’s a big time and frustration saver.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a fishing guide?
If you are starting as an apprentice or trainee, like I did, be prepared to put in long days and remember that there is a lot of other work around guiding that doesn’t involve the act of fishing. Embrace it, it is part of the process.
Another big thing I keep in mind is that as guides we want our clients to have success and ‘catch all the fish,’ but that isn’t always THEIR objective. A few years ago I guided a guy on a stretch of water where dry flies normally don’t produce well. He insisted on trying his dries despite me advising him against it. Towards the end of the day, I had to stop and remind myself that this is HIS trip, not mine. I tied on a dry for him and he fished the rest of the afternoon. No fish were caught but he had a blast and left happy.
The same goes for folks who maybe like to take it easier on the water, take frequent breaks, quit early, whatever it may be. Point is, I think it’s important not to impose our expectations on our clients.
What is your favorite fly to use on the water, not necessarily the best, but your favorite? Also, what is your go-to guide fly?
My best friend (who guides in Maine) spends a lot of time tying flies, often from materials she collects (fur, and feathers from her hunts etc.) a few years ago she came up with a klinkhammer pattern that has a pink parachute. She coined it the ‘Ginky Lady.’ It is my favorite fly because it reminds me of her and all our fun fishing adventures, but it also happens to be quite an effective pattern, which is a bonus!
My go to guide fly for dry fly fishing is the Royal Wulff, it gets a lot of action on a lot of different waters in my area and is easy to see on the surface.
Favorite piece of gear you could not live without, and why?
A warm pair of gloves/mittens and hand warmers for early spring/fall fishing. My hands get cold, fast, and since tying knots and flies on thin tippet are pretty critical aspects of guiding so I have to make sure my hands stay warm enough to function.
Let’s talk about tippet: Fluoro or Mono? Why?
For the guiding that I do, mono has proven to be great (for its stretch and handling capabilities), so that has been my go to.
What about waders… What brand are you rocking, and why?
Simms! Love being able to sport waders that are locally made in Bozeman, MT!
What are you listening to on the way to the river?
I usually utilize that time to chat with my clients and get to know them!
We usually drive with our clients to the river and it’s a great time to tell them about the area. If they have not been to the area before it’s a great time to let them know what to expect, and hear what their expectations are. If they are returners it’s a great time to catch up!
The drive back is a great time to talk about what the day was like, takeaways, etc.
How can people connect with you?
